UNESCO included it in the first list
Chhattisgarh’s first National Park to qualify
Raipur 12 March 2025: Kanger Valley National Park of Bastar, known for its rich biodiversity and habitat of rare species of animals, has been included by UNESCO in the ad hoc list of World Heritage Sites for 2025. Now to get the status of World Heritage Site, the state government will have to present its claim with full facts in one year. The inclusion of Kanger Valley in the tentative list is also a big achievement, because for the first time in Chhattisgarh a site has got this opportunity. Kanger Valley National Park, spread over 200 square km, is special for many reasons. About two years ago, the then director of Kanger Valley National Park, Ganvir Dhammasheel, sent a proposal of National Park for World Heritage Site to UNESCO on the basis of about a year’s preparation and research, research of many departments including the Department of Archaeology. UNESCO gives the status of World Heritage Site to a place in three categories. The first category is natural heritage, the second is cultural and the third is mixed. The application was sent for the first category, which has been included in the ad hoc list, which is a big achievement. UNESCO has announced this on its website. Now factual information will have to be given in support of this within a year.
Speciality of Kanger Valley National Park
* The biodiversity of the park makes it very special. It is also the natural habitat of the Pahari Myna, which can speak like humans.
* There are 16 natural limestone caves in the park, including Kotamsar.
* These caves are millions of years old and the special thing is that they are still alive. This is what makes these caves different from the caves in the rest of the country. New structures of limestone are being built. From blind fish to many kinds of animals, these caves have many species of animals.
* Another speciality of the park is the Dhurva tribals here, who have thousands of years of civilization with them and are contributing to the preservation of the forest.
