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Tourism

A brief history

GEOGRAPHY: Ranebennur is located in Haveri district, the two portions lying between 14°34' and 14°46'N latitude, and 75°30' and 75°47'E longitude. Altitude varies from 546 to 762 m. Temperatures vary from 13° to 38°C, and mean annual rainfall is 619 mm.

Located 8 km from Ranebennur in Haveri District, the Ranebennur Blackbuck Sanctuary was created with view to protect the black buck.

Pilgrim centers are Anandavana Agadi, and Shiva Temple.

What to see


Ranebennur Blackbuck Sanctuary

Ranebennur (119 sq. km) was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 17th June 1974, especially with the view to protect the black buck. It comprises two unconnected portions, an eastern and a western bit. The sanctuary has a core zone of 14.87 sq. km and a buffer-cum tourism zone of 104.13 sq. km. The area is covered mainly by scrub forest and eucalyptus plantations, and is also inhabited by the highly endangered Great Indian bustard and the wolf. Agricultural fields surround the sanctuary.

FLORA: The original vegetation until 1956 consisted mainly of Acacia catechue, Prosopis juliflora, Dodonea viscosa and Carissa auriculata. In an attempt to increase vegetation cover in the area, it was planted with eucalyptus and some indigenous species. Today, the top canopy is made up almost only of eucalyptus, along with some Hardwickia binata and Albizzia amara. The middle and lower storeys consist of Acacia catechu, Prosopis juliflora, Dodonea viscosa, Acaxia sundra, Zizyphus mauritiana, Lantana camara, Randia sp. and Cassia auriculata. The western portion has more open scrubland. Subabul (leucana leucocephala) has been planted in patches in some parts of the sanctuary. Cassia fistula, neem (Azadirachta indica), Holoptelia integrifolia, Madhuca indica, Ficus sp. and bamboo have been planted along the sanctuary's roads.

FAUNA: The sanctuary is known for its blackbuck and wolf populations. Other mammals include wild pig, fox, jackal, langur, porcupine, common mongoose, hare and pangolin. Hyenas are also found in the Harinigudda area of the sanctuary. The population of blackbuck has seen a constant increase since the establishment of the sanctuary.The Great Indian bustard, a large cursorial bird, which was quite common in the short grass plains and semi-arid areas of the Indian subcontinent 100 years ago, was indiscriminately hunted, and its habitat destroyed, resulting in a drastic decline in its population, until it came under stringent protection in the 1970s. The highest estimate of bustard in the Ranebennur sanctuary is 14 birds. Apart from the Great Indian bustard, avifauna in the sanctuary include peafowl, sirkeer cuckoo, large grey babbler, baybacked shrike and black drongo.

       October to March is ideal to watch blackbuck. Great Indian bustard is most easily viewed during February to May. A forest rest house on the sanctuary boundary at Gangajala, offers comfortable accommodation.

 

 

How to Reach

BY AIR - The nearest international airport from Ranebennur is 300 km away in Bangalore, from where one can take flights for most of the important cities in India.

BY RAIL - Ranebennur  is connected with most of the metros like Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai through regular trains.

BY ROAD - There is a good network of roads that connects Ranebennur to other important cities of the region.