Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest protected area in Goa, covering 240 square kilometers in the Western Ghats near Mollem. Established as a sanctuary in 1969 and incorporating Mollem National Park since 1978, it features tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. The sanctuary supports diverse wildlife including tigers, leopards, gaurs, and over 120 bird species. It also encompasses notable attractions such as Dudhsagar Falls, Tambdi Surla Temple, and Devil’s Canyon.

Visitors can explore dense Western Ghats forests via jeep safaris or guided treks along unmarked trails. Key sights include Dudhsagar Falls, Devil’s Canyon, Sunset Point, and the 12th-century Tambdi Surla Temple. Wildlife sightings may include deer, gaur, birds, and butterflies, though animal visibility varies. A Nature Interpretation Centre at Mollem provides educational information on local flora and fauna. Access to certain areas like Tambdi Falls requires guides due to difficult terrain.

Originally declared as Mollem Game Sanctuary in 1969, it was renamed Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. The core area of 107 sq km was notified as Mollem National Park in 1978. The sanctuary contains the 12th-century Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple attributed to the Kadambas of Goa.

The sanctuary is home to the Dhangar community of nomadic buffalo herders. It houses the active 12th-century Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple, an important religious site constructed entirely of black basalt with intricate carvings.