With the State forest department bringing the Nandhaur wildlife sanctuary on the tourist map as part of its efforts to decongest tourist population in the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Ramnagar, now visitors will have to pay for visiting the Nandhaur wildlife sanctuary that falls in the Haldwani forest division.
The State forest department has issued tariffs under different categories for tourists who wish to visit the Nandhuar wildlife sanctuary. According to the rates issued by the State forest department, now any foreigner who wants to make a film on wildlife in Nandhaur wildlife sanctuary will have to pay `2 lakh, while an Indian will have to pay `one lakh for the same purpose.
Similarly, charges for making a documentary on wildlife in the same sanctuary have been fixed as `30,000 for a foreigner, while an Indian will have to pay `10,000 for the same work. Meanwhile, entry fees (first three days and two nights perperson) has been fixed as `150 for an Indian and `600 for a foreigner, while entry fees for day visit is `50 for an Indian and `250 for an foreigner.
Besides, an Indian tourist will have to pay `250, `500 and `800 respectively for small, medium and heavy mode vehicles as entry fee in the aforesaid wildlife sanctuary, while a foreigner will have to pay `500 for small and medium mode vehicles and `800 for heavy mode vehicle in this wildlife sanctuary, according to the rate list issued by the State forest department.
And charges per suite of different rest houses at Chorglia, Jaulasal, Senapani, Aanwalakhera and Durgapeepal have been fixed as `750 per suite per head/day for an Indian visitor and `1,500 per suite per head/day for a foreigner. The Nandhaur valley was accorded the status of the wildlife sanctuary only about a year ago and is known for its rich natural resources, flora and fauna. With presence of Sal, Shisham, Bamboo, Teak, Chir Pine and riverine forests in abundance, it also provides a favourable habitat for many wild animals like tiger, leopard, elephant, Sloth Bear, Mahaseer and Great Pied Hornbill to name a few.
Therefore, as officials concerned maintain, keeping in view the huge scope for promoting tourism activities here on the pattern of the CTR in Ramnagar, the forest department has also decided to open this wildlife sanctuary for tourism purpose, creating requisite infrastructure.
"The Nandhaur wildlife sanctuary is almost ready for allowing tourism after putting in place necessary basic infrastructure, including drinking water services, hutments, dormitory, to name a few," PC Arya, SDO, the Nandhuary wildlife sanctuary, told The Pioneer. "But due to blocking of the roads from Chhakata Range to the Sharda range and from Chorgalia to Durgapeepal at many places, it may take some time to open the Nandhaur wildlife sanctuary for tourists," he said.