It was declared a sanctuary in July 1990.[4] It derives its name from the Purna River, which flows through it.
Geography and climate
The sanctuary has thick forest cover of teak and bamboo. It has a tropical climate with moderate to heavy rainfall. The average rainfall received by this region is about 2500mm.[4]
Three distinct climatic seasons are noted: winter, summer and monsoon. Winter is from middle of November to end of February and the average temperature recorded during the coldest month of January is 10 °C (50 °F). Summer is from March to end of May when the temperature range is 35–40 °C (95–104 °F). Monsoon season sets in the middle of June or early July and lasts till September.
A popular time to visit the sanctuary is early winter when the river and rivulets are full of fresh water. The nearest large city, Surat, is 100 kilometres (62 mi) away. Surat has an airport which provides links with the rest of the country. Vyara is the nearest railway station, which is 20 kilometres (12 mi) away.[4]
In a view to develop eco-tourism, the Government of Gujarat maintains Mahal Campsite in this sanctuary.[1]
^Jhala, Y. V., Qureshi, Q., Sinha, P. R. (Eds.) (2011). Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India, 2010. National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. TR 2011/003 pp-302