20 Famous Tiger Safaris to Visit in India

Tiger, being India's national animal, is found in different states of the country. India is home to around 3167 tigers, and its population is expected to grow. Besides several tiger reserves, some national parks in India allow people to visit and witness tigers in person.

Therefore, if you plan to visit one of those, read along to learn about the tiger safaris in India.

Given below is a list of the top 20 tiger safaris in India:

1. Bandhavgarh National Park

source: andbeyond

Home to a variety of flora, and fauna like Sal, Teak, four-horned antelope, barasingha, tigers etc., and other wildlife, Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh. The main attraction of the visitors here is the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Infused with ancient values from the Treta Yuga, this national park is an amalgamation of ancient and modern times.

• Area Covered: 1,536 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 5 to 6 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 11:30 PM and 3:30 PM to 6 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 160 km from Jabalpur Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹2200 for Indian citizens and ₹4300 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Jabalpur Airport. Individuals can take a taxi and drive to the park within 2 hours.

2. Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is one of the most famous places to visit for exploring the population of tigers in the country. The national park is mainly famous for its large number of tigers.

However, apart from tigers, the national park is also home to several other flora and fauna, such as the banyan tree, peepal tree, Dhok tree, common mongoose, crocodile, leopard, pythons and many others.

• Area Covered: 1,334 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM to 7 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 156 km from Jaipur International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹750 for Indian citizens and ₹1815 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport. The national park is just 4 hours of drive away from the airport via NH552.

3. Kanha National Park

source: ixigo

Another gem in the heart of the country, Kanha National Park, is situated in Madhya Pradesh and covers two districts of the state called Mandala and Kalaghat. Besides, it is spread across the Maikal Hill chains.

The national park is home to several species besides its main attraction, tigers. Apart from many tigers, the national park has various flora and fauna such as barasingha, blackbuck, swamp deer, Sal, Teak, Tendu, Mahua, Lendia, etc.

• Area Covered: 940 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 4 days
• Operational Hours: 11 AM to 3:30 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 130 km from Jabalpur Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹7500 for Indian citizens and ₹13500 for Foreigners (weekdays) ₹1800 for Indian citizens and ₹2200 for Foreigners (weekends)
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Jabalpur Airport, which is around 3 hours of drive away via NH30.

4. Jim Corbett National Park

source: travelandleisureasia

Jim Corbett National Park was previously known as Hailey National Park after its inception in 1936. Situated in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, the park allows night-stay visitors. Besides, it is the second-largest tiger reserve in the country.

Visitors can roam around on the back of elephants or in the jeep while watching the flora and fauna infused in the park. Hence, wildlife buffs can enjoy watching crocodiles, leopards, elephants etc., apart from tigers.

• Area Covered: 1,318 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to February
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM (winter) and 5:30 AM to 8:30 AM (summer). 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM (winter) and 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM (summer)
• Distance from the Airport: 74.3 km from Kannur International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹200 for Indian citizens and ₹900 for Foreigners. Kids from 1-8 years of age do not require any entry fees
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Pantnagar Domestic Airport, which is around 2 hours of drive away via NH 309.

5. Satpura National Park

Capture the thrills of encountering tigers from your jeep or the lush green jungles of Satpura National Park. Established in 1981, the park is in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh. Rich in biodiversity, the national park is the perfect place to explore for wildlife buffs.

Besides tigers, the park consists of a wide range of flora and fauna such as mahua, tendu, sal, teak, buck, boar, leopard, flying squirrel etc.

• Area Covered: 524 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to June
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM (winter). 6 AM to 10 AM and 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM (summer)
• Distance from the Airport: 60.3 km from Chhindwara Domestic Airport
• Entry Fee: 2000 for Indian citizens and Foreigners (per seat in jeep safari)
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Bhopal Airport. Individuals can take a taxi or rent a car to the park. The national park is around 2.5 hours of drive away via NH46.

6. Pench National Park

source: jungletrail

Almost evenly separated into half, between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Pench National Park is situated in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Maharashtra. It also covers the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh.

The park highlights having around 33 tigers which is the star of the show. Besides, the park is also home to varieties of birds, mammals and reptiles.

• Area Covered: 257.26 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to July
• Average Time to Spend: 4 days
• Operational Hours: 6:30 AM to 11 AM and 3 PM to 6:30 PM (Madhya Pradesh) and 6:30 AM to 11 AM and 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM (Maharashtra)
• Distance from the Airport: 93.3 km from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport
• Entry Fee: INR 15 per person for Indians and INR 150 per person for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Nagpur Airport, which is just 2 hours of drive away via NH44.

7. Tadoba National Park

source: indiasomeday

The largest and oldest national park of Maharashtra, Tadoba National Park, is in the Chandrapur district of the state. Though the main attraction of this place is the tiger, the park also offers its visitors to witness several other mammals, birds, reptiles and flora.

• Area Covered: 625.4 km²
• Best Time to Visit: March to May
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 135.8 km from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹20 per person
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Nagpur International Airport, which is around 3 hours of drive away via NH44.

8. Nagarhole National Park

source: karnatakatourism

Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Nagarhole National Park is located in the Mysore district of Karnataka. The park, consisting of unspoiled vegetation, is home to lush green forests and several animals, including tigers, roaming freely.

Besides, the park offers bus, coracle, boat, and jeep safaris, allowing visitors to capture mesmerising moments with their cameras.

• Area Covered: 848 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to May
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 9 AM and 3 PM to 6 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 81.6 km from Mysuru Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹150 for Indian citizens and ₹1500 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Bengaluru Airport. Individuals can rent a car from the airport and drive to the national park within 5 hours via NH275.

9. Bandipur National Park

source: tripadvisor

Bandipur National Park is located partly in Chamarajanagar district and Mysuru district of Karnataka. Considered one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in the country, the park's main highlight is that it has over seventy Bengal Tigers and about three thousand elephants.

The park offers sightseeing of several other species and is home to a wide range of flora and fauna.

• Area Covered: 874.20 Sq. KM
• Best Time to Visit: March to May
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 9 AM to 6 PM (Monday to Friday)
• Distance from the Airport: 63.7 KM from Mysuru Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹250 for adults and ₹150 for kids
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Mysore Airport, from where the national park is just an hour's drive via NH766.

10. Periyar National Park

source: theculturetrip

Periyar National Park is in the southern Thiruvananthapuram near Kerala, impounding the Periyar River. It is a popular tourist destination in the country that offers many sightseeing options, including flora and fauna like Sal, Teak, Rosewood, Sandalwood, endemic birds and other species. However, the centre of attention remains the Bengal tigers.

• Area Covered: 305 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to June
• Average Time to Spend: 4 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 7 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 143 km from Cochin International Airport
• Entry Fee: 45 for adults and 15 for kids (Indian citizens). 500 for adults and 180 for kids (Foreigners)
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Madurai International Airport, which is around 3.5 hours of drive away via NH85.

11. Hemis National Park

source: mountainhomestays

In the eastern region of Ladakh in Jammu Kashmir, Hemis National Park is an absolute treat to the eyes. Indus and Zanskar rivers flow at their boundaries, and the park is at an altitude of around 6000 metres.

Apart from its main attraction, the snow leopards, the park also allows safaris to watch other animals like Bharal, Tibetan Argali, Tibetan wild ass and some rare birds. It also has flora like Gentiana, Lloyd, kobresia, and other medicinal plants.

• Area Covered: 4,400 km²
• Best Time to Visit: May to October. Safaris remain closed during the winter months due to heavy snowfall.
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 85.2 km from Srinagar International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹20 for Indian citizens and ₹100 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is The Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, from where the national park is an hour's drive away via Zanskar Valley Road.

12. Kaziranga National Park

source: eastmojo

One of the natural world heritage sites declared by UNESCO, Kaziranga Park has the reputation of having the highest density of tigers in the world. Apart from Bengal Tigers, the park is also widely popular for one-horned rhinoceros, eastern swamp deer, Asiatic wild buffalo, Asian elephants etc.

Besides, the park is a paradise for bird watchers and mammals, reptiles and flora lovers.

• Area Covered: 430 km²
• Best Times to Visit: March and April. The park remains closed from May to October due to floods caused by the Brahmaputra River.
• Average Time to Spend: 2 days
• Operational Hours: 7 AM to 4 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 139 km from the Jorhat Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹100 for Indian citizens and ₹650 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Jorhat Airport, which is around 2.5 hours of drive away via NH715.

13. Anamalai Tiger Reserve

source: socialnews

Anamalai Tiger Reserve is a wildlife paradise for a vacation with your family. The park, covering four districts, is located at Pollachi in Kerala. Though the park's main attraction is Bengal Tiger, there are also several endangered yet majestic species to encounter.

• Area Covered: 958 km²
• Best Time to Visit: December to June
• Average Time to Spend: 2-3 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 6 PM
• Distance from Airport: 126.2 km from Coimbatore International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹30 for adults and ₹10 for kids (up to 10 years of age)
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport. Individuals can rent a car and drive to the national park within 4 hours via SH78.

14. Sariska Tiger Reserve

source: tripadvisor

Located in the Alwar district of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Sariska Tiger Reserve is rich in biodiversity and related to the ancient history of the great Indian epic Mahabharata. The park offers jeep safaris for its visitors to explore the wide range of flora and fauna while the Bengal Tiger roams around you.

• Area Covered: 881 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to February
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 9:30 AM and 3 PM to 6:30 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 109.7 km from Jaipur Sanganer Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹20 for Indian citizens and ₹100 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Jaipur Sanganer Airport, just 2 hours drive away via NH21.

15. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

source: cloudinary

Located at the lap of the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is the habitat of several vulnerable species, including the Indian elephant, leopard and the bold Bengal Tiger. Besides, the park offers jeep safaris so that you can witness the array of endangered flora and fauna.

• Area Covered: 321 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to May
• Average Time to Spend: 2 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 6 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 86.2 km from Coimbatore International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹15 per adult
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport. Individuals can take a taxi or rent a car and drive to the national park within 5 hours via NH181.

16. Gir National Park

source: gujarattourism

Located in the Somnath district of Gujarat, Gir National Park is one of the renowned wildlife destinations in the country. The park offers some of the most famous tiger safari tours in India, where you can see large numbers of lions and tigers. It provides safaris to immerse yourself in the astounding beauty of Asian wildlife.

• Area Covered: 1,410 km²
• Best Time to Visit: December to March
• Average Time to Spend: 2-3 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 5 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 77.9 km from Amreli Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹100 for weekdays and ₹125 for weekends
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Keshod Airport, which is around 2.5 hours of drive away via NH151.

17. Dudhwa National Park

source: toiimg

Rich in biodiversity, Dudhwa National Park is located along the Indo-Nepal border in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. The park offers jungle safaris to its visitors to take a tour of the wide range of flora and fauna. While the main attraction is the Bengal Tigers, the majestic wildlife of the park will be worth capturing.

• Area Covered: 490.3 km²
• Best Time to Visit: November to April
• Average Time to Spend: 2 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 9:30 AM and 2 PM to 6 PM
• Distance from Airport: 154 km from Bareilly Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹50 for Indian citizens and ₹300 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport is the nearest airport, from where individuals can rent a car or take a taxi to the nation within 5 hours of driving via NH30.

18. Panna National Park

source: travelandleisureasia

Panna National Park is in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The park is generally known for its environmental importance and is responsible for preserving several endangered species. Besides, it offers jungle safaris to witness the array of flora and fauna in the park, along with the boldest creature of all, the Bengal Tiger.

• Area Covered: 542.7 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 2 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 11 AM and 3 PM to 6:30 PM (summer). 6:30 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 5:30 PM (winter)
• Distance from the Airport: 24.9 km from Khajuraho Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹50 for Indian citizens and ₹500 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Khajuraho Airport which is just 30 minutes drive away via NH339B.

19. Sundarban National Park

source: wikimedia

Sundarbans are almost synonymous with Bengal Tigers, located in the South 24 Parganas of West Bengal. While the only mode of safari in the park is boat safari, you may encounter crocodiles and other reptiles in the water or even the Royal Bengal Tiger peeking out from the jungle.

Apart from these, Sundarbans are also home to several other species and majestic wildlife to witness and offer one of the prominent wildlife tiger safaris in India.

• Area Covered: 1,330 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 2 days
• Operational Hours: 8 AM to 6 PM (for weekdays). 10 AM to 4 PM (for weekends)
• Distance from Airport: 109 km from Netaji Subhash International Airport, Dumdum
• Entry Fee: ₹50 for Indian citizens and ₹200 for Foreigners
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Netaji Subhash International Airport, from where individuals can take a taxi to Namkhana. From Namkhana, there are motor launch services available to reach Sundarbans.

20. Manas National Park

source: thethirdpole

Known for being home to several endemic Assam roofed turtles, hispid hare, etc. Manas National Park is in the Baksa district of Assam. In the foothills of the Himalayas, the park has its name derived from the Manas River.

Besides, the park offers safaris to witness the variety of flora, fauna and wildlife, with the main attraction being the Bengal Tiger.

• Area Covered: 950 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to May. The park remains closed from June to September due to heavy rainfall.
• Average Time to Spend: 2-3 days
• Operational Hours: 6 AM to 6 PM
• Distance from Airport: 141.2 km from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Guwahati Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹50 (half days) ₹200 (full days) for Indian citizens. ₹500 (half days) ₹2000 (full days) for Foreigners.
• How to Reach: The nearest airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Guwahati Airport, which is around 3 hours of drive away via NH27.