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A Travel Guide To Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary

Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the places that are worth exploring in Goa. Here's a travel guide to this adventurous tourist spot!

By Pranav Erassery Balakrishnan

Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Goa. At a distance of 9 km Southeast of Palolem, is the beautiful and remote Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the second largest sanctuary in Goa and which is easily accessible if you have your own transport.

If you are a person who would like to witness the multi-storeyed forests with tall trees and rare plants, then Cotigao is the right choice. It shares its borders with Karnataka and during the lean season, it receives visitors from the neighbourhood.

Mollem National ParkMollem National Park

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Know More...
The vegetation is mostly moist - deciduous type along with semi-evergreen and patches of evergreen trees. With a radius of 86 km of mixed deciduous woodland, the sanctuary is an inspiration to tree lovers, but the chances of sighting wildlife are very slim.

It was the home to Tigers and Leopards until they were wiped out. Gazelles, Sloth Bears, Panthers can be sighted very rarely in the forest. One can otherwise easily come across at least two different kinds of monkeys along with reptiles.

Getting There
Cotigao is located at a distance of about 44 km from Margao and about 71 km from Panjim.

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What To Do

1. The Nature Interpretation Centre
The centre provides with facts and a good amount of knowledge, to those who are curious to know more about the animals and plants that are in the sanctuary.

2. Hiking
The sanctuary gives access to private vehicles, but the energetic individuals prefer to hike through the park. There are eight trails in the sanctuary which vary in length, starting from 500 m to 5 km.

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3. Treetop Perches
An experience that this sanctuary is uniquely offering, is the use of treetop lookout posts that overlook the watering holes frequented by the animals. There are six such watchtowers throughout the sanctuary, all of them being at least 25 m off the ground level.

4. Meeting Tribals
The sanctuary is also home to some of the ancient tribes of Goa like the Velip and Kunbil. One can interact with these people and get to know more about them.

For the adventure junkie, one can take the help of the Forest Department and get hold of snake proof camping sites, canvas tents but all of it with the permission of the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Office in Margao).

Best Museums In GoaBest Museums In Goa

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Best Season To Visit
Most people prefer to visit the place during the tourist season which is from October to March.

A visit during the monsoon season is when the greenery abounds the whole place which would be washed clean by the rains.

Timings
The sanctuary is open from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM every day. The tickets are priced at INR 5 per head and an additional cost of INR 25 for cameras.

Accommodation And Other Facilities
Those who wish to stay at the sanctuary must obtain the permission of the Deputy Conservator of Forests. After which stay may be arranged at the watch towers or at the Guesthouse.

Read more about: goa wildlife travel india
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