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7 best Tiger Reserves in India

India is full of tourist destinations in all the areas like wildlife, honeymoon places, hill stations, historical places and much more. We explored some top Tiger Reserves in India for those who frequently visit our website.

Which Tiger Reserve is best for tiger sightings? with Family

There is a large number of tiger reserves in India but out of them some tiger reserves are detailed which the tourists should not miss. We can not identify which is best because all these reserves have different qualities.

1. Nagarjuna Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra Pradesh.

India’s biggest tiger reserve known as the famous Nagarjunsaga Srisailam Tiger Reserve located in the Andhra Pradesh state of India is spread over an area of about 3570 km long and covers the five districts in the centre part of Andhra Pradesh.

you can have a memorable experience with a very close view of the Bengal tiger near nature and locate at an elevation of about 920 metres from sea level.

A large number of plateaus are contained in the hill ranges like Srisailam, Amrabad, Sivapuram, Peddacheruvu and Nekkanti. There are also a large number of waterfalls like Padda Dukudu, Ethipothala Falls, Chaleswaram and Gundam.

The variety of Flora and Fauna in this tiger reserve are Hadwickia forest, southern tropical dry mixed deciduous forest, Euphorbia scrub and Deccan thorn scrub forests with some unique species of plant-like Cleisthanthus collins, Pterocarpus marsupium, Boswellia serrate, salai, Albizia, Terminalia spp and Hardwickia binata whereas fauna includes Indian Leopard,

Ussuri dhole, Bengal tiger, sloth bear, Indian pangolin, sambar deer, Chital, Blackbuck, chevrotain, Chowsingha, Chinkara and much more. The kind of snake-like Porcupine, Mongoose and wild boar are the main attraction of this place. There were about 54 to 66 tigers in an assessment taken in the year 2010.

This is one of the best tiger reserves in the country and a large number of tourists visit every year not only from India but all over the world. This place is getting fame and development with the region’s efforts of the tourism department of the government of India, the state government and the local bodies.

2. Sariska National Park, Rajasthan

Sariska National Park is located in the eastern part of Rajasthan state of Northwest India and is spread over an area of about 495 square km. This national park was initially established as Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1955 in Sariska Forest but later in 1979, it was declared as the Sariska National Park. This park is located in the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion and the Aravalli Range.

Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Alwar District in the Rajasthan state in the northern part of India and is spread over about 880 kilometres of area which consists of deciduous forests, hilly areas and grassland. This area was primarily meant for the shikar of the Maharajas but was later declared a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1955. It came within the ambit of Project Tiger in the year 1978 and was declared as Sakara Tiger Reserve.

It has the pride to be the first reserve that relocated tigers successfully and therefore got fame in the world. It is the home of wildlife corridors and the northern Aravalli leopards. This wildlife sanctuary was given the status of a national park in the year 1990 and allotted an area of about 274 kilometres.

This place harbours a large number of wildlife species like a Jungle cat, caracal, Indian leopard, jackal, chital, nilgai, wild boar, badger, striped hyena, honey badger and sambar deer. The number of tigers in 2003 was 16 which were not found in the jungle and also there were no pug marks, scratch marks or scats.

The forest department opined that they had gone outside the jungle and will be returned back in monsoon season but this opinion was proved wrong and in January 2005, it was declared that there is no tiger in Sariska. Thereafter, some tigers were shifted from Ranthambhore National Park and now their numbers are increasing gradually.

The main flora found in this place is dhok, kadaya, salar, dhak, barga, Khair, Arjun, gugal, gol and bamboo. This is one of the major attractions for the tourists who visit this place in the large number all around the year.

Places of Attraction near Sariska Tiger Reserve:

1. Sariska National Park 2. Kandwadi Fort 3. Kesroli Hill Fort 4. Sariska Palace 5. Neelkhant Temple 6. Stargate Observatory 7. Silliserh Lake 8. Naldeshwar Temple 9. Viratnagar 10. Bhangarh Fort 11. Bhartrihari Nath Temple 12.Pandupol Hanumanji Temple.

Airport near Sariska Tiger Reserve:

Jaipur Airport is the nearest airport to this park and is located about 8 kilometres and 10 kilometres between the domestic and international terminals respectively.

Railway Station near Sariska Tiger Reserve:

Swai Madhopur is the closest Railway Station and is located about 10 kilometres distance from this park.

The Ideal Time to Visit Sariska Tiger Reserve:

In summer April to June and in winter December to March is the best time to visit this park.

3. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve – Uttar Pradesh

Dudhwa Nations Park is located in the Terai belt of marshy grasslands in Lakhimpur Kheri city of Uttar Pradesh in the northern part of India.

This is a part of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in the district and is spread over an area of about 490 kilometres which consists of a buffer zone of about 191 kilometres.

This area was originally meant for the wildlife sanctuary for swamp deer in the year 1958 and later became the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in 1979.

From mid-April to May, the hot winds also called loo in local terms blow and this area is full of heavy rain from mid-June to September.

The asna, sal, Jamun, gular, sal, Behera, and sehore are the main flora of this area. The wetland of this area consists of lakes, rivers, marshes, and streams, and the grassland in this area is spread over about 20% of the total area.

A large number of bird species are also available in this area which includes great salty woodpecker, swamp francolin, and Bengal florican. The migratory birds are also the attraction of this place which consists of black and white-necked storks, sarus cranes, kingfishers,

woodpeckers, minivets, barbets, bee-eaters, and painted storks. With all these attractions this national park is one of the most popular wildlife parks in this part of India which a larger number of tourists visit throughout the year from all parts of the world.

Places of Attraction in the Dudhwa National Park:

1. Dudhwa National Park 2. Tiger Den 3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary 4. Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary 5. Shiv Temple at Gola Gokarannath 6. Thapar Resort and Water Park 7. Pandey Baba Mandir 8. Kheri Eidgah 9. Naseeruddin Memorial Hall 10. Sharda Barrage 11. Frog Temple.

Airport near Dudhwa National Park:

Chaudhary Charan Singh Internation Airport is the nearest airport to this park and is located about 240 kilometres from this park.

Railway Station near Dudhwa National Park:

Dudhwa Railway Station situated about 10 km. from this park is the closest to this place and well connected with the railway stations of major cities.

The park is open from mid-November to mid-June and the best time to visit this park is from November to April.

4. Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve – Uttarakhand

Jim Corbett National Park is located in Uttarakhand state in the northern part of India and is the main attraction for the larger Tiger Reserve ‘A Project Tiger Reserve’ is a gem of Uttarakhand. Initially, it was named Hailey National Park in the year 1936 and again renamed Ramganga in 1950.

Finally, its name was changed to Jim Corbett National Park in honour of Jim Corbett. This has the honour to be the first place where Tiger Reserve was launched in 1973. It is spread over 520 square kilometres which consists of marshy depressions, hills, riverine belts, lakes, and grassland. For tourism purposes, it is divided into five different zones.

It is well equipped with flora and fauna and wild animals like white elephants, Bengal tigers, and leopards. The Sonanadi area is the hub of elephants, leopards, and birds. The main purpose of its development was the protection of Bengal tigers.

This is one of the top wildlife tourist attractions of the country because of its animals, birds, and beauty and a large number of visitors come to this place all around the year.

The park is situated in the lower hills of the Himalayas and mainly consists of a wide Patli Doon Valley. The forest area in the Park consists of the species of silver fir, teak, oak, birch, spruce, and bamboo.

The park is also home to barking deer and nilgai. Amphibians and reptiles and a large variety of snacks including cobras and pythons and the large variety of crocodiles.

This Park opens from November to June and closes during monsoon time with roads blocked due to heavy rain. You can travel in the park via jeep or elephant. For security purposes, there are a large number of machines and observation posts.

The tourists who want to stay in the park at night, overnight accommodation is available with several facilities.

Bijrani Safari Zone

This is the best choice for tourists because of the natural beauty and open grassland.

Jhina Safari Zone

This zone is also one of the attraction points for tourists and remains open throughout the year.

Dhela Safari Zone

This is the eco-tourism zone in the Park and was included Tiger Reserve Zone in 2014. Its wealthy flora and fauna are the main point of attraction for the tourist and are open all around the year.

Dhikala Zone

This Zone is spread over the largest and most jungle Safarivaried zone. It is famous for its beauty and the sight of exotic fauna.

Durga Devi Zone

This is the paradise on planet Earth for those who love watching birds. It is located in the northeastern part of the Jim Corbett National Park.

Sitabani Buffer Zone

As such, it does not fall under the Jim Corbett National Park area but if you love natural beauty, you must visit this Zone.

Main places of attraction:

1. Durga Devi Zone 2. Jungle Safari 3. River Rafting 4. Angling, Corbett Museum 5. Elephant Rides 6. Dhikala 7. Biryani 8. Corbett Water Falls 9. Kosi River 10. Garjia River.

Airport near Jim Corbett National Park:

Dehradun Airport is about 155 km. from this place, and Indira Gandhi International Airport is about 244 km.

Railway Station near Jim Corbett National Park:

Ramnagar railway station is about 12 km. from the park.

The ideal time to visit:

is November to February.

5. Rajaji Tiger Reserve – Uttarakhand

Rajaji National Park is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Uttrakhand state in the northern part of India and it has close excess to the big cities of this state like Dehradun and Haridwar.

It was established in the year 1983 with the merger of other wildlife sanctuaries of the state known as Rajaji sanctuaries and Chilla Motichur and spread over 820 kilometres of area.

The responsibility to control and maintain this national park is with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the Uttarakhand state. The main purpose of this park apart from other activities is to protect the tigers and for that, it works as a tiger reserve.

This National Park originated from the name of the famous Freedom Fighter C. Rajagopalachari who was also the second and last Governor-General of India and had the highest award Bharat Ratna given to civilians.

In the Indian state, Uttarakhand the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve came before this tiger reserve and therefore the Tiger Reserve in this national park becomes the 48th Tiger Reserve in the country.

This area is known for its dense forests, scrubland, riverine vegetation, grasslands, and pine forests because of its location between the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Shivalik ranges.

This is the place of a large number of Cassia fistula, Mallotus philippensis, Dalbergia sissoo, Butea ono perma, Shorea robusta, Dendrocalamus strictus and much more.

This park is located in the dense green jungles which are most suitable for a large number of animals and therefore are well known for their elephants.

This park is the home of a large number of Tigers, leopards, civets, yellow-throated marten, jungle cats, sambar, chital, hog deer, nilgai, barking deer, sloth bears and wild pigs.

The other attraction of this park that is noticeable is the goral and the mountain goats. The peak is the home of the pied kingfisher, great pied hornbill and fire-tailed sunbirds. The Bengal fox and jackal mammals are also attractions of this park.

Places of Attraction near Rajaji National Park:

1. Rajaji Tiger Reserve2. Vishnu Ghat3. Yoganaga Healing 4. Yoga Vini Vashistha Gufa 5. Shri Badrinath Temple 6. Ganga Aarti at Haridwar 7. Divya Prem Sewa 8. Triveni Ghat 9. Chandi Devi Temple 10. Pawan Dham 11. Saptrishi Ashram 12.Adhbut Temple 13.Shri Vyas Ashram 14. Mansa Devi Temple 15. Bharat Mata Mandir 16. The Beatles Ashram.

Airport near Rajaji National Park:

The nearest airport to this park is the Jolly Grant Airport located in Dehradun which is about 34 km. from this place.

Railway Station near Rajaji National Park:

The nearest railway station to this park is the Haridwar Railway Station which is about 10 km. from this place.

November 15th to August 15th because the park is closed in the rainy season.

6. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve – Rajasthan

Ranthambhore National Park is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan State in the northern part of India and is spread over a large area of about 1,335 kilometres. This national park was established in the year 1980.

The areas of this place the nearby forests were declared with the name of Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary (1984) whereas further the Tiger Reserve was enlarged by merging the Keladevi Sanctuary and the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary in the north and south side of this sanctuary along with other forests.

This part of the state is full of flora which includes about 540 species of flowering plants. This national park also harbours open grassy meadows and dry forests. A large variety of fauna like Indian leopard, nilgai, Bengal tiger, sambar, wild boar, sloth bear, striped hyena, plain grey langur, mugger crocodile, macaque, rhesus,

and chitals are the main assets and attractions of this national park. This is the home of the largest banyan trees in India. Earlier, this national park was famous for the large tiger population which gradually decreased due to poaching or otherwise.

The recorded tiger population was about 44 tigers in the year 1982 which came down to 26 tigers in 2005. The government with the efforts of forest officers to curb the poaching this number increased to 34 adult tigers and 14 cubs as per the survey by non-governmental sources.

This became possible through the various steps taken by the government like giving incentives to the villagers to keep them out of the park and also a large number of surveillance cameras were installed across the national park.

Places of Attraction near Ranthambhore National Park:

1. Ranthambhore National Park2. Surwal Lake 3. Ranthambhore Fort 4. Trinetra Ganesha Temple 5. Ranthambore Tiger Reserve 6. Wildlife Safari 7. Malik Talao 8. Raja Bagh Talao 9. Padam Talao 10. Kachida Valley 11. Dastkar Ranthambore 12. Jogi Mahal 13. Raj Bagh Ruins 14. Dastkar Ranthambore 15. Ranthambore School of Art 16. Lakarda and Anantpura 17. Bakula Region 18. Akaula Region.

Airport near Ranthambhore National Park:

Sanganer Airport is the nearest airport to this national park and is about 182 kilometres distance.

Railway Station near Ranthambhore National Park:

Sawai Madhopur is the nearest railway station to this park and is located about 10 kilometres from this park.

The Ideal Time to Visit Ranthambhore National Park:

The best time to visit is before the rain which is from April to June though the weather at this time is very hot and forces animals to come out in the open which is good for the visitors. January to March is comparably more comfortable.

7. Sunderban Tiger Reserve, West Bengal

Sunderban Tiger Reserve is located in the West Bengal state of India and is spread over an area of about 1330 km. This tiger reserve was established in the year 1984 and is controlled by the Government of India.

This is one of the largest tiger reserves in terms of Bengal tigers in the country. This was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and known as Ramsar Site since 1987.

The name of this tiger Reserve is derived from the Sundri trees which are found in a very large number in this area. This place is blessed with amazing natural beauty and mangrove habitat which will definitely get you near nature.

This tiger reserve consists of a large number of species apart from the Bengal tiger like Indian Grey Mongoose, Macaques, Ridley Sea Turtles, Leopard Cats, Fox, Flying Fox, Jungle Cats, Wild Boar, Fishing Cats, Pangolins, Chital and much more.

Best time to Visit: October to March is the best time to visit this place because during this period the weather remains pleasant and most suitable for the tourists to enjoy this place among the different species of birds and animals along with the beauty of nature. The summer season between July to September is very hot and uncomfortable to visit.