Tadoba-Andhari National Park spans approximately 625 km² in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra. It is one of central India's best-managed tiger reserves, celebrated for wild Bengal tiger sightings. The dry teak forest vegetation, lakes, and grasslands create a varied habitat that also attracts leopards, gaur, and sloth bears.

Quick essentials

• Entry: paid admission; separate rates for Indian and foreign visitors, payable at the buffer or core zone entrance.
• Open season: October to June; the park typically closes during monsoon season (July–September).
• Safaris: two daily slots—dawn and afternoon; mandatory reservation with limited spots per zone.
• Recommended duration: 2 to 3 days to cover multiple zones and maximize tiger sighting chances.
• Clothing: neutral tones (khaki, green, beige) are strongly recommended; avoid white and bright colors.
• Access: Chandrapur town is the main logistics hub, approximately 45 km from Moharli gate.

What you'll see

The Bengal tiger is the star attraction: Tadoba boasts one of India's highest tiger sighting rates. Lake Tadoba, at the park's heart, draws wildlife during the dry season and facilitates jeep-based viewing. You'll also encounter leopards, gaur (Indian bison), sambar, axis deer, chital, and sloth bears. Mugger crocodiles line the lake's shores.

History and context

Tadoba forest has been protected since 1955, when the national park was established. Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was added in 1986, forming Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in 1995 as part of Project Tiger. The name "Tadoba" is believed to derive from Taru, a local deity revered by the Gond communities who historically inhabited the region.

Visit highlights

Lake Tadoba in the dry season

Between March and May, vegetation thins out and wildlife congregates at the lake. This is the prime window for daytime tiger viewing, sometimes watching them bathe or hunt along the water's edge.

Core and buffer zones

The park is divided into several zones: Moharli, Tadoba, Kolsa, and Navegaon-Navegaon in the core, plus buffer zones like Agarzari and Pangdi. Each zone has its own character and animal density; visiting multiple zones over several days increases your chances of diverse encounters.

Evening and night safaris in buffer zones

Certain buffer zones permit evening and night safaris, allowing you to observe sloth bears, civets, and other nocturnal species rarely visible during the day.

Photography tips

The golden light of the first 30 minutes after sunrise is ideal for photographing tigers at the forest edge. A telephoto lens (minimum 400 mm) is essential: guides maintain a mandatory safety distance. During the dry season, dust can cloud shots—a UV filter protects your lens. Flash is prohibited throughout all zones.

Location and access

Chandrapur, roughly 150 km from Nagpur, is the main entry point. By train: Chandrapur is connected to Nagpur and Mumbai via the central railway line. By air: the nearest airport is Nagpur's Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, from which taxis or private transfers reach Chandrapur. By car: National Highway NH930 links Nagpur to Chandrapur. Moharli gate is the busiest and best served for accommodation.

Nearby attractions

• Nagpur — the orange capital and Deccan crossroads, the logistics springboard for reaching Tadoba.
• Sevagram — Gandhi's ashram village, approximately 80 km northwest of Chandrapur, for a historical pause.
• Pench National Park — another tiger reserve spanning Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, about 200 km north, the purported setting of The Jungle Book.