Considering the entire world, we have eight subspecies of tigers, three out of which are now entirely extinct from the wild. This restricts only a few destinations in the entire world, which are considered to be the Best places to see tigers in India.
To embrace this animal, among these five subspecies, three tigers are honoured as national animals. The Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the national animal of India and Bangladesh. The Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris malayensis) is the national animal of Malaysia. The Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is the national animal of South Korea.
However, out of all these magnificent cats, the Royal Bengal Tiger thrives, thanks to dedicated conservation measures undertaken in India. India also is easily the best place to see tigers in the wild. As of this day, below are the top three places to see the real king of the jungles.
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Top 3 Places to see Tigers in India
1. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
Bandhavgarh, formerly the hunting grounds that served Maharaja of the Rewa dynasty, has a legend of its own. It is perhaps the most sought-after place to see wild tigers in India currently.
Bandhavgarh National Park is spread across the Vindhya range of mountains, in Madhya Pradesh and holds an area of roughly 1530 sq. km. The topography varies between steep ridges, undulating terrain of the forests, and open meadows.Â
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Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
This terrain is ruled by the one and only Royal Bengal Tiger. Bandhavgarh has over 70 tigers as of now as per the latest census.
This translates to the fact that it is the park with the highest density of tigers per square kilometer in Central India, hence making Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, one of the top places to see tigers in India.Â
All the tigers that you see here today are the progeny of the legendary couple Charger and Sita, who was no less than kings and queens back in time, roughly 25 years ago. Later the mantle was taken by his son B2.
Bandhavgarh is a photographer’s delight for tiger photography tours. Picture a handsome male tiger or a charming tigress walking towards you without a care in the world, with a backdrop of lush green Saal forests.
Other jungle inhabitants consist of the likes of Indian Leopards, Sloth Bears, Deer species like the Spotted Deer and the Sambar Deer, and Antelopes such as Four Horned Antelope and the Indian Gazelle can be found swiftly running on the vast grasslands.
Inside the swamps, we have Indian Rock Pythons, Soft Shelled Turtles, and many more. It is also a heaven for bird watchers, with about 250 birds, migratory and residents.
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India Leopards
Before declaring Bandhavgarh as a National Park or a Tiger Reserve, and before it became a famous spot for tiger safari in India. it was famous among the locals due to its rich culture.
Of course, Bandhavgarh is a lush green realm teeming with wildlife, but it is still famous for the Bandhavgarh fort. Bandhavgarh is a combination of two words, ‘Bandhav’ meaning brothers and ‘Garh’ meaning fort.
This place is one of the oldest forts in India and unfolds the story of the legendary Shri Rama in Ramayana. While returning home, after conquering the war with Ravana, he took a pit stop here and built this fort to gift his brother, Lakshmana.
Another version of this story comes from folklore where the Gond King gifted this fort to Lord Shri Rama to scout over the Army of Lanka.
When visiting Bandhavgarh National Park, you’ll want to make sure to stay at the best resort in Bandhavgarh National Park to enhance your experience of exploring this historic and wildlife-rich region.
2. Kanha National Park, Kanha, Madhya Pradesh.
Kanha Tiger Reserve is nestled in the heart of Central Indian Highlands, the Maikal range of Satpura. Spreading over two revenue districts: Mandla and Balaghat, Kanha hold second position in the race of largest National Parks in Central India with a total area of approximately 2,052 sq km.
The dense forests of Kanha are majorly composed of Sal (Shorea robusta) and other mixed trees that support the growth of rich and varied flora and fauna. Not only wooded strands, but Kanha also has luxurious meadows which hold the maximum wild population of highly endangered Hard ground Swamp Deer (Barasingha), The Jewel of Kanha.
After your exciting adventures in Kanha National Park, When it comes to staying near Kanha National Park, consider exploring cozy resort in kanha that offer a peaceful retreat amidst nature’s beauty.
Munna oldest tigerÂ
One of the reserve’s oldest tigers, Munna the tiger was the most photographed tiger in the world. He was recognized by his most famous ‘C-A-T’ like marking spelled on his forehead with black stripes.
He was a celebrity among wildlife enthusiasts and photographers because of his personal bravery, boldness, and ability to fight other tigers with no compromise. This cat ruled almost the entire national park in his prime days.
Neelam tigress
The tigress Neelam is no less popular. She with her four male cubs are ruling this area for quite a lot of time. Bheema, ‘a peaceful warrior’, marked his stand in the park bearing his injury marks with the pride of a warrior.
Chota Munna, Dhwajhandi, Umarpani, Mundidadar, Budbudi, etc. are found adorning the social media accounts of wildlife photographers. The high density of tigers makes Kanha National Park, one of the best places to see tigers in India.
Other than Tigers, Indian leopards, Chital, Sambar, Barasingha, Blackbuck, Barking deer, Chousingha, Gaur, Langur, Wild pigs, Jackal, Sloth bears, and Wild dogs can be seen while on safari. More than 300 species of birds are recorded in this park which invites thousands of bird watchers and ornithologists every season.Â
The crystal clear stream flows amidst the lush, green woods with lots of wild flora and fauna around. Kanha truly inspired Rudyard Kipling to write his legendary story, ‘Jungle Book’
3. Tadoba National Park, Tadoba, Maharashtra.
Tadoba National Park also known as Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve is notably Maharashtra’s oldest and largest national park. This southern, tropical dry deciduous forest dominated by teak wood is nestled in an area of 1727 sqkm.
Tadoba is adorned with teak as well as bamboo, a magnificent landscape of the sprawling valley, soggy marshlands, and beautiful lakes which sustains a lot of prey bases for Royal Bengal Tigers.Â
According to the 2018 Tiger census, it is home to about 88 tigers, hence making Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, best place to see tigers in India.Â
This is perhaps the hottest park in Maharashtra, both temperature and animal sighting-wise. The temperatures can go up to a blazing 48 C – 49 C in peak summers.
Waghdo male supposed to be one of the largest tigers emerged from the stunning, Wagdho area of Tadoba. This is the park where tourists don’t generalize by saying, ‘I saw a tiger here.’ They specify, ‘I saw Sonam, Choti Tara, Maya, Shivaji, Gabbar or  Matkasur’.
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Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve
Not only tigers but also Indian Leopards, Sloth bears, Gaur, Nilgai, Dhole, Striped Hyena, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cats, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Marsh Crocodile, Indian Python, Indian Spectacled Cobra, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, etc.; make this park an ideal tourism site. This park is also known as ‘The Jewel of Vidharbha’, and has some of the best forest trails, endowed with rich flora and fauna.
These national parks and tiger reserves are responsible for what we know today as some of the best wildlife destinations in the world, offering a complete package in themselves.
When planning your wildlife tour in India, consider including these top places for tiger sightings. And for an unforgettable safari experience with a focus on responsible travel and luxury accommodations, Pugdundee Safaris is your ideal partner.
If you plan to visit India & are looking to experience best tiger safari in India, you can get in touch with Pugdundee Safaris, India’s leading wildlife travel & safari operators with 7 lodges in Central India.
With its lodges built sustainably, and day to day operations done responsibly, Pugdundee Safaris has won several accolades for setting new standards of responsible travel while offering luxury, wilderness & comfort.
Visit our the Luxurious Lodges in Different location:
The Best Resort in Kanha National Park, Luxury Resort in Tadoba, Resort in Bandhavgarh National Park, Resort in Pench, Resorts in Satpura, and Panna to watch the Royal Bengal Tiger frolic in the untamed wild. Get in touch with our trip curators at Pugdundee Safaris to book your next wildlife holiday.
Our trip curators at Pugdundee Safaris are more than happy to assist you. Phone: +91-011-40132680  Email: [email protected]
You can also book your stay at our premium wildlife lodges, Kings Lodge – Bandhavgarh, Tree House Hideaway – Bandhavgarh, Kanha Earth Lodge – Kanha & Waghoba Eco Lodge – Tadoba, situated very close to these parks, to make your safari experience even more splendid.
Contributed by: Mugdha Desai and Swanand Deshpande
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