Satkosia Basipalli Sanctuary, Anugul, Orissa India

Satkosia Basipalli Sanctuary, popularly known as Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Orissa’s famous wildlife sanctuaries. The Gharial Breeding Project, the latest venture of the wildlife reserve has attracted a lot of attention and contributed to its popularity.  The idyllic green sanctuary spans an area of 1330 square kilometers and was established in 1976. The entire area is divided into two parts by the River Mahanadi and is situated between the districts of Budh, Angul, Nayagarh and Cuttack. The sanctuary is valued by wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers, scientists and adventure freaks, in a similar manner. The region under the Angul sub division is comparatively hilly and houses dense groves, moist and dry deciduous forests and vibrant flowers like Khalsi and Genwa.

Situated on the bank of Mahanadi, Satkosia wildlife sanctuary is a place that feeds to the imagination of any nature loving tourist. The forest situated amidst the gorge that river Mahanadi forms hosts a biodiversity that is rich and unique. The 22 km long gorge, the  mightiest in the country is formed as the river cuts and re-cuts its way through the Eastern Ghats thus creating one of the most enchanting spots that is a pleasure to watch.Satkosia gorge Sanctuary  is a place that not only provides a trekker wid myriad spectacles of flora but also an equally amzing variety of  fauna.

Boats at Satkosia,great SceneryAlso known as the Tikrapada wildlife sanctuary, Satkosia is thickly populated by deciduous forests and moist peninsular Sal forests. Wildlife lovers can have a chance to watch Tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, mouse deer, nilagai, four-horned antelope and sloth bear. Wild dogs used to be sighted often. Many resident birds frequent this place. Reptiles like the gharial, mugger crocodile, fresh water turtle and poisonous and non-poisonous snakes can also be sighted. Besides, this is also very much popular among the tourists as a trekking hotspot.

Based nearby in Purnakote and Labangi is a Gharial rearing center. People can see Gharials and Crocodiles basking leisurely in sun here. So far 38 species of mammals, 128 species of birds, 27 species of reptiles, 4 species of amphibians and 183 species of fishes have been recorded found in the sanctuary.