Young tiger family in Tadoba © Bharat Goel

Tadoba Indian Gaur © Shutterstock

Tadoba Wild Pig © Atul Dhamanker

Tadoba Chameleon © Atul Dhamanker

Tiger in the lake in Tadoba © Atul Dhamanker

Tadoba Langur on flame of forest tree © Atul Dhamanker

Tadoba Indian Gaur © Atul Dhamanker

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

West India

This classic teak and bamboo paradise epitomises a Central Indian jungle - from the lush green foliage in early monsoons, to the dry and dusty browns and yellows of summer, you can enjoy Tadoba’s beauty throughout the year. Often referred to as The Jewel of Vidharba, Tadoba was overlooked until very recently. Visionary management and better protection now ensures it sits amongst the best parks in India with recognised tigers and their playful cubs residing around picturesque lakes like Tadoba and Telia, and the meadows of Panderpuni, Khatoda and Jamunjhora. Recent village relocation programmes are opening up new areas and new habitats and the greater area now contains over 100 tigers in its 1,854 square kilometres area. Tadoba is shrouded in the legends of its original inhabitants, the Gonds. Once great hunter-gatherers, they are now principally farmers and herders since the wave of Hindu settlers opened up these dark forests in the 18th and 19th centuries. Evidence of their tr...ibal kingdoms can still be seen in the fortress of Chanda today. The name Tadoba is derived from the legend of a Gond called Taru who was killed by a tiger. There are three tourism zones that can be accessed via one of four gates around the park - Khutwanda, Kolara, Navegaon and Mohurli.

Game drives are largely along the more accessible and open Western side. In the Tadoba range, make sure to stop at Katezari, which is an evergreen valley, drive around Tadoba Lake and Pandharpauni meadows that have two waterholes where animals make frequent visits. In the Mohurli range, visit the Telia Lake, which is a good place to spot migratory birds and Andhari Nala is excellent for gaur sightings.

Apart from tigers and leopards, look for the rusty-spotted cat, sloth bear, ratel, gaur, fourhorned antelope, Indian mouse deer and Indian pangolin. Over 200 bird species like paradise flycatchers, noisy coppersmith, brown-headed barbets, Indian pittas and shrikes along with 75 different types of butterflies have been spotted here. Monsoon brings out a whole raft of reptiles, snakes and animals active during the rains providing avid naturalists with new opportunities to study the small – not just the large.

Camping facilities are available at Mohorli and Kolsa on prior booking. The nearby Bhadravati town attracts tourists for its ancient Bhadravati and Jain temples that have beautiful sculptures. There are walking nature trails and machaan lookout spots in Khutwanda; boat and canoe trips on the picturesque Irai Lake; and birding routes around lodges.

Tadoba sits on some of India’s richest coalfields. On the road to Chandrapur, huge open cast mining operations continue and together with an expanding town have cut off migratory corridors through Brahmapuri and Nagzira forests. These corridors are absolutely vital for Tadoba’s far-roaming tigers that would otherwise crowd the fringes and increase chances of man-animal conflicts. Illegal poaching, wood chopping and overgrazing are a problem, but an eco-sensitive planning zone has stopped the advent of mass tourism. Your visit is crucial to support the local economy, but please also report abuse or poor practice at admin@toftindia.org

Destination Information

How To Book

Safaris can be booked through your lodge or tour operators. You can also book them online:http://mahaecotourism.gov.in/Site/Common/nationalParks.aspx

Park Timings

Winter: Morning: 06:30 am to 11:00 am Evening: 02:00 pm to 06:00 pm Summer : Morning: 05:30 am to 10:00 am: Evening: 03:30 pm to 07:00 pm While the core areas remain closed during the monsoons, the buffer zone is open. The core zone of the park will be closed on Tuesdays and the other zones on Wednesdays beginning April 2020.

Getting Around the Park

Game viewing is done in jeeps that can be hired from Khutwanda, Kolara and Mohurli Gates or booked by your lodge. Prices start from R 2,500. Canters are available from Mohurli having a capacity of 20 people and have to be booked directly on arrival at the gate. Safari departures take place at 6:30 am and 3:30 pm. Tadoba also offers walking safaris, silent electric-operated Pontoon boats and sit-ups on photographic hides.

Entry Fees

Weekdays: R 750 for cars and jeeps, R 1,500 for mini buses
Weekends and Holidays: R 1,000 for cars and jeeps | R 2,000 for mini buses

Guide Fees: R 300

By Air: Nagpur (140 -250 km depending on the gate). By Rail / Road: Nagpur (140 km). The nearest railway station is Chandrapur (45 km), Warora (42 km) and Chimur (32 km) is the nearest town. Local transport can be hired to reach the reserve from Chandrapur and Chimu

explore by region
click the map

Click Here for Good
Wildlife Travel Guide

Eco-friendly properties in the area

Irai Safari Retreat

Located beside the village of Bhamdeli, this comfortable lodge is spread across 14 acres of naturally restored landscape overlooking the glistening waters of the Irai Lake that borders this tiger park.

Svasara Jungle Lodge

Set over ten acres of land near the Kolara tribal hamlet, Svasara is a Sanskrit word meaning nest, which is exactly what the lodge aims to offer - a place of security and belonging that exists in harmony with its natural surroundings.

Limban Resort

Nestled in the Bhavgadh hills across a large seasonal pond near the Mudholi village is Limban Resort - a sustainable eco-resort that strives to provide the highest standards of comfort and hospitality

Other Destinations To Combine

Nagzira Tiger Reserve

West India

This small wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 152 sq km in the north east corner of Maharashtra

Pench Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh

Since 1992 Pench has been included under the umbrella of Project Tiger as the 19th Project

Kanha Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh

Kanha is considered by some as the India’s greatest park, an excellent habitat for many mammals

Travel Here with the Best Travel Companies & Agents

Plan you Indian holiday, Nepal adventure, or Bhutan visit using one of a large number of the world’s best known travel companies, or Indian based agents to put your very own itinerary together. Every travel company here has committed to drive their own sustainable travel practices, seek PUG certified accommodation providers wherever possible and support our conservation efforts.

Now you can enjoy a flawless and carefree travel itinerary to many of Indian subcontinent’s greatest wilderness destinations and combine this with its rich cultural and historic heritage.

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve