Sacred Groves of the Karauli District, Rajasthan: An Ethnobotanical Overview

Authors

  • Swarnkar Vishnu Kumar Department of Botany, Govt. College Karauli University of Kota, Kota (Rajasthan)
  • Khandelwal Sitaram Department of Botany, Govt. College Karauli University of Kota, Kota (Rajasthan)

Keywords:

Sacred Groves, Ethnobotany, Biodiversity Conservation, Karauli, Rajasthan, Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Abstract

Sacred groves are forest fragments protected and venerated based on traditional religious and cultural beliefs, often dedicated to a local deity or ancestral spirit. These ecosystems, found across India, serve as crucial reservoirs of biodiversity and repositories of indigenous knowledge. In Rajasthan, sacred groves represent a vital, though understudied, link between cultural heritage and ecological conservation. This study provides an overview of the sacred groves in the Karauli district, documenting their locations, associated flora, and socio-cultural context. Field surveys identified 12 major sacred groves within the Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary area, with 13 key plant species commonly conserved within them. The findings underscore the role of these groves in preserving regional ethnobotanical knowledge and native plant diversity, highlighting their significance for both cultural continuity and biodiversity conservation in a semi-arid region.

 

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Published

2025-01-31

How to Cite

Swarnkar Vishnu Kumar, & Khandelwal Sitaram. (2025). Sacred Groves of the Karauli District, Rajasthan: An Ethnobotanical Overview. International Journal of Life Sciences, 157–160. Retrieved from https://ijlsci.in/ls/index.php/home/article/view/1717

Issue

2025: Special Issue of  International Conference on Futuristic Approach for Viksit Bharat (ICFAVB-2047)

Section

Research Articles

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