Saranda forest

Saranda forest is a dense forest in the hilly region of West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum, Saraikela district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. This area used to be the private hunting reserve of the Singh Deo family (the erstwhile rulers of Saraikela). The forest covers an area of 820 km².^[1] Saranda (Serengda) literally means "700 hills" in local language.^[2]

Quick Facts Geography, Location ...

Saranda Forest
Location in Jharkhand Show map of Jharkhand Saranda Forest (India) Show map of India
Geography
Location	West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India
Coordinates	22.2°N 85.35°E / 22.2; 85.35 / 22.2; 85.35][[Category:Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas]]"},"html":"Coordinates: </templatestyles>\"}' data-mw='{\"name\":\"templatestyles\",\"attrs\":{\"src\":\"Module:Coordinates/styles.css\"},\"body\":{\"extsrc\":\"\"}}'/>22°12′N 85°21′E / 22.2°N 85.35°E / 22.2; 85.35"}">
Area	820 square kilometres (320 sq mi)
Administration
Status	Reserve Forest
Established	1882
Governing body	Jharkhand Forest Department
Website	www.sarandaforest.in
Ecology
Dominant tree species	Shorea robusta

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The perennial rivers, Karo and Koina, pass through these forested areas supporting a diverse floral and faunal resource. Sal (Shorea robusta) is the most important tree in the forest. Although sal is a deciduous tree and sheds its leaves in early summer, the forest undergrowth is generally evergreen, which has such trees as Mangoes, Jamun, Jackfruit, and Piar. Other important trees are Mahua, kusum, Tilai, Harin hara (Armossa rohitulea), Gular (Ficus glomerata), and Asan.^[3]

The reserved forests hosts many animals. Wild elephants are common in Saranda and Porahat forests. It is an important overlapping habitat of the elephants from adjacent Kedunjhar (Keonjhar) district of Odisha. Herds of Sambar and Chital roam about the forests. Bison is still found. Tigers were never numerous. Leopards are more common.^[4]

The iron ore mining towns including Gua, Chiria, Kiriburu and Noamundi. The area was previously disturbed by Maoist and Naxal influences, but problems have subsided in recent years, and it has turned out to be a major tourist hub. There are many tourist places in the Manoharpur region. The peak season between October and March is now brimming with tourists.^[5]

Thalkobad is a scenic village at a height of 550 m (1,800 ft) in the heart of the forest.^[6] Thalkobad is about 89 km (55 mi) from Chakradharpur, 46 km (29 mi) from Manoharpur, and about 160 km (99 mi) from Jamshedpur.