29 Jul Five Top Tiger Reserves in North & Central India
India has 52 tiger reserves spread all over the country. These are tiger conservation units, and tiger tourism is organized in twenty percent of the core area. People are passionate about spotting tigers and they visit these tiger reserves over and over again. Those who are enticed by the tiger prefer to visit the destinations for tiger safari. Some of these places are:
- Corbett Tiger Reserve
- Bandhavgarh National Park
- Kanha National Park
- Pench Tiger Reserve
- Tadoba Tiger Reserve
These reserves are high-density tiger destinations and receive a large number of visitors. Tourists from overseas and domestic ones prefer tiger reserves where the big cat sighting chances are the highest. These five reserves mentioned above fall into that category. Below are the briefs on the five top tiger reserves.
Corbett Tiger Reserve
Corbett Tiger Reserve and National Park is situated in the Nainital District of the State of Uttarakhand in North India. The tiger reserve encompasses 500 sq. km and is home to 100 tigers. It is home to many other wild animals, and about 500 avian species. Tourists flock to these National Parks to watch tigers and wild elephants. Other wildlife includes goral, hog deer, barking deer, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur, marsh crocodile, gharial, yellow-throated marten, sloth bear, brown and black bear plus three species of otters. Corbett is full of exotic wild species of mammals, reptiles, insects, and avians. This is the reason why the destination draws a large number of tourists, wildlife photographers, and naturalists.
Corbett is accessible from Ramnagar township which is situated at the edge of the township.
Bandhavgarh National Park
Situated in the Umaria District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India, Bandhavgarh is the land of the tiger. The core encompasses 750 sq. Km while the reserve encompasses 1100 sq. km. Tiger safari is the main attraction of the park which is a tiger reserve and a National Park.
Wild species found here are Central Indian mammals, reptiles, insects, and 250 plus species of avian. The bird species include pale arctic winter migrants and local migrants. Among the big game, one can see the bison, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, sambar deer, chinkara, four-horned antelope, barking deer, Nilgai, jackal, and the barking deer. The nocturnal mammals often spotted are the fox, civet cats, porcupine, mouse deer, and ratel. Off late wild elephants have made Bandhavgarh their home.
Bandhavgarh is home to history with many ancient structures built by tribal and ruling dynasties. Thus the destination offers dual pleasure on a tiger safari. You can watch exciting wildlife on safari and pay a visit to ancient structures that come your way during the drive.
Bandhavgarh is at a distance of 174 km and is accessible from Jabalpur Airport in MP.
Kanha National Park
Situated in the Mandla and Baihar Districts of Madhya Pradesh in Central India Kanha is one of the largest parks in India. The tiger reserve and National Park encompasses a core area of 913 sq. km and 1000 sq. km of buffer zone. Though the park is home to 100 tigers its pride accrues from saving the critically endangered hard ground barasingha. From 66 heads in the seventies, the population has grown to over 500 heads. But Kanha National Park is most visited for its very high tiger sighting.
Other wild species seen are mammals, reptiles, insects, and avian. Some of the easily sighted animals besides the tiger are the leopard, bison, sloth bear, hard ground barasingha, chital, wild boar, jungle cat, langur, rhesus macaque, and jackal. Less seen animals are the fox, porcupine, civet cats, and ratel as they are nocturnal by nature, However, lucky ones can spot these hidden gems during the night safari. Kanha is accesible from Jabalpur Airport in MP. From Jabalpur, the drive is 165 km.
Pench National Park
Also referred to as Kipling Counry the reserve and National Park was at the Center of Kipling’s Jungle Book. Jungle Book was based on the forests named Seoni Hills which are now part of the reserve. Most of the creatures mentioned in the book can be seen here with ease. Sher Khan, Baloo the Bear, and Baghira the black panther are frequently encountered. Mowgli is no more but hundreds live outside the park in the villages.
Pench National Park is divided into a large area in Madhya Pradesh and a small area in the state of Maharashtra. The total area of Pench National Park is 758 sq. km which includes the buffer.
Wild species seen here are the tiger, sloth bear, bison, leopard, Nilgai, chinkara, barking deer, and jungle cat. Less seen animals are the fox, porcupine, ratel, and civet cats. The park is home to over 200 species of birds.
Pench is accessible from Nagpur and a short drive of 90 km is required. Pench is 200 km from Jabalpur Airport and Kanha National Park.
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
Tadoba is Maharashtra’s Largest National Park. Tadoba encompasses 577.96 sq. km. Named after Tribal God Taru the forests are a confluence of Tadoba and Andhari Forests now known as tiger reserve and National Park.
The keystone species are the tiger, leopard, sambar, sloth bear, dhole, gaur, Nilgai, chital, chausingha, barking deer, jackal, wild boar, langur, jungle cat, rhesus macaque, and the marsh crocodile. The park is also home to nocturnal animals like civet cats, foxes, honey badgers, and the porcupine. The park is home to over 200 species of birds.
Tiger sightings at Tadoba are the best in Central India and hence a large number of tourists flock to the destination. They come in the hope of sighting the big cats and are not disappointed.
Tadoba to Nagpur Airpot is over 160 km via Chandrapur.
These destinations described above are the best places to see the tiger in India. You need to book the tiger safari in advance since the rush is perpetual and entry is limited.
Blog Credits
HIMANI GUPTA