Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest area in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district, Karnataka, within the Western Ghats. Notified in 2011 and spread over about 19,042 hectares, it encompasses dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forests surrounding the historic Bhimgad Fort. It is notable for its rich biodiversity, including tigers, leopards, and the endemic Wroughton's free-tailed bat found in the Barapede Caves, and forms an important corridor between Karnataka and Goa.

Visitors can expect dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the Western Ghats with hilly terrain, valleys and streams. The sanctuary is centered around the ruined Bhimgad Fort and the Barapede Caves, known for bat colonies. Wildlife sightings may include gaur, leopard, sloth bear, sambar and diverse birds. Access is regulated and interior areas require forest department permission, typically explored on foot with a guide along forest trails.

The sanctuary encloses Bhimgad Fort, a 17th-century hill fort attributed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, built to defend against Portuguese forces and later held under British control. The fort and surrounding forests formed part of historic defence and trade routes in the Western Ghats.

The sanctuary is ecologically significant as part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot and is valued for the Barapede Caves, an important natural heritage site for the endemic Wroughton's free-tailed bat, and for its role in conserving the Mhadei river catchment revered locally.