AstronEra LogoAstronEra
All Pilot Sites
Protected AreaDark Sky ReserveNagpur District

Pench Tiger Reserve

The landscape that inspired Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book." Pench straddles Nagpur and Madhya Pradesh, with buffer-zone forests sufficiently remote from the city to offer dark skies. An established tourism ecosystem makes it strategic for astrotourism integration.

VIIRS — — nagpur District

See Nagpur District's 13-year trend →

  • Inspiration for "The Jungle Book"
  • Existing safari and eco-resort tourism infrastructure
  • DSI pre-application submitted April 2026
  • Work order sanctioned and SQM monitoring initiated

1 update

survey

Pench Work Order Sanctioned and DSI Pre-Application Filed

The Deputy Director, Pench Tiger Reserve issued a work order, and the DarkSky International pre-application was submitted and acknowledged — initiating on-ground monitoring.
Shweta Kulkarni

Shweta Kulkarni

programme-wide

Detailed Budget Framework Submitted to Chief Secretary

AstronEra submitted the detailed certification budget and financial framework to the Chief Secretary's office, covering all 11 pilot sites with a standardised per-site cost structure.
Programme-wide
programme-wide

Chief Secretary Convenes Inter-Departmental Dark Sky Meeting

Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal (IAS) convened a multi-department meeting at Mantralaya with Tourism, Environment, Energy, Revenue & Forest, Urban Development, Tribal Development, and Home departments — directing immediate action at all 11 pilot sites.
Programme-wide
programme-wide

Tourism Department Issues Statewide Dark Sky Directive

The Department of Tourism formally directed all 11 district collectors to cooperate with the Dark Sky Places certification process and allocate funds through the District Planning Committee.
Programme-wide
programme-wide

Communications Issued to District Collectors of Pilot Sites

Following the high-level government meetings, formal communications were issued to the District Collectors of all pilot site districts, initiating the on-ground coordination process for dark sky certification.
Programme-wide
programme-wide

DarkSky International Endorses AstronEra as Maharashtra Partner

DarkSky International issued a formal endorsement letter recognising AstronEra as the official dark sky certification partner for Maharashtra — a critical credential for the state-level policy push.
Programme-wide
programme-wide

Meeting with Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism

AstronEra met with Principal Secretary of the Department of Tourism Mr Sanjay Khandare (IAS) to discuss integration of dark sky certification with Maharashtra's tourism strategy and the potential for astrotourism at pilot sites.
Programme-wide
TARA Dark Sky Policy Document
programme-wide

Meeting with Honourable Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra

AstronEra met with Honourable Chief Secretary Mr Rajesh Agarwal (IAS) to discuss the TARA Dark Sky Policy framework and the programme's strategic roadmap for dark sky certification across Maharashtra's pilot sites.
Programme-wide
TARA Dark Sky Policy Document
programme-wide

Meeting with Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, Environment

AstronEra presented the TARA Dark Sky Policy framework to Additional Chief Secretary Mrs Ashwini Bhide (IAS) and Principal Secretary of the Environment and Climate Change Department Mrs Jayashri Bhoj (IAS), securing high-level engagement for Maharashtra's dark sky conservation initiative.
Programme-wide
TARA Dark Sky Policy Document
programme-wide

CM Fadnavis Congratulates AstronEra on Dark Sky Defender Asia Award

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis publicly congratulated Shweta Kulkarni on receiving the Dark Sky Defender — Asia 2024 award from DarkSky International, signalling state-level support for the dark sky programme.
Programme-wide
DGIPR YouTube — National Space Day 2025

Programme

Other pilot sites

View all →

Lonar Crater

4/10

Buldhana · Dark Sky Park

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve

3/10

Chandrapur · Dark Sky Reserve

Kaas Plateau

2/10

Satara · Dark Sky Park

Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary

2/10

Satara · Dark Sky Reserve

Toranmal

2/10

Nandurbar · Dark Sky Park

Udmal

2/10

Nashik · Dark Sky Community

Bhandardara

1/10

Ahilyanagar · Dark Sky Park

Bhimashankar

1/10

Pune · Dark Sky Park

Harihareshwar

1/10

Raigad · Dark Sky Park

Melghat

1/10

Amravati · Dark Sky Sanctuary

Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary

1/10

Jalgaon · Dark Sky Sanctuary