Do you want to enjoy your vacation in the lap of nature then you should visit the best tiger reserves in India? India is a vast land of diversity boasting home to some of the unique flora and fauna species that make wildlife sanctuaries here a paradise? India provides a home to 70% tigers in the world and is known as the land of tigers. The country alone comprises of a total number of 50 tiger reserves. The reserves are governed by Project Tiger which is administrated by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTRA).

So what exactly is a tiger reserve? A Tiger Reserve consists of a ‘core’ or a ‘critical tiger habitat’ which is managed as an inviolate area.

Nothing is better than a vacation in the lap of nature. The question arises when we can not decide the perfect destination for an eco-vacation. One of the best ways to experience this kind of natural bliss in India is visiting National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary or any Tiger Reserve.

As the number of tigers declined below 1000 in 2005 Project Tiger was initiated to protect the wild big cats. Between the span of 13 years from 2005 to 2018 the tiger count reached 2967 from 1411.

Best Tiger Reserves In India

Here is the list of some of the best tiger reserves in India sorted according to the best tiger spotting:

1. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
2. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
3. Kanha Tiger Reserve Madhya, Pradesh
4. Tadoba-Andheri Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
5. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
6. Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh Border
7. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
8. Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve, Karnataka
9. Nazira Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra
10. Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh

 

The Best Tiger Reserves That You Should Visit

According to me the top three Tiger Reserves in India based on the tiger spotting experience. So let’s see the top three tiger reserves in India.

Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

The Bandhavgarh sanctuary has the highest density of tigers in the area. Situated in the north-eastern border of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park is top-rated and most visited national parks of the state. Nestled amidst the Satpura and Vindhyas the national park offers a feast to eyes with a lush green geographical picture, amazing sightseeings, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

The national park is known for its habitat for over a 100 Bengal Tigers. The dominant fauna in mammals consists of are tiger, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild bear, dhole, nilgai, chinkara, sloth bear, rhesus macaque, black-faced langur, etc. and in birds are steppe eagles, orange-beaded thrush, black ‘n’ white Malabar hornbills, grey Malabar hornbills, white-bellied drongos, etc. The flora is comprised of thick forests with spices of Sal, Kadam, Khajur, Khair, Karel, mohua, etc. The forests receive an average rainfall between 600-1200 mm which keeps the lush green aura maintained.

Even though the park is open through the months of October to June, the best time to spot tigers will be from April to June. The best season to enjoy the flora, witnessing the birds’ paradise, embrace mind-blowing sights of the wildlife of the national park from the view of tourist or travel purpose, Oct to Apr is the ideal season.

The national park offers wildlife safaris twice in a day one in the morning and another in the afternoon for three hours.

The nearest airports to Bandhavgarh National Park are Jabalpur Aiport and Khajuraho Airport while the nearest railway station is Umaria, Katna and Jabalpur Railway Stations.

Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

Ranthambore National Park is one of the most famous tiger reserves in India, it offers the most promising prospects for spotting tigers in Rajasthan. Although the national park is close to the urban area, it still beholds the majestic and most beautiful tiger sights in the most natural facets. Ranthambore is one of the biggest and the most renowned national parks in the country. The national park is situated in Sawai Madhopur, at a distance of 130 km from Jaipur.

The national park is spread across an area of 392 sq. km. along with Mansingh Sanctuary. It offers splendid views of its diverse flora and fauna. In the typically dry deciduous elements, the thick forests feature dominating fauna i.e., tigers, Indian leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, striped hyena, sloth bear, mugger crocodile, etc. The wildlife sanctuary is known for its Bengal tigers, Bengal tigers are presented in a larger sum. The national park offers a three hours wildlife jeep safaris tours twice in a day one in the morning and another in the afternoon. The national park offers a feast to the eyes of many wildlife photographers and nature lovers.

The national park is closed during the monsoon season while the best time to visit is between Nov to Mar as the cool season is much more comfortable and very good for wildlife. The national park is located on the edge of the plateau bounded by the Banas river and Chambal river.

The nearest railway station to National Park is Sawai Madhopur Railway Station and Jaipur Airport is 160 km away, whereas Kota is the nearest city with a distance of 110 km.

Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Another one of the largest national parks located in Madhya Pradesh is Kanha Tiger Reserve. The Kanha national park looks most like Mowgli’s stomping ground, close to the cities of both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It can be chosen as the destination for aficionados of wildlife, especially tigers. The reserve offers sheer panoramic beauty. It is situated amidst the Milkai range of Stapuras and spread across 1945 sq. km. in the Milkai chain of hills.
You will love the magnanimous sights of flora and fauna with a one-of-a-kind experience, especially for nature lovers. Witness tigers, barasingha, wild dog, swamp deep, etc. and a paradise for ornithologists. The best location inside the national park is Bammi Dadar also known as the sunset point. The ideal time to visit Kanha Tiger Reserve is between Oct to Jun. Arrangements for jeep safaris for a splendid time among the wild are made from sunrise to noon and from noon to sunset.

The nearest cities to the tiger reserve are Jabalpur and Nagpur whereas the Gondia railway station is the nearest one at a distance of 145 km.

Conclusion

We Indian takes pride in being the home of above 70% of the tiger popular in the world. So the next time you wish to enjoy the Indian wilderness and plan a jungle excursion in the hope of sighting a tiger you don’t need to spend time looking for the best-tiger spotting national park. Plan an offbeat family trip, a holiday with friends or spend the weekend out of the city for a one-of-a-kind experience. So pack your bags and let TripOffbeat do the hustle work for you and enjoy your trip.