Alok Prakash 
Everyone enjoys noticing nature and enjoying the tigers in their natural habitat. The number of tourists and nature enthusiasts is increasing in the national parks for tiger safari. Really, if you are passionate about spotting tigers, then tiger reserves in India will offer you a glance at the exotic cat species. Tiger safari is not only for spotting a tiger but also focuses on other aspects such as butterfly sighting, bird watching and many more animals.
List of best Tiger Reserves in India for Tourists and Nature Enthusiasts
Tigers are one of the biggest attractions when it comes to tourism in India. Here are some best tiger reserves in India where one can spot tigers easily.
Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh – The inspiration for ‘The Jungle Book
Pench National Park is a popular tourist attraction that lies at the heart of Madhya Pradesh. The famous tiger reserve is placed in the midst of mighty mountain ranges, meandering rivers and miles of verdant forests. It is recognized for its wildlife creatures, and exotic flora and fauna. One can witness the herd of royal Bengal Tiger, Barking deer, Leopards, Cheetahs, Wild boars, Blackbucks, Crocodiles, Barasingha, Peacocks, and a lot of other migratory birds. Owl breeding is also a top attraction of this park.
- Special attraction: The Pench Jungle camp offers safari tents and a well-stocked library among other amenities.
- Best time to visit: Summer months of April to June.
- Likelihood of Spotting Tiger: High
- Best Time: October to June
Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary, Alwar
Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most famous tourist attractions which is a national park and a wildlife preserve in Alwar, Rajasthan. stretched over a vast area of around 800 square kilometres, this sanctuary is home to many wild animals like Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyena, crocodiles, Caracal, Jungle cat, Ratel, Nilgai, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, langur, Rhesus macaque, Four-horned antelope, etc. The beautiful sanctuary is surrounded by rugged hills and deep valleys of Aravali.
- Special Attraction: The guided walks and also kayaking in its large reservoir – something very few parks offer.
- Best Time to Visit: Most pleasant months to visit are from October to March, but April and May provide the best wildlife sightings.
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Low
Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
The vast wildlife reserve located near the town of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan is a popular Ranthambore National Park. It is one of the largest and the most widely renowned national parks in India. Outspread over an area of around 392 sq km, the wildlife reserve is a prominent tourist attraction majorly known for its royal Tigers, Leopards and Marsh Crocodiles.
- Special Attraction: There are three lakes enclosed inside the sanctuary, Padam talao, Raj talao and Milak talao, where the wildlife tends to congregate. One can often spot tigresses and cubs in the densely forested Bakaula area.
- Likelihood of Spotting Tiger: High
- Best Time to Visit: Even though February and March have a pleasant climate and the park is open throughout, the best months to spot a tiger is during the months of April and May.
Bandipur National Park, Karnataka – Tiger reserves in the Nilgiris
Bandipur National Park is spread over a span of 874 sq. kilometres in the Indian state of Karnataka. The park is quite renowned for protecting various species of Indian tigers. In the previous decades, this park used to be the private hunting ground of the Maharajas of Mysore where they harbor a wide variety of Indian elephants spotted deer, bison, antelopes and numerous other native species.
- Special Attraction: Lots of Elephants to be seen here
- Best time to Visit: Winters are pleasant here, but the greatest chances of wildlife sightings are in March or April.
- Best Time: October to May
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Good
Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve, Karnataka
Nagarhole National Park is a popular national park and among the most famous Zoological Parks In India. It is also renowned by the name Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Located in the midst of the beautiful Brahamagiri Mountains and surrounded by enchanting sandalwood and teak trees, this place allures travellers from far and wide. The vast area of 640 sq. km. of the sanctuary houses many abundant varieties of wildlife, flora and fauna in its vicinity.
- Best time to visit: October to February
- Likelihood of spotting tiger: Good
- Activities that can be Done: Still Water Rafting and Boating in River Kabini, White Water Rappelling, Elephant Rides, natural trail along the shores of River Kabini and visit Irupu Waterfalls.
Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh
Stretched over an area of around 500 km, the Dudhwa National Park is widely renowned for its scenic beauty and its historical importance. The astonishing and awe-inspiring national park is located in the Terai belt of Lakhimpur & Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. This incredible sanctuary is home to numerous species of mammals, reptiles, birds and fishes but the key attraction of this park is a beautiful swamp deer.
- Special Attraction: Dudhwa has one of the best Sal tree forests in the world
- Best Time To Visit: November to February
- Best Time: December to April
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Low
Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand
Rajaji National Park is an integration of three widely renowned sanctuaries in Uttarakhand – Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla, and thus formed an enormous protected area of this tiger reserve. Lies in the beautiful foothills of the Himalayas, this national park is a famous tourist destination attracting visitors the entire year. The park is mostly visited for its wide species of elephants, hornbills, goats, barking deer, hog deer, nilgai, wild pigs, sloth bears and numerous other animals.
- Special Attraction: There are over three hundred species of birds
- Best Time To Visit: February to April
- Best Time: April-June and October-November
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Low
Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh – The Tiger’s Den
Bandhavgarh National Park is a popular wildlife sanctuary located in the heart of Madhya Pradesh. This national park is widely renowned for conserving the highest density of Bengal Tigers in the region. Stretched over an area of around 100 square kilometres, this plush park is home to more than 50 species of royal Bengal tigers. It is one of the most preferred parks that tourist loves for Tiger Safari and tracking Tigers in the wild.
- Special attraction: You can hire a car and take a trip to the Bandhavgarh fort, 600 m from sea level, on a cliff overlooking the Vindhya mountains.
- Best time to visit: 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.
- Best time to visit: February to June (closed from July 1 to October 15)
- Likelihood of spotting tiger: High
Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra – The land of Tigers in Maharashtra
Tadoba National Park is honoured as Maharashtra’s oldest and largest national park. It is popularly renowned as The Real land of Tigers in Maharashtra. It is among one of India’s 41 Project Tiger reserves that also houses a large species of flora and fauna like panthers, tigers, hyenas, sloth bears, wild dogs, jackals, barking deer, bison, sambar, the herd of deer and a lot more. Over the last few decades, this place has emerged as an ideal weekend gateway for wildlife enthusiasts.
- Special attractions: A good look into the jungles of central India
- Best time to visit: Summer months.
- Best Time: October to March
- Likelihood of spotting tiger: High
Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand – The oldest National Park in India
Named after the legendary naturalist and conservationist Jim Corbett, the Jim Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand is one of the oldest National Parks in India. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas and in the midst of the alluring hill station of Nainital, the beautiful park is famous for housing the highest number of tigers in its vicinity. The gratifying climate of the hill station makes it an ideal tourist destination on all days of the year.
- Special attraction: The park has huge grasslands and watch towers (Dhikal area) where you can stand for hours and observe the wildlife around you.
- Best time to visit: April to June
- Best Time: Mid-October to Mid June
- Likelihood of spotting tiger: Good
Manas National Park, Assam – Natural World Heritage Site
Located on the banks of mighty river Mans, the Manas National Park is a popular national park, Tiger reserve, elephant reserve and biosphere reserve in Assam. Due to its rare and endangered endemic wildlife, the park has been declared a World Heritage Site by the state government. Many species of exotic animals like Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog can be spotted roaming freely in this park.
- Special Attraction: Giant Squirrels and Indian Pangolins
- Best Time To Visit: April to May
- Best Time: October to Apr
- Location: Fatemabad- Mathanguri Road, Jyoti Gaon, Assam.
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Low
Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu
Located in the midst of Kodaikanal and Coimbatore, the Anamalai Tiger Reserve is the largest tropical jungle that houses a wide range of rare and endangered wild animals. The lion-tailed macaques, peacocks, langurs, spotted deer, elephants and crocodiles are the main tourist attraction of this national park. A visit to Tamil Nadu will never be complete without visiting this enchanting Tiger Reserve Tamil Nadu.
- Special Attraction: Kozhikamudhi Elephant Camp inside the resort
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Low
- Best time to visit: May-June and October-February
- Location: 176, Meenkarai Road, Pollachi, Tamil Nadu 6420
Indravati Tiger Reserve
Indravati National Park is a popular national park located in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. It is one of the finest and the most famous wildlife parks which is popular for housing the largest numbers of rare wild buffalo. The national park is also home to a wide variety of wild animals like Indian bison, nilgai, blackbuck, causing, sambar, chital, Indian muntjac, chevrotain and wild boar.
- Special Attraction: The Indravati Reserve is home to the highly endangered Wild Water Buffalo and Hill Muyna
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Low
- Best time to visit: Mid-December to Mid-June
- Location: Bijapur H O, Bijapur district, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh
Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh – The land of Jungle Book
Kanha National Park is a popularly renowned tiger reserve in India. It is one of the largest national parks located in the heart of Madhya Pradesh. The park is well known for preserving a significant population of the Royal Bengal tiger, Indian leopards, sloth bear, barasingha and Indian wild dog. Stretched over a vast area of 900 sq. kilometre area. this place has emerged as the favourite weekend getaway for animal lovers.
- Special Attraction: Large open meadows where the animals freely roam.
- Best Time to Visit: April to June.
- Best Time: October to June
- Likelihood of Spotting Tiger: High
Satpura National Park, Pachmarhi
Satpura National Park is another best tiger safari park in India which offers a great opportunity to spot beautiful tigers. It is the only Park in Madhya Pradesh that offers a walking safari to spot tigers in the open area of the park. The rich and biodiverse park houses a wide range of animals including leopard, sambar, chital, Indian muntjac, nilgai, four-horned antelope, Chinkara, wild boar, bear, black buck, fox, porcupine, flying squirrel, mouse deer, and Indian giant squirrel
- Special Attraction: The guided walks and also kayaking in its large reservoir – something very few parks offer.
- Best Time to Visit: Most pleasant months to visit are from October to March, but April and May provide the best wildlife sightings.
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Low
Sundarbans, West Bengal – Home of the Bengal Tigers
Popularly renowned as the home of the royal Bengal Tigers, the beautiful forest of Sundarbans in West Bengal houses more than 400 unique varieties of tigers. Lying on the junction of the popular Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, the Sundarbans forest is declared the World Heritage Site and the world’s largest mangrove forest. The beautiful view of ferocious tigers can be seen sunbathing on the river banks.
- Special attraction: Spot a number of endangered species such as the Ganges river dolphin, Olive Ridley Turtle and Saltwater Crocodile.
- Best time to visit: Sundarbans can be visited anytime between September and March, while the best time for tiger spotting tends to be November-February
- Best Time: September to March
- Likelihood of spotting tiger: High
Panna National Park, Panna
Panna National Park is a well-known national park that lies in the Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. The popular diamond city is also a renowned wildlife park which is home to various species of wild cats, including the King of the Jungle, and the royal Bengal tiger. Sprawled over an area of 542.67 km, it is one of the best-maintained national parks in India.
- Special Attraction: There are a number of beautiful waterfalls inside the reserve
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Good
- Best Time To Visit: December to March
- Location: NH 75, Chattarpur, Madhya Pradesh
Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagpur
The Bhandara-Gondia district situated Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful sanctuary, that lies securely in the arms of nature and is adorned with a striking landscape and luxurious vegetation. The famous jeep safari is the most common activity to explore and appreciate the beautiful nature and the exotic wildlife of the jungle. Due to its closeness to the spanking new highway, the area has emerged as a pleasant getaway for animal lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
- Special Attraction: Wildlife Sanctuary has 34 species of mammals, 166 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles and four species of amphibians.
- Likelihood of Spotting Tigers: Good
So these are a few Tiger reserves in India where the chances of sighting a tiger are very high.
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