The latest tiger census puts the number of tigers in India at 3,167, up from 2,967 in 2018. That is of course cause for celebration. In the run up to International Tiger Day, which is celebrated on July 29th each year, here is a list of the top ten tiger sanctuaries in India where you can see this magnificent animal in its natural habitat.

Nagarhole/Kabini

The Nagarhole Tiger Reserve covers an area of ​​almost 848 km² and has the highest concentration of tigers in southern India. At Nagarhole (nagar means snake and hole means river in Kannada), the famous Kabini River flows on the west side of the park. The reserve became part of Project Tiger in 2003 and was designated core tiger habitat in 2007. The reserve has also implemented a tiger conservation plan for the core, buffer and corridor areas. Karnataka Government operates all morning and evening safaris through the jungle lodges. The safari is a great way to see the tiger and other animals and birds.

Stay at JLR Kings Sanctuary.

pench

The Pench jungle is said to have been the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. The tiger reserve is named after the Pench River that flows through it and covers an area of ​​758 km². In 1999, the Pench Tiger Project was reported as a tiger reserve of India and in 2017 as a critical tiger habitat. Incidentally, Pench is one of three tiger reserves to win the TX2 Award for quintupling its tiger population from 9 in 2006 to 44 in 2021. There are day and night safaris in Pench which are great for spotting tigers.

Overnight at Kohka Wilderness Camp

Kaziranga

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kaziranga is known for its rare rhino but also a tiger reserve. The tiger population covers an area of ​​430 km² and has been steadily increasing – it was declared a tiger reserve in 2006. The Royal Bengal Tigers can be seen in the park’s Agoratoli Mountains. Here you can do both jeep safaris and elephant safaris. The western zone is recommended for tiger sightings. Over 100 tigers have been recorded in this region, making it a unique place.

Stay at the Wild Mahseer

corbett

Jim Corbett National Park is India’s oldest national park – it was established in 1936 – and this is where Project Tiger was first launched in 1973. The park has an open-top gallop and medium-sized vehicles that enter the park’s buffer zones for morning and evening safaris. Spread over 1,318 km². Since the Ramganga River flows through the park, there is said to be a high density of tigers there. This has prompted the National Tiger Conservation Authority to add some of the surrounding areas as part of the buffer zone. There are also various surveillance measures and camera traps to protect the tigers.

Stay at the Taj Corbett Resort & Spa

Satpura

Covering an impressive area of ​​2,133,307 km², the Satpura Tiger Reserve is one of the oldest tiger reserves in the country. In 2000, the Indian government announced Satpura as part of Project Tiger. Jeep and elephant safaris as well as boat trips on the Denwa River are offered here. With its rich biodiversity and diverse flora and fauna, the park is a great example of the ecosystem of the central Indian highlands. To ensure protection, surveillance and camera trap identification measures are also carried out to create a tiger database.

Stay at Pugdundee Safaris’ Denwa Backwater Escape

pilibhit

Located in Pilibhit District and Shahjahanpur District of Uttar Pradesh, the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve features a landscape of sal forests, tall grasslands and swamps. It was designated the country’s 45th tiger reserve project in 2008 because of its unique ecosystem of forests, rivers and grasslands. The Gomti River is said to originate from this reserve. Due to its high density of tigers, Pilibhit is linked to the Surahi Mountains of Corbett, Lagga-Bagga of Shuklaphanta National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Dudhwa. Conservation activities reported under Project Tiger in 2014 include patrols, management of human-wildlife conflicts, and the development of the buffer and corridor areas.

Stay at the Fortune Walkway Mall

Tadoba Andhari

Maharashtra’s oldest and largest reserve, Tadoba National Park stretches over 625 km². Merged with the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary in 1995, it is the region where tribesmen and local people worship the tiger as a god. In the tropical dry deciduous forests there are dense forests where bamboo thickets, flame of the forest, crocodile bark tree and mahua trees grow in abundance. There are morning and evening jeep safaris. Interestingly, the tigers here are named after movie stars, so you may encounter Sonam, Circuit, Shivaji, Lara, Gabbar, Madhuri, Amitabh, and Mallika, among others. With six core gates and 15 buffer gates, Tadoba is considered a true paradise for tiger sightings.

Stay at Waghoba Eco Lodge

Bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh National Park covers an area of ​​1536 square kilometers including the core and buffer zones. It has the highest density of Bengal tigers and is one of the most visited tiger sanctuaries in the country. With a topography of rocky ridges, forested valleys and grassy marshes, this was the former hunting ground of the Maharaja of Rewa. In fact, this is believed to be the natural habitat of the white tigers as well. The reserve was included in Project Tiger in 1993. The tiger sightings here are of course great and the reserve includes the buffer area, Bandhavgarh National Park and the Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary. Jeep safaris are conducted in the morning and afternoon.

Stay at Kings Lodge

Ranthambore

Ranthambore National Park was established as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 and declared a Tiger Reserve Project in 1973. It is known for its large tiger population. Covering an area of ​​1334 km², this was once the private game reserve of the Jaipur royal family. With its rolling meadows interspersed with streams and dry deciduous trees, the park is a tiger lover’s delight. One of India’s most photographed tigers, T-16 or Machali, actually posed for tourists and was also featured in a national award-winning film called The World’s Most Famous Tiger – her death in 2016 was mourned by all tiger lovers. In fact, there are many stories about the tigers here.

Stay at SUJAN Sher Bagh

Kanha

Kanha is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh and covers an area of ​​1,949 km². and is located in the Maikal Mountains of the Satpuras. Originally inhabited by the Gond and Baiga tribes, Stanley Breeden and Belinda Wright’s award-winning National Geographic film Land of the Tiger was filmed here. Designated as part of Project Tiger since its inception in 1973, the World Wildlife Foundation has created corridors to mitigate human-animal conflict. With its sal bamboo trees and expansive meadows, it was the home of the legendary tiger Munna, affectionately known as the Prime Minister of Kanha. Don’t forget to listen to his stories while you’re here.

Stay at Banjaar Tola – A Taj Safari – Kanha National Park