Tholkobad Jungle Trail

About Tholkobad Jungle Trail

Tholkobad exists at the intersection of the Saranda Forest's biological richness and its tragic modern history — this section of the forest was a contested zone during the Naxalite conflict of the 2000s and 2010s and access was restricted for nearly a decade. Since the restoration of relative peace in the region, the forest trails have reopened and the wildlife, undisturbed during the conflict period, has recovered significantly. The result is a forest trail that offers genuinely exceptional wildlife encounter probability. The birdwatching at Tholkobad has been documented by ornithologists from the Bombay Natural History Society and independent researchers as exceptional — the old-growth sal canopy and the forest understorey together support a layered bird community that includes the Indian pitta, malabar pied hornbill, crested serpent eagle, forest owlet, and numerous other species that require large intact forest blocks. The trail also passes a watch tower from which elephant herds moving through the forest can be observed at a safe distance. Access requires a forest department permit from the Chaibasa (West Singhbhum) Forest Division office. Guides — often drawn from the Ho and Santali tribal communities who have generational knowledge of the forest — are mandatory and essential for both safety and meaningful wildlife interpretation. An overnight stay in the forest rest houses at Kiriburu or Jagannathpur is strongly recommended, as the dawn and dusk periods offer the best wildlife and birdwatching activity.