The Best Tiger Reserves in India: Deforestation, illegal trade, hunting and killing for “fun” – all of this is what the tigers have had to endure. Tigers were almost extinct in India after the demand for their fur and other body parts increased immensely. It was only after 2006, when the population dropped to 1,411 tigers, that the concept of tiger reserves National Park came into being and the animals were protected.
As a result of these initiatives, the number of tigers rose again to 1,706 in 2011, 2,226 in 2014 and 2,500 in 2016. Slowly but surely, India regained its reputation as a good country for tiger watching – with 50 tiger reserves there are many options.
We would like to introduce you to the best places to see tigers in India:
Bandhavgarh National Park the Best Tiger Reserves in India
If you have ever been on a safari to see tigers, you already know how difficult it can be to find these animals in their natural habitat. In Bandhavgarh National Park, however, your chances increase many times over, because there are still a lot of tigers in Best Tiger Reserves in India here. The park is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh and stretches for another 100 square kilometers. At the last count, 63 tigers were recorded. The park was once even known to be home to white tigers, but unfortunately the last one was spotted in 1951.a
Things to do: Trek to one of the oldest fortifications, Bandhavgarh Fort, Visit Baghel Museum, Visit Jwalamukhi Temple, Get a taste of village life in Tala
Best time to visit: October to June
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
This 1,443 sq km national park is a favourite among tiger enthusiasts. This park was once the hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur and its popularity rose when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip shot a tiger here in the 1960s.
The tigers were protected in 1973 and only since then have the tiger numbers recovered. The last census in 2014 confirmed that there are 62 tigers living in the reserve.
This park is also one of the most beautiful with its ancient ruins and ponds and is therefore very popular with both historians and nature photographers.
Things to do: Spend an evening at Mansarovar Lake, visit the impressive Ranthambore Fort, feel the connection to the divine at the Trinetra Ganesh Temple; pay a visit to the Rajiv Gandhi Regional Museum of Natural History.
Best time to visit: October to April.
Kanha Tiger Reserve
This 2,060 sq km national park is not only one of the largest in the country but also the most protected park. Park rangers reported sightings of 80 adults and 25 cubs.
The park is divided into 4 zones – Kisli, Kanha, Mukki and Sarhi and in addition to the Bengal tiger, you can also find Barasinghas, which are only found here.
Other sightseeing options: Visit the Kanha Museum
Best time to visit: November to May
Satpura National Park
For the explorers and adventurers below, we would recommend Satpura National Park, which is even wilder and less visited. This is one of the country’s younger national parks, established in 1981. No more than 12 vehicles are allowed into the park at a time, limiting the number of tourists. The park is actually famous for its leopards and sloth bears, but there is also a population of 65 tigers (as of 2014).
Other things to see: Visit the massive Pandav Caves, pay your respects at Shri Nagdwar Swami’s Temple, relax at Bee Falls.
Best time to visit: October to April.
Jim Corbett National Park
When you think of tigers in India, most people think of Jim Corbett National Park. Corbett is the most visited national park in the country because of its easy accessibility and long history.
Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, it was renamed in the mid-1950s in honour of a hunter-turned-wildlife conservationist. The Wildlife Institute of India stated in its 2016 report that Corbett is the reserve with the most tigers – a whopping 215 wild cats. Again, however, a sighting depends on your guide and your luck, but the stories of the dense jungle will captivate you
Places to visit: Visit the famous Garjiya Devi Temple, Jim Corbett Museum, relax at Corbett Falls.
Best time to visit: November to June.
Pench National Park
Although more visited national parks like Bandhavgarh and Kanha are nearby, Madhya Pradesh’s Pench National Park is still a good place to spot tigers. Fewer tourists and the options to camp in the park make this park so interesting for adventurers and nature lovers alike. According to a count in 2016, 53 tigers are said to live here.
Fun Fact: Collarwali, also known as the super mom of the tiger world, lives in Pench National Park. She gave birth to her 7th cub in 2017, which is a high number for wild tigers.
Other attractions: Visit the Mahakaleshwar Temple.
Best time to visit: February to April.
Tadoba National Park
This park is located in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra and is also called “the jewel of Vidharba”. The park was established as a ‘Project Tiger’ reserve in 1999 and since then there have been many more tigers in this area. 88 tigers were counted in August 2016! This park is also a paradise for bird watchers with more than 200 species such as the serpent eagle, a species of snake eagle, the grey-headed sea eagle and the crested eagle.
Other attractions: Visit the famous Mahakali Temple of Chandrapur, spend time at Tadoba Lake.
Best time to visit: April to May
Sundarban National Park
This park is home to the largest mangrove forests in the world and thus a great variety of flora and fauna. The Bengal tiger can also still be found here. About 80 specimens are said to still live here, having adapted to the terrain and learned to swim through the salt water. Other endangered species such as the Batagur turtle, king crabs and the olive ridley turtle can still be found here.
Other attractions: Explore the ruins of the 400-year-old temple at Netidhopani, visit the famous Halliday Island with sunset at Hiran Point
Best time to visit: September to March
Bandipur National Park
Karnataka has become the top destination for tiger lovers in recent years and this park is one of the main reasons for this. Established in 1974 as part of the Tiger Project, Bandipur is home to around 110 tigers (as of 2016) in 874 sq km. Formerly a hunting ground for the Maharaja of Mysore, Bandipur is now officially the most visited tiger park in the country.
Other attractions: Visit the picturesque mountain villages of Ooty and Coonoor, travel back in time, visit the Biligirirangan mountains.
Best time to visit: March to June
Nagarahole National Park the Best Tiger Reserves in India
This park is located in the Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka and, together with Bandipur National Park, forms the largest part of the tiger population. Nagarhole National Park is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park and is very diverse in terms of landscape. Small mountains, valleys, dense forests and many rivers make this park so interesting for the approximately 100 tigers (approximate number from 2016).
Other attractions: River rafting on the river island of Kuruva Dweep, unwind at the Iruppu waterfall, pay respects at the Rameshwara Temple
Best time to visit for Tiger Reserves in India : March to June
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