Place : The Gulf of Kutch, Jamnagar District,
Gujarat
Nearest Town: Jamnagar (7km)
Best time to Visit: October and March
Significance: India's first Marine National park
India's first Marine Sanctuary and National park is found in the Gulf of Kutch,
Jamnagar District in Gujarat. The Gulf of Kutch located on the west coast of India
is an
arm of the Arabian Sea, separating the Saurashtra Peninsula from the Great and
Little Rann of Kutch. At its seaward (western) end it is 58 km wide, from which
point it tapers gradually eastwards, extending for nearly 170 km with maximum
depth of 60 mts and an average depth of about 20 mts.
The Marine sanctuary and the park located on the southern
shore of the Gulf of Kutch were established in 1980 and 1982 respectively under
the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for the protection of
threatened marine flora and fauna in the area.
The Marine Sanctuary when established
extended over an area of 270 sq. km., from Okha to Jodhya. The core area of 110
sq. km. was subsequently notified as the Marine Park, comprising areas of 7,000
ha off Okha in the west and 4,000 ha off Jamnagar to the east. In 1982, the
protected area of the sanctuary was enlarged nearly to 458 sq. km. and that of the
park is now 162.89 sq.km. In all a total
931.33 Sq.Km of area including Mangrove forests is under the administration of
Jamnagar Circle.
Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) has declared this Park as category-II area in the list of
important National Parks of the world, published by them.
The landscape of the shallow waters
of the park is dominated by a complex coral reef ecosystem, coupled with
extensive mangroves. Apart from the rich collection of corals in different
shapes and sizes, mainly six species of mangroves are commonly represented in this area, i.e.
Avicennia marina, Avicennia alba, Avicennia officianalis, Rhizophora mucronata,
Ceriops tagal, Aegiceros corniculata. Sporadic presence of Salvadora, Tamarix
dioca and Commiphora wightii is observed on islands. The
slushy muddy mangrove marshes provide a
paradise for marine creatures, marine Flora and colourful living corals. Mangroves
also support huge breeding colonies of painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala),
herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia), darters (Anhinga
melanogaster), Flamingoes, avocets, ducks, terns, gulls and little cormorants (Phalacrocorax
niger) and Stints.
Besides Mangroves, the major flora
include sea grass and sea weeds, Saag, Sesam , Kheru, Limda etc. and the major
Fauna are Coral lichen, Coral sponge, Green sponge, Puffer Fish, turtles,
dolphins, crabs, Prawns, Sea anemones, Jelly Fishes, Starfishes, octopus etc. In all, the area supports 37
species of hard and soft corals, 70 species of sponges, 150-200 species of
fishes, 27 species of prawns, 30 species of crabs, more than 200 species of
molluscs, 3 species of
endangered sea turtles, 3 species of sea snakes, 3 species of sea mammal, 94
species of water birds, 78 species of terrestrial birds and 108 species of
brown, green and red algae.
Sea grass also offers an ideal habitat
to the diverse biota and act as buffers between mangroves and coral. Some of
the sea grass species support unique fauna like the endangered herbivorous marine mammal dugong and the sea horse. Migratory sea turtle also depend on sea
grass. Green Turtles from as far as Brazil come and breed along the coast of Gulf of
Kutch and on the sea shore of
Saurashtra. Besides Green sea turtle, Olive ridley turtle and Leather back
turtle are also found visiting Gulf of Kutch. The Marine National Park
is maintaining a hatchery at Madhupur near Porbandar and also some temporary
hatcheries on islands near Okha and Dwarka.
There are between 30 and 40 islands on the Jamnagar coast
in the Marine National Park, all surrounded by reefs. The best-known islands are
Pirotan, six sq. km. located 16 km north of Bedi Port, Karubhar, Narara,
Poshitra etc. Sunsets at the islands esp. Pirotan is beautiful with colours and
hues of various types of birds and sightings of dolphins, octopus etc. Most of the beaches
along the coast are
sandy and muddy, or have large sandstone expanses. The best period for visiting the park is from
November to January.
Other tourist places near the park are
Khijadiya, an excellent
bird sanctuary situated about 15 kms away from Jamnagar and Dwarikadish
Temple about 150 kms away.
Air : The Nearest airport is Jamnagar (7 kms).
Bus: The Nearest bus station is Jamnagar (7 kms).
Rail: The Nearest Railway station are Jamnagar - 7 kms and Rajkot - 90
Kms
Accommodation
A Forest Rest House is situated in Theba which is about 8 kms away from
Jamnagar. A number of Private Hotels and Guest houses and a circuit house with
excellent facilities is located in Jamnagar.
-
Express Hotels
Moti Khavdi,
Jamnagar - 361 140, India
Phone: +91 - 288 - 2344 416 / 17 / 80 / 90
Fax : +91 - 288 - 2344 417
Email - Contact
Us
Website : www.expressworld.com/ehpl/eJamnew.htm
-
Hotel President
Teen Batti, Jamnagar -361 001 Gujarat
Phone: 91-288-557 4191
Fax.: 91-288-558 491
Email - Contact
Us
-
Aram Hotel,
Pandit Nehru Marg,
Jamnagar - 361 008
-
Mepani Corporation
Teen Batti,
Jamnagar - 361 001, India
Contacts
-
Conservator of Forests,
Marine N.P. Jamnagar.
Phone: 0288 2552077
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Director,
National Marine Park,
Pradarshan Ground, Jamnagar.
