The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra has been marked as India’s first Dark Sky Park and the fifth such park in Asia.
- PTR has been marked for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution, making the facility ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) emphasises on the recognition of the intrinsic value of the night sky as a natural, cultural, and historical resource.
- The Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society Working Group, led by the International Astronomical Union, has recommended the establishment of ‘Dark Sky Oases‘ by national and local governments.
- The Dark Sky Place certification focuses on lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and monitoring the night sky.
Pench Tiger Reserve
- Pench Tiger Reserve is one of the premier tiger reserves of India and the first one to straddle across two states – Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- The fictional works of Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book, are set in the region.
Dark-sky preserve
- A dark-sky preserve is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory, that restricts artificial light pollution. The purpose of the dark-sky movement is generally to promote astronomy.
- The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) station located in Hanle, and operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, is India’s first dark-sky preserve.
