About 2/3rd area of the state is under forest cover where different species of trees, orchids, birds and wildlife are found. Tripura offers excellent opportunities for eco-friendly tourism and different wild life sanctuaries in the state offer various attractions to the tourists. There are four sanctuaries in this state. Rowa Wildlife Sancturay is in North Tripura District, Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary is in West Tripura District, Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary and Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary are in South Tripura District.
Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary
This
Sanctuary is about 35 kms away from Agartala and the
National highway 44 connecting Agartala with Udaipur,
the district head-quarters of South Tripura district
passes through it. Sepahijala covers an area of 18.53
sq. kms and has rich collection of wildlife particularly
of birds and primates. There are about 150 species
of birds and 5 species of primates in this sanctuary.
During winter lots of migratory birds visit the sanctuary.
The crab eating Mongoose which was last sighted about
72 years ago in India has been discovered again in
this sanctuary. The famous spectacle monkey is found
here. The sanctuary has been conceived as both a wildlife
sanctuary and as an academic as well as research centre.
In addition to botanical garden, zoo, the boating
facility in the lake and the various species of trees
attract visiting tourists. Arrangements are availabe
for a joy ride on an elephant's back as well as a
ride on the toy train and for boating in paddle as
well as rowing boats in Sepahijala lake. There is
a Forest Dak Bungalow ' Absarika' and 5 cottages inside
the sanctuary for accommodation. The tourists lodges
which are coming up with lakes around it- the solitude
and the nearness to nature are by themselves a source
of serene pleasure.
Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary
It is the second sanctuary of the South Tripura district located in the south-east corner of the state. Its area is 389.54 kms. Adjoining to the sanctuary, there is a vast water reservoir covering approximately 300 sq. kms. This water reservoir attracts many resident and migratory water birds. It has Elephants, Bison, Sambar, Barking deer, Wild goat or Sarow apart from many other animals and reptiles. The sanctuary can be approached via Ambassa and Gandachara or via Amarpur-Jatanbari.
Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated in South Tripura District it is 18 kms away from the sub-divisional town of Belonia and is connected with Agartala by a state highway. It can be approached either from Belonia in the south or from Sonamura in the northern side. The sanctuary has an area of 197.7 sq. kms. In this sanctuary there are patches of virgin forests which are rich in rare vegetation. Indian Gaur (Bison) is an attraction of this sanctuary. Apart from it, there are varieties of birds, Deer, Hooklock Gibbon,Golden Langur, Capped Langur, Pheasants and many other animals and reptiles. Bison is the main attraction in this sanctuary, in addition to the resident and migratory birds.
Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated in the North of the district, it can be approached from Panisagar and is adjacent to the National Highway. It is a small sanctuary with an area of 85'85 hectares and it is one of the few remnants of the natural forests left that is easily accessible to the visitors. It presents ample scope for study by the botanists. It harbours more than 150 species of birds, wild beasts and primates.