Tourism :

Tourism Potential  of the  P.A. & its surrounding areas :-

The area of  Navegaon has vast potential for tourism.  Navegaon Bandh lake located near the P.A.  has a picturesque setting with hills surrounding it.  The tank is one of the biggest built by the malguzars more than 200 years ago.  The tourist complex of N.P. is situated on the bank of  this Lake and is a major attraction for day visitors.  It has become a picnic spot where people from nearby areas as well as from distant towns and cities like Gondia, Bhandara, Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Amrawati, Raipur etc. come.  The Eteadoh Dam is about 18 kms. from Navegaon which is also visited by the tourists.  The settlement of Tibetans viz.  Tibetan camp at Gothangaon is also one of the attractions of the tourists, who visit it to see the settlement, Buddhist temple, carpet weaving center etc.  (it’s 10 kms. from Eteadoh ) Pratapgarh is an old ruined Gond fort.  There is a Mahadeo temple which attracts thousands of devotees on the Mahashivratri day (feb.-march ).  There is also a muslim saint’s shrine “urs” at which is also held around the same period.  Pilgrims visiting these shrines also visit Navegaon  N.P. on their return journey. 

            Bodrai temple, located inside the N.P. also attracts many pilgrims  from villages around .  However, there is no specific “Yatra ” day.

            Other tourist spot in the vicinity of the P.A. are Nagzira wildlife sanctuary (55 kms.) Sirpur and Bagh Itiadoh Irrigation project etc.  All these spots are in Gondia district except Nagzira.  In addition Dongargarh in M.P. is about 140 kms. from here which is an important temple place.  Many devotees visit this temple during Navratri – Darsera.  The tourists from Nagpur and other parts of Vidarbha, on there way back also visit Navegaon N.P..

            Inside the P.A. apart from the Bodrai temple, spots like Badbadya water fall Katethua are visited  by the tourists for the  scenic beauty.  Chutiya watch tower adjoining the park boundary gives an overview of both the Navegaon lake and Etiadoh Lake is an attraction for trekkers also. Jhenda Dongar, the highest peak in Gondia district (80 kms.) can also become a good trekking spot.  Navegaon lake provides good opportunity to see / study water birds and butterflies for the visitors. Here migrat- ory birds can be seen in large  numbers during winter.  The water holes inside the P.A. (e.g. Bodrai, Umarzari, Badbadya) also attract large  number of birds during hot summer days.