About Mollem National Park
Mollem National Park is a 107 sq km protected area within the larger Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa's Western Ghats. Located in Dharbandora taluk near Mollem village, it features tropical evergreen forests, diverse wildlife including tigers and leopards, and landmarks like Dudhsagar Falls and Tambdi Surla Temple. Established as a national park in 1978, it is Goa's largest contiguous wildlife protected area and a significant biodiversity hotspot.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore dense semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests via guided treks or jeep safaris along rough mud roads. Key sights include Dudhsagar Falls, Devil’s Canyon, Sunset Point, and the 12th-century Tambdi Surla Temple. The park offers opportunities to spot wildlife such as gaur, sambar deer, and various bird species. A Nature Interpretation Centre at Mollem provides educational information on local flora and fauna.
Key highlights
- 01
Dudhsagar Falls, Goa's tallest waterfall cascading 306 meters
- 02
Tambdi Surla Temple, a 12th-century basalt Shiva temple
- 03
Rich biodiversity including tigers, leopards, and king cobras
- 04
Sunset Point offering panoramic views of hills and valleys
- 05
Devil’s Canyon with unique rock formations and turbulent river flow
- 06
Nature Interpretation Centre at Mollem for environmental education
History of Mollem National Park
Originally known as Mollem Game Sanctuary, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and renamed Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. The core 107 sq km area was notified as Mollem National Park in 1978. It contains ancient temples dating to the Kadambas of Goa era.
Culture & Context
Home to the 12th-century Mahadev Temple at Tambdi Surla, an active place of worship built from black basalt. The park also hosts a community of nomadic buffalo herders known as the Dhangar.
Route
| By train |
|---|