Top Tiger Reserves for Tiger Sighting in India

There are as many as 20 reserves & national parks in India where you can see a tiger. We have picked 10 best Tiger Reserves in India on the basis of frequent tiger spotting. Many National Parks of India in several different states are natural habitats of Tigers. There are good chances to spot the animals in one of these places.

With so many places to visit in India, we are often spoilt for choices. Tiger reserves in India are not just about tigers, these reserves or national parks are so rich in wildlife too.

Watching a tiger in its natural habitat is an exhilarating experience. Most of us have seen tigers & other animals in Zoo usually. The conventional zoos are confined places that cramps a large number of animals in a small area. The practice is totally against the well-being of the wild animals.

List of Tiger Reserves in India

National parks & tiger reserves maintain the natural living conditions of the animals. They are free to roam around, prey, breed. The wildlife conservation efforts have improved the total number of tigers in India.

The National parks & reserves listed below are some of the most popular among the travelers. The State-wise list will help you to see the majestic animal at a place near you.

The number of visitors to tiger reserves in India has gone up subsequently. People are loving the experience of being in the wilderness & spotting the royal beast is a cherry on the cake.

Total Number of Tigers in India

Currently, there are 3,682 tigers in India. Madhya Pradesh (785) has the highest population of tigers followed by Karnataka (524) among others.

Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh

1- Kanha Tiger Reserve or Kanha National Park

Kanha Tiger Reserve or Kanha National Park

Kanha Tiger Reserve is a vast national park in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. Rich with a variety of Flora & Fauna, Kanha is home to many rare species of animals & birds. It is also the largest National Park of Madhya Pradesh.

The park remains closed during the monsoon season however you can still visit the Buffer Zone. You will have limited access to certain areas & if lucky might as well spot a tiger.

• Area: 362.9 square miles
• Opening Hours: Monday- Sunday 8 AM-10 PM
• Best Time to Visit: October- June, summer reason is best for the visit as most of the animals are out wandering or gather near the water bodies.
• What you Can Spot Here: Tiger (Maximum spotting in Kanha & Mukki Zone), Indian Leopard, Jungle Fowl, Sambhal Deer, Bison, Black Buck, Wild Boar.
• How to Reach There: Kanha Tiger Reserve is reachable through road & railway.
• Nearest Railway Station– Gondia → Kanha ( Gondia railway station is located 145 km from the park. It takes around 3 hrs to reach Kanha)
• Jabalpur → Kanha ( Jabalpur Railway station is around 160 ks from Kanha. You will reach Kana in 4hrs

Kanha National Park remains closed from July 1 to Oct 15 due to monsoon season

• Check out: Book Kanha Wildlife Tour Package

2- Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh-National-Park

Bandhavgarh National park has the highest density of tigers in the world, hence it is perfect for tiger spotting. The dense forest is home to a variety of animal & bird species. It gets its name from the ancient Bandhavgarh fort.

The National Park is known for its magnificent Bengal Tigers. with the highest density of tigers in the park, it is quite popular among visitors who come here exclusively for tiger spotting.

The demography of the place is quite varied from dense forest to hilly terrains, water bodies & plains, making it an ideal home for a large number of birds and animals.

• Average Cost: INR 5000 (for a ticket, hiring jeep & guide)
• Best Time to Visit: From 15 Oct- 30 June (the park remains closed during the monsoon season)
• Points of Interest: Bandhavgarh fort, Shesh Saiya, Three Cave Point, Safaris to the Bandhavgarh National Park, Badi Gufa,
• How to Reach There: By road- It is well connected with many major cities.
  • BY Air– Nearest Airports is Khajuraho then a drive of 8 Hrs to Tala Park Entrance.
  • By Train– Nearest Railway station is Umaria then a drive of 40 mins to the park.

Distance Chart

• Delhi (978 km)
• Gwalior- MP (565 km)
• Khajuraho (270 km)
• Jabalpur (190 km)
• Satna (120 Km)
• Katni (102 km)
• Umaria (35 km)

3- Satpura Tiger Reserve or Satpura National Park

Satpura Tiger Reserve or Satpura National Park

Satpura Tiger Reserve, which derives its name from the Satpura range, offers great views of the forest & hilly region. It doesn’t have as many numbers of the tiger as in Kanha & Bandhavgarh but the location & other wildlife variety will make up to it.

• Area: 2133.3 Sq Km
• Best Time to visit: October to April ( Park remains closed from June 1 to 30 September. You can still visit the buffer zone during this period with limited access)
• What you can spot here: It has a good variety of wildlife you can spot including deer, Wild boar, Four-horned antelopes, Chinkara, Nilgai & Indian Giant Squirrel.
• How to reach there: By road- It is well connected with many cities
• By Air– Nearest Airport is Bhopal ( 170 km from the park)
• By Train- Nearest railway stations are Itarsi, Sohagpur, Pipariya & Hoshangabad.

Distance Chart

• Itarsi: 70 Km
• Bhopal: 140 Km
• Jabalpur: 230 km
• Hoshangabad: 70 Km

Interesting Fact: Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) received the best performer award in India on July 29, 2019. It raised the highest number of tiger between 2014-2018.

• Suggested Tour: Madhya Pradesh Wildlife Tour Package

Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra

4- Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

The Tadoba Andhari Tiger reserve is located in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. It is the largest Tiger reserve in Maharashtra. It derives its name from a local deity named ‘Tadoba’ & ‘Andheri’ river that flows by it.

The pristine nature & wildlife around will make your trip a memorable one. Try & book your trip & accommodation in advance. The best part is that the park is not very crowded making it a pleasant trip for families & groups.

• Area: 626 sq km
• Number of Tigers in Reserve: 115
• Best Time to visit: Oct 15- June 30 ( Remains closed every Tuesday)
• What You Can Spot Here: Tiger, Sloth bear, Panther, Wild boar, hyenas, wild bison, Jungle cats, Marsh crocodile, Python
• How to Reach There: By Road: The park is well connected with all the major cities in India.
  • Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve → Chimur ( 32 km)
  • Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve → Chandrapur (45 km)
• By Air: The nearest airport is Nagpur ( 140 km from the park)
• By Train: The nearest railway station is Chandrapur ( 45km)

5- Pench Tiger Reserve

Pench Tiger Reserve in madhya pradesh

Pench Tiger Reserve is shared between two states Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh. Generally, Pench is considered as a National Park in Madhya Pradesh. It is also a notified site for Important Birds in India.

With a large number of animals, amphibians & birds, pench Tiger reserve is not only known for tiger spotting but also one of the most visited tiger reserves in India for ita variety of wildlife.

• Area: 292.8 sq km
• What You Can Spot Here: Tiger, Chital, Sloth bear, Elephants, Panther, Wild boar, hyenas, wild bison, Jungle cats
• Best Time to Visit: October- June ( Park remains closed from July-September)
• How to Reach There: By Road– The nearest city is Seoni ( 30 km)
  • By Air– Sonegaon airport is closest to Pench National Park ( 93 km)
  • By Train– The nearest railway station is Seoni Railway Station (30 km)

6- Nawegaon- Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary

Nawegaon- Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra

Nawegaon- Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is the fifth Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra. It is located in the Gondia district of Maharashtra.

It is a dense forest in central India with rich Flora & Fauna. If you want to experience the wildlife from close quarters, rent out the cottages available in the park. It is surely going to be one of a kind experience.

• Area: 152.8 sq km
• Best Time to Visit: October- June ( Park remains closed from July-September)
• What You Can Spot Here: Tiger, wild boar, leopards, wild dog, deer, Nilgai, panther, bison, sambar, chital, sloth bear.
• How to Reach There: By Road- Sanctuary is well connected with many cities
  • By Air– The nearest airport if Nagpur (122 km)
  • By Train– Gondia railway station (45 km)

Distance Chart

• Nagpur (122 km)
• Gondia (45 km)
• Bhandara (60 km)

Tiger Sighting in Rajasthan

7- Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan

Ranthambore National Park is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan and is one of the largest tiger reserves in Northern India. It is around 120 km from Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. If you are looking for places to visit in Jaipur & nearby, do Include Ranthambore National Park in your list.

Ranthambore is also a famous heritage site popular among local & foreign visitors. The park is mostly booked in advance for the winter season. A wide variety of birds & animals can easily be spotted in the park.

• Area: 392 sq km
• Best Time to Visit: October- June ( The park remains closed during the monsoon season- from July to September)
• How to Reach There: By Road- Well connected by road to Jaipur & other cities.
• By Air– The nearest airport is Sanger Airport in Jaipur (182 km)
• By Train– The nearest railway station is Sawai Madhopur Railway Station (14 km)

Check out: Book Ranthambore Weekend Tour Package

Tiger Reserves in Karnataka

8- Nagarhole National Park Or Rajiv Gandhi National Park

Nagarhole National Park Or Rajiv Gandhi National Park

Rajiv Gandhi National Park or Nagarhole National Park is situated in two districts of Karnataka, Mysore and Kodagu. The name translates into ‘Nagar’ means ‘Snake’ & ‘Hole’ denotes River. It refers to a number of streams that run through the area.

Apart from a number of animals, you get to see close to 250 species of birds. The place is good for wildlife photography.

• Area: 247 sq km
• Best Time to Visit: October to May ( Park remains closed from June to September)
• What You Can Spot Here: Spotted Deer, Four-Horned Antelopes, Sloth Bears, Wild Boars, Barking Deer, Leopards, Tigers, Wild Dogs, Sambar, Elephant and a large variety of birds & amphibians.
• How to Reach There: By Road– The park is well connected with different cities
  • Mysore→ Nagarhole National Park ( 96 km )
  • Madikeri→ Nagarhole National Park (236 km )
• By Air– Mysore is the nearest airport ( 96 km)
• By Train: Mysore Railway Station is 80 km from Nagarhole National Park

See Tiger in Uttarakhand

9- Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand

It is one of the most popular tiger reserves in India. Jim Corbett national park receives visitors from all over the world. If you want to watch the ‘Big Cat’ in all its glory, visit the park in the Summer season. It is considered the best season of visiting.

Jim Corbett National Park is situated in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand State in India. The park is divided into four main zones.

• Jhirna
• Bijrani
• Dhikala
• Durgadevi

Jhirna Zone remains open throughout the year.

• Area: 520 sq km
• Best Time to Visit: Mid November to the Mid of June
• How to Reach There: By Road- Corbett park is just 15 km from Ramnagar which is well connected to many cities in India.
  • Delhi→ Ramanagar ( 240 km )
  • Bareilly→ Ramanagar (160 km )
• By Rail: Ramnagar is the nearest railway station to Jim Corbett National Park.

Tiger spotting in Kerala

10- Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park in Kerala

Periyar National Park, located in Thekkady Kerala, is spread over a massive 357 square miles. The National Park has several areas including Periyar Lake, Cardamom Hills, Hill region, Mangala Devi Temple, Pullumedu & Forest Regions.

• Area: 357 sq km
• Best Time to visit: November to March is the best time to visit the national park. The weather is pleasant for the outdoors.
• What to Spot Here: Apart from tigers, you will see a significant number of elephants here. You can also see Indian Bison, Leopard,
• How to Reach There: Buses are available from Thekkady to various other cities. You can opt for State transportation or private tour buses to reach Thekkady.
• Nearest Railway Station – Kottayam ( 114 Kms from Thekkady)

Check out: Book South India Wildlife Tour Package

IMPORTANT

Many of these National Parks Provide ELEPHANT SAFARI. But we, at Sweet Sharing, condemn the ill-Treatment of Animals. Hence no details about the safari are included in the article.

It is a humble appeal to all visitors & travelers to discourage such practice. Elephants are not meant for load bearing  or recreational purposes. Let them enjoy their natural habitat & life!

Final Words

Where are heading to next among these Places to see Tiger in India? We are sure no matter the destination, a trip to any of these tiger reserves in India will be a memorable one.