Palamau National Park (Betla)

Palamau has the distinction of being the forest where the world's first tiger census was enumerated in 1932. Large herds of Gaur & Chital are commonly seen. Elephants are present mostly after the monsoons upto the time when the water holes begin to dry up in March. Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild Bear, Sambar, Nilgai, Deer are also permanent residents. Palamau National Park is now a part of one of nine tiger reserves in India under "Project Tiger".

Area: Total Area: 1026 sq.km., Buffer Zone- 813 sq.km., Core Area- 213 sq.km., Tourist Zone- 35 sq.km.
Established on: June 1974
Altitude: 300 to 1140 metres.
Temperature (°C):
Summer: Max 47, Min 28
Winter: Max 23, Min 7
Best Season: October to March
Languages Spoken: Hindi, English

How to get there

	Air: Nearest airport Ranchi is 161 kms away from Betla. Daily Indian Airlines service connects Ranchi with Kolkata (Calcutta), Patna, Lucknow and Delhi.
	Rail: The nearest railhead is at Daltonganj 25 kms from Betla. And the second nearest railway station is Ranchi 161 kms from Betla.
	Road: Good motorable road connects Betla to Daltonganj 25 kms, Ranchi 171 kms, Patna 384 kms, Hazaribagh 190 kms, Netarhat 211 kms, Kolkata (Calcutta) 575 kms.
	Local Transport: Regular direct bus services are available from Ranchi and Hazaribagh to Daltonganj via Khudia Morh from where Betla is 6 kms.

Facilities

There are 3 elephants of the Department of Tourism and one jeep of the Forest Department to take the tourists around the park with guide and spotlight. Five Watch Towers from where animals can be observed and photographs taken.

The Region