India's first Marine Sanctuary and National park is found in the Gulf of Kutch, Jamnagar District in Gujarat. The Gulf of Kutch located on the west coast of India is an arm of the Arabian Sea, separating the Saurashtra Peninsula from the Great and Little Rann of Kutch. At its seaward (western) end it is 58 km wide, from which point it tapers gradually eastwards, extending for nearly 170 km with maximum depth of 60 mts and an average depth of about 20 mts.
Place : The Gulf of Kutch, Jamnagar District, Gujarat
Nearest Town: Jamnagar (7km)
Best time to Visit: October and March
Significance: India's first Marine National park
Gujarat has the distinction of creating the country’s first Marine National Park spread over an area of nearly 458 sq.kms. in the Gulf of Kutch, 30 km. from Jamnagar. Here corals create fantasies in stone and are the master builders of the Park. Their limestone fortresses – those found near the Pirotan Islands and the rich moist deciduous forests like those found in the dense forests of the Danes. One of the most threatened birds, the great Indian bustard finds a refuge in certain pockets of protected areas.
Marine National Park,Marine National Park Gujarat,Marine National Park Tour,Wildlife Tour to Marine Park The world’s only four-horned antelope, the chowsingha is found here in healthy numbers. One of the largest herds of blackjacks grace the grasslands of Velavadar and till recently Gujarat was the place where flamingos nested in huge numbers. Dugong, a marine mammal which resembles a seal, along with the rare Borolo species have found home in the protected areas of the Marine National Park.
The landscape of the shallow waters of the park is dominated by a complex coral reef ecosystem, coupled with extensive mangroves. Apart from the rich collection of corals in different shapes and sizes, mainly six species of mangroves are commonly represented in this area, i.e. Avicennia marina, Avicennia alba, Avicennia officianalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal, Aegiceros corniculata. Sporadic presence of Salvadora, Tamarix dioca and Commiphora wightii is observed on islands. The slushy muddy mangrove marshes provide a paradise for marine creatures, marine Flora and colourful living corals. Mangroves also support huge breeding colonies of painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala), herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia), darters (Anhinga melanogaster), Flamingoes, avocets, ducks, terns, gulls and little cormorants (Phalacrocorax niger) and Stints.
Besides Mangroves, the major flora include sea grass and sea weeds, Saag, Sesam , Kheru, Limda etc. and the major Fauna are Coral lichen, Coral sponge, Green sponge, Puffer Fish, turtles, dolphins, crabs, Prawns, Sea anemones, Jelly Fishes, Starfishes, octopus etc. In all, the area supports 37 species of hard and soft corals, 70 species of sponges, 150-200 species of fishes, 27 species of prawns, 30 species of crabs, more than 200 species of molluscs, 3 species of endangered sea turtles, 3 species of sea snakes, 3 species of sea mammal, 94 species of water birds, 78 species of terrestrial birds and 108 species of brown, green and red algae.
Sea grass also offers an ideal habitat to the diverse biota and act as buffers between mangroves and coral. Some of the sea grass species support unique fauna like the endangered herbivorous marine mammal dugong and the sea horse. Migratory sea turtle also depend on sea grass. Green Turtles from as far as Brazil come and breed along the coast of Gulf of Kutch and on the sea shore of Saurashtra. Besides Green sea turtle, Olive ridley turtle and Leather back turtle are also found visiting Gulf of Kutch. The Marine National Park is maintaining a hatchery at Madhupur near Porbandar and also some temporary hatcheries on islands near Okha and Dwarka.
There are between 30 and 40 islands on the Jamnagar coast in the Marine National Park, all surrounded by reefs. The best-known islands are Pirotan, six sq. km. located 16 km north of Bedi Port, Karubhar, Narara, Poshitra etc. Sunsets at the islands esp. Pirotan is beautiful with colours and hues of various types of birds and sightings of dolphins, octopus etc. Most of the beaches along the coast are sandy and muddy, or have large sandstone expanses. The best period for visiting the park is from November to January.
Other tourist places near the park are Khijadiya, an excellent bird sanctuary situated about 15 kms away from Jamnagar and Dwarikadish Temple about 150 kms away.
How to get there:
Air : The Nearest airport is Jamnagar (7 kms).
Bus: The Nearest bus station is Jamnagar (7 kms).
Rail: The Nearest Railway station are Jamnagar - 7 kms and Rajkot - 90 Kms
