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The Best Places to see the Tiger in India
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India is the best destination to spot tiger in India. With 2997 tigers in the wild it is a Paradise for Tiger lovers. The 3 best places to see tigers in India are:
1. Kanha National Park: Land of the Deer and Tiger
One associates Central India with being a water-stricken and rather hot area – however the opposite holds true for Kanha. Chilled winters, availability of water around the year and coolness in the early morning and evening in peak summer characterise the uniqueness of this place. Being in the tribal belt of South-eastern Madhya Pradesh, it has retained its rich old forest tracts which forms corridors for animals, especially migrating tigers, to other forests in Madhya Pradesh such as Pench as well as sanctuaries such as Achanakmar in Chattisgarh. Without these corridors, the medium to long-term survival of tigers hangs in the balance. Kanha Tiger Reserve is spread over 2200 sq.km and maintains a core area of 940 sq.km – it has between 80 to 100 tigers in the wild. Kanha National Park is also distinguished by its moist deciduous forest dominated by old and towering Sal trees and its famous meadows where the critically endangered Hard Ground Swamp Deer or “Barasingha” has its last stronghold. These large deer have their rutting or mating season in winter and their magnificent winter coats and the beautifully decorated “Bara singh” or twelve-tined antlers are a treat to behold. During a tiger safari in Kanha National Park one can hope to see large yet elusive tigers walking on the jeep tracks as they traverse through the comparatively more comfortable road to announce their presence. Interestingly, it is the best place to also spot Male Tigers in the wild in India. Birding is fantastic here, with species such as the Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo, Scarlet Minivet, Crested Hawk Eagle, Emerald Dove and Rufous Woodpecker catching the eye amongst 350+species recorded here. 2. Bandhavgarh National Park: [color=var( --e-global-color-text )]Of Forts and Legendary Tigers [/color]
Bandhavgarh is rightfully the most popular place to see a Tiger on safari. A famous hunting reserve for the Maharajas who ruled these lands, this area has to this day been preserved for shooting wildlife – with cameras. Come take a Tiger Safari with us at Bandhavgarh. An almost isolated park, it has a very few migration routes for dispersed male tigers looking to find a home for themselves, hence, along with suitable habitat and prey-base, it has retained a high density of tigers. Around 60 or so wild tigers survive here today. The Tiger Reserve is spread over 1100 sq.km with a core area of about 440 sq.km. A safari experience here, with enthusiastic guides and drivers is a thrilling experience – the routes taken by the tigers of old are taken to this day by their offspring and one can learn about tracking these tigers through the eyes of the locals. This landscape is dominated by Sal and Bamboo forest, however its beauty is shines at Tala Zone with its famous grasslands, surrounded almost entirely by large hills whereupon old Forts, Temples and Watchtowers have been erected – dating back to 10th century AD. There is also the famous 60 foot statue of the sleeping Lord Vishnu in the middle of Tala Zone – a sight of tranquility in the tranquil forest. The forests, though dominated by Sal Trees such as those at Kanha and Corbett, is much drier and this is evident from February onwards moving into summer. There is a good mix of scrub forest as well. Though many might scoff at the idea of bird watching here, Bandhavgarh is an excellent birding destination with good visibility of birds. It has a very good population of the vultures such as the critically endangered Indian Vulture and White-rumped Vulture which roost along the cliffs. The Indian paradise flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Indian Pitta as well as the sight of the not so common White-capped Bunting can be enjoyed here. Hence a tiger safari tour is not complete without experiencing all that Bandhavgarh has to offer. 3. Tadoba National Park: Jewel of the Vidarbha
Slowly creeping up to the stature of Bandhavgarh as the go-to National Park for Tiger-centric tourists, Tadoba is burgeoning with tourism and as a result, bold Tigers who are less reserved about the multitude of eyes watching them from their jeeps. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, located in the state of Maharashtra, is around 1700 sq km in size and is dominated by Teak trees. The core area is 625 sq.km. with tiger population crossing a very healthy 80 tigers! Here, Sloth Bears and Leopards are seen in good frequency as well. The dry deciduous forest has good visibility around the year and large, strategically-built watering holes become an almost permanent fixture for Tigers as the temperature easily hits the mid-40’s(degrees Celsius) during the summer. |
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