The Best Tiger Reserves in India and How to Reach Them in 2026
- Varun Mani
- Oct 21, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 17
A Tiger Safari Holiday is now rather accessible in India, however, one yet has to travel for half a day(including flights) in order to reach the wilderness - else, what would be the point? Not to mention the scale of conflict that would occur between wildlife and humans were large cities closer than they are today.
We have already severely encroached upon wildlife areas, yet there are fragmented areas of beautiful natural habitat in existence in India. These are stunning and special to visit, let's value them.
A Guide to the best Wildlife destinations in India for Tiger Safaris, and How to travel to a Tiger Safari in India :
1. Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
A special place that is a truly a landscape rather than a mere safari destination. Kanha has extant wildlife corridors to other Tiger Reserves such as Pench and Achanakmar.
It is a scenic National Park that is famous for very large male Tigers and for the critically endangered Barasingha or Hard Ground Swamp Deer.
Kanha is the last wild stronghold for the Hard Ground Swamp Deer/Barasingh and it is huge success story for the country to bring them back from the brink of extinction in the 1960's when their numbers had fallen to 66 individuals. Today there are over 1000 Hard Ground Barasingha in the wild!
The local villages are lovely, and the people who belong to them are also very kind and helpful. Close to 100 Tigers exist at Kanha Tiger Reserve. We can learn a lot from the tolerance of the indigenous communities of such areas.
A combination of Moist and Dry Deciduous Forests, this evergreen forest will blow you away if you truly appreciate nature. Safaris here are always fascinating.
Travel Guide for Kanha National Park :
Recommended Number of Days at Kanha : 4 days minimum.
Nearest Airport to Kanha : Raipur Airport or Jabalpur Airport or Nagpur Airport.
Nearest Railway Station to Kanha : Gondia Station.
Nearest National Parks to Kanha : Bandhavgarh National Park and Pench National Park
How to Get to Kanha National Park :
Raipur Airport : 220 km or 4.5 hour drive
Jabalpur Airport : 200 km or 4 hour drive
Nagpur Airport : 300 km or 5.5 hour drive
Gondia Railway Station. : 100 km or 03 hour drive
Pench National Park : 200 km or 05 hours drive
Bandhavgarh National Park : 250 km or 06 hours drive
2. Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
Satpura Tiger Reserve is a beautiful and important Tiger Reserve in Central India. This hilly landscape is also contains the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve where ancient rock formations and endemic medicinal plants tell us more about the natural history of the Indian Subcontinent.
Satpura is famous for the high chances of spotting the Leopard and the Sloth Bear. Tiger sightings have also increased manifold in the grassland areas of Satpura National Park.
A couple of very special and rare mammals can be seen at Satpura : Indian Giant Squirrel and the Rusty Spotted Cat!
One can experience Satpura in a Jeep Safari, Canoe Safari, and even Walking Safaris which are really interesting.
Satpura is one of the only places where you can explore the jungle on a walking safari. Imagine walking the same pathway as a Tiger!
Travel Guide for Satpura National Park :
Recommended Number of Days at Satpura : 4 days minimum.
Nearest Airport to Satpura : Bhopal Airport.
Nearest Railway Station to Satpura : Pipariya Station, Itarsi Station, and Bhopal Station.
Nearest National Park to Satpura : Pench National Park.
How to Get to Satpura National Park :
Bhopal Airport : 220 km or 4.5 hour drive
Itarsi Railway Junction : 80 km or 02 hour drive
Pench National Park : 250 km or 5.5 hours drive
Kanha National Park : 385 km or 09 hours drive (with an optional night halt at Pench en route)
3. Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand.
The only Tiger Reserve of Northern India where one has good chances of spotting a Tiger, Corbett is one of the most beautiful destinations for Tiger Safaris in India.
In the Terai belt of the Himalayan Foothills, this evergreen landscape is the home to two giants : the Indian Elephant and the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Dhikala Zone is the best place for Tiger Safaris at Corbett, and one can stay inside the core area here at the Government Rest Houses.
The grasslands in summer provide sights of elephant herds as far as the eye can see, and the Sal and Mixed Forest patches are ethereal.
Travel Guide for Corbett National Park :
Recommended Number of Days at Corbett : 4 days maximum allowed at Dhikala. Forest Rest House. One can stay for additional nights at private lodges at Corbett and explore the other areas and zones of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
Nearest Airport to Corbett : Dehradun Airport and New Delhi Airport.
Nearest Railway Station to Corbett : Ramnagar Station.
How to Get to Corbett National Park :
New Delhi Airport : 300 km or 06 hour drive
Dehradun Airport : 250 km or 05 hour drive
Ramnagar Railway Station. : 80 km or 02 hour drive
4. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
Bandhavgarh is the most famous destination for tiger safaris in India. Here, the density of Tigers compared to the land available is in favour of higher chances of spotting the Tiger.
This beautiful Sal forest used to be a hunting reserve for the Kings of this land, and the National Park stands where these royal hunting events used to take place.
The routes within the Bandhavgarh National Park are well connected, and the local trackers understand the pathway that the Tiger will take, just as the trackers did in those days.
Bandhavgarh is an enthralling and exciting park, with plenty of beautiful scenery and diversity around. A safari here is a fulfilling experience.
Travel Guide for Bandhavgarh National Park :
Recommended Number of Days at Bandhavgarh : 4 days minimum.
Nearest Airport to Bandhavgarh : Jabalpur Airport.
Nearest Railway Station to Bandhavgarh : Katni Station.
Nearest National Park to Bandhavgarh : Panna National Park and Kanha National Park.
How to Get to Bandhavgarh :
Jabalpur Airport : 200 km or 4 hour drive
Umaria Railway Station. : 35 km or 01 hour drive
Katni Railway Junction. : 35 km or 01 hour drive
Panna National Park : 200 km or 5.5 hours drive
Kanha National Park : 280 km or 06 hours drive
5. Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
Panna is just such a beautiful area and it is a treat to visit Panna for a wildlife safari.
It has stayed out of the limelight of wildlife travelers due to the rampant poaching that resulted in the area being completed wiped out its Tiger population in 2011.
Since having each and every Tiger poached or killed in 2011, the authorities have got their act together, and today the population of Tigers at Panna is over 50 tigers, thanks to relocation of Tigers from nearby National Parks such as Bandhavgarh, Kanha, and Pench.
Panna is excellent for birding, as well as for spotting the Marsh Crocodile, Indian Gazelle, and the Indian Leopard on Safari.
The undulating territories, valleys, and plateau's of Panna will transport you to the magical land of Central Indian forests.
Travel Guide for Panna National Park :
Recommended Number of Days at Panna : 4 days minimum.
Nearest Airport to Panna : Gwalior Airport, Jabalpur Airport or Khajuraho Airport.
Nearest Railway Station to Panna : Katni Station.
Nearest National Park to Panna : Bandhavgarh National Park
How to Get to Panna :
Khajuraho Airport : 40 km or 01 hour drive
Gwalior Airport : 300 km or 4.5 hour drive
Jabalpur Airport : 250 km or 06 hour drive
Katni Railway Junction. : 150 km or 3.5 hour drive
Panna National Park : 200 km or 5.5 hours drive
Kanha National Park : 280 km or 06 hours drive
6. Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
Pench is another hugely important Tiger Reserve that is home to key species such as the Tiger, Wild Dog, and Leopard, and it is connected to Kanha and Melghat Tiger Reserve(s) via crucial wildlife corridors that allow the interspersal of these animals.
Pench is the backdrop to the origin story of Mowgli & the Jungle Book. When on safari at Pench, one can see why it resembles what we picture in our mind when we think of the book/movie.
Pench is primarily a Teak forest, and it has huge grasslands that are key for the survival of the big predators that occur here. Pench has the highest number of Spotted Deer in India : over 40000 individuals!
It is a quaint and beautiful forest, and there is so much to see and enjoy at Pench. Don't drive around aimlessly like other vehicles, but enjoy everything that you can find here on safari in this wonderful paradise.
Travel Guide for Pench National Park :
Recommended Number of Days at Pench : 4 days minimum.
Nearest Airport to Pench : Nagpur Airport.
Nearest Railway Station to Pench : Nagpur Station.
Nearest National Park to Pench : Kanha National Park and Satpura National Park.
How to Get to Pench :
Nagpur Airport : 150 km or 2.5hour drive
Nagpur Railway Station. : 150 km or 2.5hour drive
Kanha National Park : 250 km or 5.5 hours drive
Satpura National Park : 250 km or 5.5 hours drive
Is India's wildlife comparable to Africa's wildlife?
To conclude, India has amazing forests and diversity. It is unfair and not practical to compare Indian Safaris with Safaris in East Africa. The landscapes are quite different(despite species overlaps), and wildlife safaris in forests is always more subtle than wildlife safaris in the plains and the savannahs. Both landscapes have huge diversity and unique wildlife.
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