Jharkhand – known as the land of forest. How is a trip possible without visiting the forests of this state? I will walk you through Betla National Park with this tour guide.
According to Wildlife Institutes of India, there are 106 National Parks in India of which 1 is situated in Jharkhand – Betla National Park. Recently (22 December 2023) a tiger was spotted in Betla National Park by the tourists of West Bengal. The spotting enhanced the curiosity of tourists in this region.
Anyways, the development in the tourism sector of Jharkhand increased tourist agitation in the Betla-Netarhat region. And the spotting of the Tiger also helped in this.
But, there are many other reasons to visit Betla National Park of Jharkhand.
Why Should You Visit Betla National Park of Jharkhand
The main reason to visit Betla National Park is the combination of Netarhat (the renowned hill station of Jharkhand) in the tour packages.
The tour package we provide is a triangle Ranchi-Betla-Netarhat that makes the Jharkhand wildlife and Nature tour more accessible to tourists within 3 days.
Betla National Park is not just home to Tigers but elephants, bison, leopards, panthers, sloth bears, wild boar, gaur, jackals, porcupines, sambar deer, small Indian civet, and rhesus monkeys are also found there.
It’s a biodiversity park with several mammal and bird species. Birds like hornbills, red jungle fowl, swamp gray, quail, crested snake-eagle, black outer storks, black ibis, etc are common creatures.
As said, over 250 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles reside in Betla National Park. This national park is one of the 9 tiger reserves in India.
These are the reasons why should you visit Betla National Park of Jharkhand.
My Experience with Betla National Park
I first visited Betla National Park in 2016 when my brother arranged his first tour package to Ranchi-Netarhat-Betla. There were over 100 tourists from West Bengal.
It was such a mesmerising experience to visit Betla National Park. Our resort was quite good and just opposite the entrance. We reached this forest at 7 PM and we arranged the stay in the Jharkhand Tourism Hotel which was just opposite the main gate. Our forest entry was scheduled for tomorrow.
We entered the forest at 8 AM tomorrow and first, we saw a group of deer and then elephants. We’ve also spotted hornbills, bison, and wild boar. It all depends on the season and your luck what you spot, in 2023 a group of tourists spotted a tiger in this forest.
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We also visited the Palamu Fort which is the ruins of kings of different eras. Such as the old fort is the ruins of Chero dynasty and Raksel dynasty and the new one is attached to Raja Medini Ray.
There are 3 types of safaris available in Betla National Park – Jeep Safari, Elephant Safari, and Boat Safari.
Jeep Safari is the most convenient and covers most parts of the forest, however, if you want to elephant safari, you can. Boat safari is also exciting that you may try with your kids.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Betla National Park is as usual from November to March when the weather is not too warm.
Note: Palamu is one of the hottest areas of Jharkhand so don’t visit this national park in summer.
Carry winter clothes and outfits as you may face cold weather especially if the tour is clubbed with the Netarhat package. This National Park is closed in the rainy season due to the breeding of animals and poor visibility.
How to Reach Betla From Ranchi
Betla is 162 km from Ranchi by road. There is no convenient medium other than by road to reach Betla National Park from Ranchi. You may book a cab to get there or if your group is big then reaching by bus is the best option.
If your tour package is clubbed with Netarhat and Ranchi then it’s better as you will explore more areas of Jharkhand in a single tour package.
Note: Ranchi is known as the city of waterfalls so don’t forget to visit waterfalls of Ranchi along with Betla and Netarhat.
Entry Fee and Other Costs
The entry fee for Betla National Forest depends on the timing and type of Safari and whether you are taking a camera inside the forest. Typically it costs from Rs 500 to Rs 2500 per person.
But on a package tour, you don’t need to pay extra for the entry fee. Your tour operator will bear all the costs of the safari.
What to Carry
If you are a solo traveller, you should carry a backpack with clothes including winter outfits, jackets, etc, mobile, mobile charger, power bank (as there is a frequent power cut in this region), some cash (ATM cards accepted in the hotels and entrance), sports shoes, camera, etc.
For families, carry winter clothes, cash, mobile, mobile charger, power bank, sports shoes, etc.
If I forgot something, mention that in the comments.
Conclusion
Jharkhand tourism has become popular in recent years and exploring these forests of Jharkhand is another kind of joy. As the most art of Jharkhand is Plateau and it’s covered with a dense forest of Shaal trees, it’s an adventure to visit a renowned national park in this Plateau region of India.
Jeep safari in the Betla National Park is a real adventure for wildlife lovers. You may spot different wild species that make it a great place for wildlife photographers.
If you are visiting Betla with your family then you must try the Elephant safari as it’s another pleasure to ride an elephant, especially for kids.
If you’ve visited this entranced national park, share your experience in the comment section with others.
Hi, I’m Gautam Roy, a passionate traveler, writer, and proud resident of the beautiful state of Jharkhand. Captivated by its natural beauty, rich culture, and untold stories, I’ve created a blog to share my experiences and uncover the hidden gems of this exotic state in India. Join me in exploring Jharkhand’s wonders and discovering its vibrant heritage!
