Beta

The Tadoba Tiger

To catch a glimpse of the elusive Tiger and that too in its natural habitat is an experience of a life time. I had been to Kanha and Ranthambor without any luck but it was at Tadoba that I came face to face, literally, with the most famous denizen of the Central Indian forests. Yes, the tiger is well and alive at Tadoba. Have a look.

It was an amazing piece of luck. We had been driving to a water hole, early morning, when we caught a glimpse of this magnificent animal as it was about to emerge from a bamboo thicket on to the trail. On seeing our vehicle, it stopped at the edge of the thicket and sat down, waiting perhaps for us to move on. But as we had no such plans, it finally got up and strode majestically across the trail to the other side and vanished as swiftly as he had emerged earlier. Our day was made.

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra is situated about 45 Kms from Chandrapur, the nearest railhead which is connected with all major cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. Nagpur is the nearest airport, about 200 Kms i.e. a three hours drive.Taxis can be hired at Chandrapur for visiting the Reserve. A roadways bus also makes one trip from and back to Chandrapur.From april this year Forest Rest House at Tadoba has been closed to visitors as no one is allowed to stay overnight in the Reseve. So the only accomodation available near the Reserve is at Moharli (from where one enters the Reserve)in a MTDC motel. There is a private resort also called Tiger Trails on the priphery but it is expensive, about 5000/- per person per day. Maruti Gypsys are available for safaris(which will cost you 900/-) for one trip (Morning 6 to 10 AM or evening 3 to 6 PM). The Reserve also provides a minibus for safaris.One can use his own vehicle also. Trained guides are available(100/- per trip). The Reserve is administered by a Field Director whose office is at Chandrapur. The Reserve is open all the year round but closed on Tuesdays. The best time to visit is in the summers as one can spot many animals who come to water holes for drinking water.

The Reserve is spread over an area of 625 sq kms. It comprises of Tadoba National Park which was set up in 1955 and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary set up in 1986. It was declared as a Tiger Reserve in 1995. The forest is described as 'southern tropical dry deciduos'. The main species of flora are Teak, Ain, Bija, Dhauda, Haldu, Salai, Semal, Tendu and Bamboo. Although tigers are the more famous of the animals found, there are a large number of other animals which can be easily spotted here as may be seen from the pictures below.

Sunrise over Tadoba Lake