Melghat means 'meeting of the ghats' which is just what the area is, a large tract of unending hills and ravines scarred by jagged cliffs and steep climbs. At the northern extreme of the Amravati district on the border of Madhya Pradesh, lies the Melghat Tiger Reserve in the South-western Satpura mountain ranges. The exquisite hill forests support thick undergrowth and moss-covered trees underscore its virgin confines. One of the lesser-known wilderness areas, it offers fine trekking opportunities through its magical glades, a pleasure not always possible in the Indian jungle. As R G Burton says in his book Sport and Wildife in the Deccan: "much like an earthly paradise as anything can be in this unsatisfactory world." Melghat Tiger Reserve encompasses an area of 1,676.93 sq km, which includes the 788.75 sq km Melghat Sanctuary and the 361.28 sq km Gugarnal National Park in the Vidharba region of Maharashtra. The rest of the buffer zone (80 per cent of the Tiger Reserve) includes 526.90 sq km of reserve forest. The area has many historic forts, and is today the stronghold of the tiger. It was one of the first Project Tiger Reserves in the country. Located in the catchment area of the River Tapti, Melghat, a water harvesting forest, supplies 30 per cent of all the fresh water available in the vicinity.

Leopards and jungle cats thrive here. This is also home to the rusty spotted cat. Packs of dholes (wild dogs) roam the forest, and wild boar root about in the luxuriant undergrowth. Jackals and hyenas scavenge fresh kills; foxes have also been seen, though less frequently.

The Indian bison or gaur is another important animal of the reserve. Magnificent specimens can be seen alone or in small herds of five or so often feeding on the bamboo clumps. Generally left alone, large tigers have sometimes been known to bring down a gaur.But the tiger's staple diet is deer, predominantly sambar. Barking deer or muntjac, chinkara, chausingha and chital are plentiful. Lots of blackbuck, mouse deer and nilgai can be seen all over the sanctuary.

You can spot langurs in the trees, or hear their alarm calls in the jungles. They share their high-rise homes with tree shrews, flying squirrels and bats.

Ratels, caracals, sloth bear, civet cats and porcupines are other creatures found in the reserve.

The Tapti river harbours a small population of otters, four species of amphibians and 24 species of fish.

There are 16 species of snakes that have been documented including the python and the cobra. Fat-tailed geckos, forest calotes, lizards and several species of fresh water turtles are also found here.

Grey and rain quail may suddenly burst out from the undergrowth, but they will allow you only the very briefest of sightings.

Parakeets, the paradise flycatcher, the racket tailed drongo and bee-eaters are relatively common in the reserve as are the black woodpecker and the stork billed kingfisher. The blackcapped kingfisher may be seen around Bitkilpatti near the Dolar village, on some occasions.

You can spot crested larks in scrub and grassy areas where sightings of the great bustard have also been reported.

The fairy bluebird, which was once reported in Melghat, is not seen any more, but the forest spotted owlet believed extinct, was seen again after 113 years on 25th November 1997 by Pamela Rasmussen, David Abbot and Ben King in Shahada near Taloda. Subsequently it has been seen in Melghat as well by Kishor Rithe the Wildlife Warden.