Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (chinkara + peacock grassland reserve).
Pilgrims arrive for Mayureshwar Temple darshan and leave by afternoon — almost none know that 5km away sits a 5.14 sq km grassland-and-scrub sanctuary declared in 1997, named after the same temple deity, holding Maharashtra's densest chinkara (Indian gazelle) population alongside peacocks, foxes, and wolves.WHY NOBODY KNOWS
A semi-arid grassland sanctuary (5.14 sq km) declared in 1997 on the Supe-Baramati plateau — named for the temple deity Mayureshwar (mayur = peacock). Maharashtra's smallest sanctuary, but holds the state's densest chinkara population (300+ count, 2022 census) along with peacocks (the namesake — protected here long before the sanctuary status), wolves, foxes, jackals, and 100+ bird species including the Indian courser. Open dawn-dusk; ₹50 entry + ₹150 jeep for the 12km loop; Maharashtra Forest Dept booking. Best Nov-Feb early morning for chinkara grazing; skip Apr-May (40C+).
