Bhavnagar - Velavadar Blackbuck National Park

About the Location

This picturesque 34-square-kilometer park, just an hour’s drive north of Bhavnagar, features vast stretches of pale, custard-colored grassland between two seasonal rivers. It is renowned for its blackbucks, graceful and swift antelope with elegant spiraling horns that can reach up to 65 cm in mature males. The park is home to around 1,800 blackbucks, along with blue bulls (India’s largest antelope), and a variety of birds, including about 2,000 wintering harriers from Siberia. With over 120 bird species recorded in and around the park, birdwatchers will find it a delight. Lucky visitors may even spot elusive wolves, especially early in the morning when they are more likely to be seen. Throughout the day, the blackbucks are easily visible, moving in gender-specific groups—males together, and females and fawns in their own clusters. Hiring a guide is mandatory and beneficial, as their anecdotes about the animals and village life enrich the experience.

Brief History

Established in July 1976 as a protected area covering 18 square kilometers, the sanctuary expanded in 1980 to its current size of 34 square kilometers. Despite being one of the smallest national parks in the country, it offers a rich diversity of species, making it a haven for wildlife enthusiasts.