Best Places to see Tigers in India

Kanha National Park & Reserve

Madhya Pradesh

Bandhavgarh National Park

Madhya Pradesh

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve

Maharashtra

Kanha National Park

Madhya Pradesh

The Best Places to see the Tiger in India, Land of the Deer and Tiger

Best Time of the year to visit Kanha National Park

October – June

Types of Safari at Kanha National Park

Jeep Safari and Walking Trails

How to get to Kanha National Park

04 hour drive from Raipur Airport
05 hour drive from Jabalpur Airport
6.5 hou drive from Nagpur Airport

How many nights to spend at Kanha National Park

04 nights

Wildlife to see at Kanha National Park

Tiger, Hard Ground Swamp Deer, Indian Wild Dog, Golden jackal, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Chinkara or Indian Black Buck, Barking Deer

Birds to see at Kanha National Park

Emerald Dove, White Rumped Shama, Indian Schmitt Babbler, Greater Raquet tai Drongo, Scarlet Minivet, Rosy Minivet, Verditer Flycatcher, Crested hawk Eagle, Indian Vulture, White rumped Vulture

One associates Central India with being a water-stricken and rather hot area – however, the opposite holds true for Kanha. Chilled winters, availability of water around the year, and coolness in the early morning and evening in peak summer characterize the uniqueness of this place.

Being in the tribal belt of South-eastern Madhya Pradesh, it has retained its rich old forest tracts which form corridors for animals, especially migrating tigers, to other forests in Madhya Pradesh such as Pench as well as sanctuaries such as Achanakmar in Chattisgarh. Without these corridors, the medium to the long-term survival of tigers hangs in the balance.

Kanha Tiger Reserve is spread over 2200 sq. km and maintains a core area of 940 sq. km – it has between 80 to 100 tigers in the wild which makes it one of the best places to see the Tiger in India. Kanha National Park is also distinguished by its moist deciduous forest dominated by old and towering Sal trees and its famous meadows where the critically endangered Hard Ground Swamp Deer or “Barasingha” has its last stronghold.

These large deer have their rutting or mating season in winter and their magnificent winter coats and the beautifully decorated “Bara Singh” or twelve-tined antlers are a treat to behold.

During a tiger safari in Kanha National Park, one can hope to see large yet elusive tigers walking on the jeep tracks as they traverse through the comparatively more comfortable road to announce their presence. Interestingly, it is the best place to also spot Male Tigers in the wild in India.

Birding is fantastic here, with species such as the Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo, Scarlet Minivet, Crested Hawk Eagle, Emerald Dove, and Rufous Woodpecker catching the eye amongst 350+species recorded here.

Bandhavgarh National Park

Madhya Pradesh

The Best Places to see the Tiger in India, Land of Forts and Legendary Tigers

Best Time of the year to visit Bandhavgarh National Park

October – June

Types of Safari at Bandhavgarh National Park

Jeep Safaris

How to get to Bandhavgarh National Park

3.5 hour drive from Jabalpur Airport

How many nights to spend at Bandhavgarh National Park

04 nights

Wildlife to see at Bandhavgarh National Park

Tiger, Leopard, Golden Jackal, Sloth Bear, Gaur

Birds to see at Bandhavgarh National Park

Indian Vulture, Brown Fish Owl, White rumped Vulture, Red headed Vulture, Indian Golden Oriole, Jungle Bus Quail, Indian Paradise Flycatcher

Bandhavgarh is rightfully one of the best places to see the Tiger in India on safari. A famous hunting reserve for the Maharajas who ruled these lands, this area has to this day been preserved for shooting wildlife – with cameras. Come take a Tiger Safari with us at Bandhavgarh.

An almost isolated park, it has very few migration routes for dispersed male tigers looking to find a home for themselves, hence, along with suitable habitat and prey-base, it has retained a high density of tigers. Around 60 or so wild tigers survive here today.

The Tiger Reserve is spread over 1100 sq. km with a core area of about 440 sq. km.

A safari experience here, with enthusiastic guides and drivers is a thrilling experience – the routes taken by the tigers of old are taken to this day by their offspring and one can learn about tracking these tigers through the eyes of the locals.

This landscape is dominated by Sal and Bamboo forest, however, its beauty shines at Tala Zone with its famous grasslands, surrounded almost entirely by large hills whereupon old Forts, Temples and Watchtowers have been erected – dating back to 10^th century AD.

There is also the famous 60-foot statue of the sleeping Lord Vishnu in the middle of Tala Zone – a sight of tranquility in the tranquil forest.

The forests, though dominated by Sal Trees such as those at Kanha and Corbett, are much drier and this is evident from February onwards moving into summer. There is a good mix of the scrub forest as well.

Though many might scoff at the idea of bird watching here, Bandhavgarh is an excellent birding destination with good visibility of birds. It has a very good population of the vultures such as the critically endangered Indian Vulture and White-rumped Vulture which roost along the cliffs. The Indian paradise flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Indian Pitta as well as the sight of the not-so-common White-capped Bunting can be enjoyed here. Hence a tiger safari tour is not complete without experiencing all that Bandhavgarh has to offer.

Tadoba National Park

Maharashtra

The Best Places to see the Tiger in India, Jewel of Vidarbha

Best Time of the year to visit Tadoba National Park

October – June

Types of Safari at Tadoba National Park

Jeep Safaris

How to get to Tadoba National Park

2.5 hour drive from Nagpur Airport

How many nights to spend atTadoba National Park

04 nights

Wildlife to see at Tadoba National Park

Tiger, Leopard, Golden Jackal, Sloth Bear, Gaur

Birds to see at Tadoba National Park

Spotted Owl, Brown Fish Owl, White rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, Black Hooded Oriole, White Throated Kingfisher, Indian Paradise Flycatcher.

Slowly creeping up to the stature of Bandhavgarh as the go-to National Park for Tiger-centric tourists, Tadoba is burgeoning with tourism and as a result, bold Tigers who are less reserved about the multitude of eyes watching them from their jeeps.

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, located in the state of Maharashtra, is around 1700 sq km in size and is dominated by Teak trees. The core area is 625 sq. km. with tiger population crossing a very healthy 80 tigers!

Here, Sloth Bears and Leopards are seen in good frequency as well.

The dry deciduous forest has good visibility around the year and large, strategically-built watering holes become an almost permanent fixture for Tigers as the temperature easily hits the mid-40’s(degrees Celsius) during the summer.