Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is wildlife sactuary situated on the northern boundary of Mandsaur and Nimach districts in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is spread over an area of 368.62 km squire adjoining Rajasthan state in India. It was notified in 1974 and more area was added in 1983. The Chambal River passes through the sanctuary and divides into two parts. The western part is in Nimach district and eastern part is in Mandsaur district.

The Sanctuary is open throughout the year. With a varied terrain of wooded hills – the forest being dry, mixed and deciduous- and flat grasslands around Gandhi sagar dam submergence, it offers abundant opportunities of sighting a variety of wildlife. The principal tree species found in the Sanctuary are Khair (acacia catechu), Salai, Kardhai, Dhawda, Tendu, Palash etc.

The Predominant wild animal species that inhabits the Sanctuary are the deer, of which the most easily sighted are chinkara or Indian gazelle, nilgai, sambar, leopard,common langur, wild dog, peacock, otter, crocodile etc.

Sanctuary has many places of historical, archaeological and religious importance. These are Chaurasigarh, Chaturbhujnath temple, Bhadkaji rock paintings, Narsinghjhar, Hinglajgarh Fort, Taxakeshwar temple etc.

Chaturbhujnath (hindi:चतुर्भुजनाथ) temple is about 8 km from Gandhi sagar dam site. There is a statue of Lord Vishnu in this temple. A fair is organized here on the occasion of "Tejaji dashami", tenth day of the month of Bhadra hindu month to mark the birth of Tejaji. Very near to this temple is the site of Bhadkaji (hindi:भड़काजी) rock paintings of period about 1400 years old.