| Chandraprabha sanctuary is situated in
the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh, the northern province
of India. Although one of India's lesser-known sanctuaries,
it is well endowed with beautiful picnic spots, dense
forests, and scenic waterfalls like Rajdari and Devdari
that attract tourists every year to its vicinity. Located
southeast of the city of Varanasi-a popular religious
center for Hindus and a seat of education-the sanctuary
was established in May 1957.
Asiatic lions were introduced at Chandraprabha in 1958.
The exercise was successful in the beginning, with the
number of lions rising from three to 11 by 1969. However,
the following year the lions were found missing. One
can only assume that they fell prey to poachers or succumbed
to changes in their living conditions. The plan was
again revived in 1993 although the Indian Government
is yet to take a decision in this regard.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The region has typical central Indian weather conditions.
The summer (April-July) temperature hovers around the
38°C mark. The winters (November-January) are cold
with temperatures around 14°C. The monsoon season
(July-mid-September) has moderate rainfall.
TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
A variety of wild animals are found at Chandraprabha.
These include blackbucks, chital, sambhar, nilgai, wild
boar, porcupine and Indian gazelle. The reptilian species
include gharial and python.
In terms of flora, it is a typical dry deciduous forest
composed of gneiss and laminated stone.
HOW TO REACH
Chandraprabha sanctuary is just 55 km from the city
center of Varanasi. The most convenient way to reach
the park is by hiring a taxi and driving down. The journey
takes approximately two hours. The nearest rail junction
is Varanasi, which is well connected to most parts of
India.
WHERE TO STAY
There are no facilities for accommodation at Chandraprabha.
Most tourists drive down for the day. However, meals
and snacks are available in the eating joints nearby.
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