Introduction:-
Tiger Reserves in India was set up in 1973. It is governed by Project Tiger, which is administrated by the National Conservation Authority till 2018. There 50 protected areas have been designated tiger reserves.
India is home to 80% of tigers in the world. In 2006 it was estimated at 1411 tigers which in 2010 is 1706 and by 2018 it is estimated at 2967. The number of wild tigers globally rose from 3159 in 2010 to 3890in 2016 according to Global Tiger Forum.In the April, 1973 “The Bengal Tiger”was declared as National Animal of India.The combination of grace, strength,agility and enormous power has earned the tiger its pride of place as National animal of India.
1. Sundarban Tiger Reserve, West Bengal:-
Sundarban in India always enchanting beauty of the forest makes tourists in the world. People can enjoy the panoramic view of the forest from various watch towers constructed in different remote locations.
This is one of the best Tiger reserves in India for tourists.
October to March is the best season for Sundarban Tour.The Sundarban is one of the most diverse and productive mangrove ecosystems in the world.
The ecosystem of the sundarban depends on the, The flora, fauna, and their interaction are very healthy. The region is named after a tree called “Sundari”.Sundarban’s freshwater swamp forests and “Sundarbans mangroves always attracts the tourists.
The Sundarban’s freshwater & seassonailly foods swamp forests lie inland from the mangrove forests on the coastal fringe. The forest covers nearly appx.10, 000 square kilometers. Out of which 6000 Square kilometers are in Bangladesh.
The Indian part of the Sundarban area is estimated about 4110 square kilometers.Sundarban is the largest delta formed by the confluence of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers.
Sundarban Project Tiger conservation program was launched in 1973 by the Govt. of India. The project aim is to safeguard the viable population of Bengal Tiger in their natural habitats, protecting them
from extinction.
On 4th May 1984, it was declared a national park. It is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site inscribed in 1987.Sundarban forest is home to more than 400 tigers.
The density of Tigers is 12 per 100 Square meter area, which is 2nd in highest after Jim Corbett National Park in India. More than 114 Royal Bengal Tigers in Sundarban as per the data kept in Sundarban Tiger Reserve department.
The Royal Bengal Tiger of Sundarbans is the only tiger in the world that lives in mangrove woods. The Royal Bengal Tiger in India have have formidable sensory abilities, like six times the night vision and five times the hearing of humans.
Their screams may also be heard from a distance of two kilometers. The male tiger’s weight is 200-300 kg and the female weight is 100-180 kg. Male tiger is 8-10 feet tall and female are 9 feet tall.
How to reach Sundarban Tiger Reserve:-
By Air:- By Air from Dum dum Airport, 166 km is Sundarban. It is the nearest airport to Kolkatta.
By Rail:- The nearest railhead is at Canning 48 km. away. The nearest town is Gosaba, which is 50 km sundarban.
By Road:- By Road, it is Namkhana is 105 km. Sonakhali is 100 km, Raidigi is 76 km and Canning is 64 km & Najat is 92 km. to go to Sundarbans Tiger reserve.
2. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh:-
The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is located in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh and was notified as a tiger reserve in 2014. It is forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape in the upper Gangetic Plain along with the India-Nepal border. This is one of the best Tiger reserves in India for tourists.
Pilibhit is the welknown one of the few well-forested districts in Uttar Pradesh in India. According to an estimate of the year2018, Pilibhit district has over 800 square kilometers of forests, constituting roughly23% of the district’s total area.
Forests in Pilibhit have at least 65 tigers and prey including five species of deer. This tiger reserve got the first international award TX2 for doubling the tiger population in the stipulated time.
The Pilibhat Tiger Reserve is situated in the Pilibhit district and Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.The Sharda Sagar Dam extends up to a length of 22km. is on the boundary of the reserve. The Pilibhat forest area lies along the India-Nepal Boarder in the foothills of the Himalayas plains, Tarai.
The major attraction of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve areas are Chuka beach, Jungle Safari, Siphon Canal, Crocodile point, Python point, Birding point & Sunrise point. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is the famous tiger reserve area of India.
Jungle safari timing is winter November to March & in summer April to June.
How to reach Pilibhit Tiger Reserve:-
By Air:- Pilibhit is not well connected to major cities of the country. The nearest airport is Pantnagar at a distance of 53 km.
By Train: – There is no regular train to Pilibhat from other major cities of the country. The nearest Railway station is at Barelly which is located at a distance of 46 km.
By Road:-The town, of Pilibhit is well connected with Bareilly and Nainital.There is good road connections to Pilibhit Tiger Reserve via Saharanpur. Private and UPSRTC buses connect Pilibhit to Bareilly, Delhi, and Laxmipur.
L3. Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal:-
Buxa Tiger Reserve is situated in the Alipurduar Subdivision of Jalpaiguri District, west Bengal. The reserve area stretched over a length of 50 km. from the west and 35 km. from north to south.
Buxa Fort is an important landmark for the reserve. This fort was captured by British India in 1865 after the Bhutan war from Bhutan. Buxa Tiger Reserve ranks second highest among all Tiger Reserves in India. This is one of the best Tiger reserves in India for tourists.
There are many exquisite wild animals like leopards, Wild dogs, Malayan Giant squirrels, Mongooses, Asian elephants, Hig dear, Wild Buffalo, varieties of Pythons, and different species of land tortoises in the Buxa National Park.
The forest stretches from the plains up to an elevation of 1750m. There was no tiger found till 1998. But in 2021 there are 8-12 tigers found in this area.
The Buxa Tiger Reserve is also a highly dense forest with a variety of trees like sal trees, and Simul trees along with many kinds of bamboo groves and shrubs. The Buxa Tiger Reserve is one of the famous tourist places in North Bengal, India. BuxaTiger Reserve is the famous tiger reserve area of India.
How to reach at Buxa Tiger reserve area.:-
By Rail:-The Nearest Rail Junction is New Jalpaiguri in North Bengal and the nearest station is New Alipurduar station which has direct connection to Kolkatta.Kanchanjungha, Kamrup, and Saraight express etc are trains to reach at Buxa.
By Road:- The headquarter of the park , Alipurduar is located 175 km.from Siliguri, West Bengal.NH 31 is the main highway.One can hire cars from Alipurduar to reach Buxa Tiger reserve area.
4. Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar:-
Valmiki National Park is a Tiger Reserve in the West Champaran District of Bihar, India. It is the only national park in Bihar, Valmiki Tiger Reserve covers 898.45 square kilometers, which is 17.4% of the total geographical area of the district.This is one of the best Tiger reserves in India for tourists.
As of 2018, there were 40 tigers in the Reserve area. It is the 18th Tiger Reserve of the country.The Valmiki Tiger comprises the National park and the wildlife sanctuary.
LAlong with boasting of the good number of tigers, the reserve has various other animals. Some of these are sloth bear, wolf, various species of deer, serow, leopard, python, peafowl, chitals, sambars, nilgais, leopard, hyenas, jungle cats, Hog dear wild dogs, etc. Valmiki Tiger Reserve is the famous tiger reserve area of India.
The Best time to visit the Valmiki Tiger Reserve area is from the month of October to June every year.
How to reach at Valmiki Tiger Reserve area:-
1. By Air:-The nearest airport to the reserve is Patna which is situated at a distance of 295 km. The Patna Air port is well connected to places like Ranchi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, and Delhi.
2. By Rail:-The nearest railhead is at Valmiki Nagar which is at a distance of 5 km. from the park. The Valmiki railway station is connected to cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kolkata of India.
3. By Road:-Tourists will have various buses running from nearby places to the destination.
5. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu:-
Mudumalai National Park is a National park in the Niligiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu, south India. It covers 321 square kilometers at an elevation range of 850-1250m in the Niligiri District.
It share boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala.This is the first Sanctuary to be set up in India and forms part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Park. It is located 36 km from Ooty from katasty and 67 km. from Gudalur.
It is rich in wildlife, like Elephants, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, spotted dear, Barking dear, wild boar, birds like minivets, hornbills, fairy blue Birds, jungle Fows, etc and reptiles like pythons, Monitor, and Lizards Flying lizards are found in this sanctuary.This is one of the best Tiger reserves in India for tourists.
There are 500 species of animals, birds, reptiles, and even more species of insects. The National park was recently declared a Tiger Reserve with a population of about 103 Tigers. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is the famous tiger reserve area of India.
How to Reach at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve area:-
1. By Air:-The nearest airport is Coimbatore (160km), Banglore (240km) and Calicut (124 km.)
2. By Train:-The nearest railway station to Mudumalai is Mysore about 100 km. and Udagamandalam about 68 km. by hill tracks.
3. By Road:–Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is about 240km. from Banglore about 90 km. from Mysore and 68 km from Udhagamandalam (Ooty) and about 124 km from Calicut by road.
6. Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajastan:-
Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the best tiger reserve in Alwar district, Rajasthan, India. It stretches over an area of 881 square kilometers comprising scrub-thorn arid forests.
The forest is deciduous forests, grasslands, and rocky hills. The Sariska reserve area was a hunting preserve of the Alwar district in Rajastan .It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958. Sariska Tiger Reserve is the famous tiger reserve area of India.This is one of the best Tiger reserves in India for tourists.
Sariska Tiger Reserve is a National park where you will find a perfect intermingling of nature. It contains mountains; grasslands dry deciduous forests, and cliffs, which span over 800 square kilometers.
The Sarisika Tiger Reserve is located nestled in the lap of Aravali hills. Currently, it is home to tigers, jungle cats, rhesus, sambhar, chital, wild boars, etc.
The Sariska tiger reserve making it a part of India,s Project Tiger in the year of 1978. It is the wildlife sanctuary was declared and a national park in 1982.
This Reserve area includes leopard, Hyena, Caracal, Jungle cat, Ratel, Nilgai, Sambhar dear spotted dear, langur, and Rhesus. Out of the 211 bird species that have been recorded in the reserve area 121 are residents and 73 are migrants.
Now the tiger reserve has 27 total tigers including 9 tigers and 11 tigresses and 7 cubs. There are 60 leopards in this reserved area.The park is situated 106 km from Hindaun.107 km. from Jaipur and 200 km from Delhi.
How to reach atSariska Tiger Reserve area:-
1. By Air:-The nearest airport to Sariska National park is the Jaipur Airport. The distance from Airport to Park is 122 km.
2. By Rail:-The nearest railway station is Alwar Junction. This junction is connected with Jaipur, Delhi, Gwalior, Ghaziabad, Merrut, and Mumbai.
The best time to visit.Sariska Tiger Reserve is in October, November, December, and Janua
7. Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh:-
Kanha Tiger Reserve, also known as Kanha –Kisli National park. It is one of the tiger reserves of India and the largest national park in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Kanha National Park was created on 1st June 1955 and designed as a tiger reserve in 1973. It encompasses an area of 940 square kilometers in the two district Mandla and Balaghat of Madhya Pradesh.
Kanha Tiger reserve is also known as Kisli National Park .This national park is home to over 1000 species of flowering plants. Kanha Tiger Reserve hosts populations of the Bengal Tiger, Indian leopard, dhole, sloth bear, Bengal Fox, and Indian Jackal. This is one of the best Tiger reserves in India for tourists.
The Kaha Tiger reserve area also hosts around 300 species of birds and the most commonly seen birds are the black ibis, Asian green bee-eater, cattlegert, blossom-headed parakeet, Indian pond heron, etc. Kanha Tiger Reserve is the famous tiger reserve area of India.
Kanha is best known for its evergreen Sal Forest is home to about 300 species of Birds, 43 species of Mammals, 26 species of Reptiles, and more than 500 species of Insects.
There are various animals you can spot here, including the Bengal Tiger, swamp deer, Indian wild dog, and 300 species of birds. There are around 150 tigers in Kanha National Park.
The best time to visit the Kanha National Park is the month of April & May.
How to Reach Kanha National Park:-
Kanha National Park is well connected to the major destination of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra & Chhatisgarha districts.
By Road:-From Nagpur it is 300 km., from Jabalpur, it is 160 km. and from Raipur, it is 250 km. From Bhilai, it is 270 km.
By Train:- The nearest railway station is Gondia railway station which is 145 km. in the Kanha tiger reserve area. Jabalpur railway station is 160 km.
By Air:- The nearest Railway station for accessing Kanha National Park is 160 km from Jabalpur and 250 km from Raipur Airport.
8. Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarkhand:-
Jim Corbett Park is a National park in India. It was established in the year of 1936. It was named Hailey National Park, in 1957.This park was rechristened as the Corbett National Park in memory of the Late Jim Corbett great naturalist, and eminent conservationist.
The Corbett national park covers an area of 521 sq Kilometer. It is situated
at the foothills of the Himalayas. It spreads over parts of two districts, a major part of the park with an area of 312.86 square kilometers falls in the Pauri Garhwal district, and the balance of 208.14 square kilometers in the Nainital district.
It is home to approximately 110 tree species, 50 mammals, 580 bird species, and 25 reptile species that are found in lower and higher regions of the park.
The most famous of Corbett’s wild residents are the Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Jackle Mongoose, and Crocodile.
Tourists from all across the world visit Jim Corbett National Park to view India’s precious predators during November to June is considered to be the best time to visit this park. Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve is the famous tiger reserve area of India.
It is the time tourists can explore the Indian wildlife through jungle safari, available from five different tourist zones-Dhikala, Bijrani, Domunda, Jhirna, and Sonanadi.
There are 252 Tiger we can find in this Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve.
How to reach Corbett National Park:-
The closest town to Corbett National Park is Ramnagar, which is well-connected by road to places like Lucknow, Nainital, Ranikhet, Haridwar, Dehradun, and New Delhi.
By Air: – The closest domestic airport is Pantnagar Airport, which is 80 km away from New Delhi. New Delhi is the nearest International Airport.
By Train:-Ramnagar (5km), which is the nearest Railway station, is
well connected to all the major Indian cities.
By Bus:-The park is connected to all the major destinations within and outside of the state by a motorable road. Visitors can easily hire a private Taxi and bus to arrive at Park.
9. Bandipur Tiger reserve, Karnataka:-
The Bandipur National Park is one of the richest wildlife areas in India. The Best Bandipur Tiger Reserve area is situated in Champarajanangar in Karnataka. It is the second-highest tiger population in India.
The Tiger reserve occupies a special place in the hearts of environmentalists and animal lovers.Bandipur National Park is covering 868.63 square kilometers. This is one of the best Tiger reserves in India for tourists.
It is in the Chamarajannagar district of Karnataka. It was established as a tiger reserve under project Tiger in 1973.
The Bandipur Tiger Reserve along with the Nagarahole Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam & Wayanad Landscape is the source population in the Western Ghats landscape complex with an estimated Tiger population of about 382. Bandipur Tiger Reserve is the famous tiger reserve area of India.
Which constitutes the single largest population of tigers in the world.The best time to visit this place during the monsoon season is between July to September. The best period to visit this place during summer is March to May.
Bandipur is one of the largest protected areas of wildlife in South India, especially for elephants.Bandipur National Park harbors Indian elephant, gaur, Bengal Tiger, sloth bear, mugger crocodile, Indian rock python, four-horned antelope, golden jackal, and dhole.
Bandipur is home to over 200 species of birds including honey buzzards, red-headed vultures, Indian vultures, flowerpeckers, hoopoes, Indian rollers, brown fish owls, bee-eaters, and kingfishers a common sight in winter.
How you reach Bandipur National Park:-
By Air:-From Bangaluru airport to Bandipur which is 217 km. The International Airport of Bangaluru serves domestic flights from all the major Indian cities.
The International flights also connected to Bangaluru are London, New York, Thailand, Singapore, and Dubai.
By Rail:-Mysore is well connected with major cities by rail. You can travel by train to Mysore and then book a cab or bus from the Mysore railway station to Bandipur.
By Road:- The road from Ooty to Mysore via Bandipur is picturesque. You can drive your car or hire a Taxi or take KSRTC Mysore to Ooty by bus, which will drop you at Bandipur Park.
10. Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha:-
The Similipal National Park is a national park and a tiger reserve area in the Mayurbhanja district in the state of Odisha, India. It is 2750 square kilometers.
It is also part of the Mayurbhanja Elephant Reserve area. It is a protected area by the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve since 2009.
The Government of Odisha declared Similipal as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979 with an area of 2750 square kilometers. The government of India declared Similipal as a biosphere reserve in 1994.
This park is a treasure of 1076 species of plants belonging to 102 families.96 species of orchids have been identified here. Similipal is lies in the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests ecoregion of Odisha. This is one of the best Tiger reserves in India for tourists.
There are 94 tigers found in this slip area.A total of 42 species of mammals, 242 species of birds, and 30 species of reptiles have been recorded in the Similipal National Park.
The major mammals are tiger, leopard, Asian elephant, Sambar, barking dear, wild cat, giant squirrel, and common langur. In similipal National park you can see, 231 species of birds nest in these forests.
The commonly found birds are Red junglefowl, helminth, peafowl, Alexandrine parakeet, and grey hornbill. You can enjoy in the Similipal National park ,activities like Jungle Safari & guided treks are highly recommended if you want to experience the beauty of the biosphere called Similipal Tiger Reserve. Similipal Tiger Reserve is the famous tiger reserve area of India.
Apart from Jungle Safari and treks in the Similipal, you can see beautiful , Birding which is highly recommended for Similipal tourists for its unique ecosystem supporting a huge variety of avian species.
How to Reach ar Similipal Tiger Reserve:-
Similipal National Park is situated in the Mayurbhanja district of the eastern
the coastal state of ODISHA.It is one of the most well-known forests reserves in the country.
By Air:- People coming in from outside the country can fly into the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International AIRPORT in Kolkatta or Biju Pattnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. Each is situated roughly 365 and 191 km away from similipal.
By Rail:– The Balasore The railway station is located around 100 km. away from Similipal. It is the nearest railhead to the Park. It is situated on the main Howrah-Chennai line and it is well-connected to several major cities by train. The Baripada Railway station is also located the same distance
away from the similipal.
By Road:-The nearest town from Similipal is Baripada, situated at the junction of National Highways 5 & 6. It is around 250 km. from Bhubaneswar, 235 km from Kolkatta, and 60 km. from Balasore by road.
Conclusion:-
There are 53 tiger reserves in India. Guru Ghasidas National Park is the 53rd Tiger Reserve in India as of 2022. There are 106 existing national parks in India covering 44,372 square kilometers, which is 1.35% of the geographical area of the country.
There are 200 white tiger exists in the world today. Today Nandankanan Zoological Park has more than 34 white tigers in the vicinity. You can find 26 no. of tigers, out of which 6 no are white tigers in this zoo, which is in the state of Odisha, India.
The tiger is the unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem.It is a top predator which is at the apex of the food chain and keeps the population of wild ungulates in check.It maintaining the balance between herbivores and the vegetation upon which the tiger feed.
Therefore, the presence of Tigers in the world not only good for the tourism but also in the forest it,is an indicator of the well being of the ecosystem.