Jawai Dam and Jawai Forests – Habitat for Crocodiles & Leopards

By George On

Jawai Dam and Forests are in the Pali district in Rajasthan. These areas are famous for Crocodiles, Leopards, and Migratory Birds.

Jawai damJawai dam

The dam across the Jawai River is a Crocodile reserve for Indian Mugger Crocodiles. This reptile park has an estimated 288 crocodiles as per the wildlife census of 2011.

The Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve is a leopard habitat. (Bandh means dam in the Hindi Language.) The big cats roam freely in the Jawai leopard camp forests here. If you are lucky, you can see the Near Threatened or endangered leopards in these forests during the daytime. Many tourists have reportedly seen the Clouded leopards near the Devgiri Cave Temple. You can go for a Jungle Safari (Jeep Safari), to spot these wild cats.

The forests around the dam are home to many migratory birds during the winter season.

The forests here have been accorded Conservation reserve status in 2011. See the complete list of Conservation reserves in India.

The Dam is the biggest in Western Rajasthan. It was constructed by the Jodhpur King, Umaid Singh. The Dam construction works were started in 1946 and were completed by 1957.

Devgiri Cave Temple is a beautiful temple inside a cave, halfway to the hilltop.

How Do I Go to Jawai?

Sumerpur town, on the eastern side of the Thar Desert, is the nearest town to the Dam and surrounding forests, at around 15 kilometers distance. Sirohi Town is approximately 53 kilometers distance from the Dam. Jodhpur is a major city 165 kilometers distance from Jawai. Udaipur and Rajsamand are at 120 kilometers distance from the dam. Bhilwara and Chittorgarh are approximately 208 kilometers and 230 kilometers from the Dam, respectively.