Not many know that India, home to over 70% of the world’s wild tiger population, is one of the best countries in the world for tiger sightings. With dense forests, thriving biodiversity, and well-protected habitats, the country offers several reserves where visitors have a good chance of spotting these majestic big cats in the wild. Here are five that you can explore.
1 / 5Corbett Tiger Reserve | Located in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district, Corbett Tiger Reserve was originally established as Hailey National Park in 1936 and was the country’s first national park. In 1956, it was renamed to honour hunter-turned-naturalist Jim Corbett, who played a key role in establishing the park. With 252 tigers, this reserve is known for having the world’s highest density of tigers. (Image: Corbett Tiger Reserve)
2 / 5Ranthambore National Park | As of 2019, the Ranthambore forest has 71 tigers, including 25 tigers and tigresses each, and 21 cubs. However, this exceeds the reserve’s capacity of 50 tigers. Located close to Sawai Madhopur city in Rajasthan, it was initially established by the Government of India as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955. (Image: Ranthambore National Park)
3 / 5Bandhavgarh National Park | Located in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park is home to 135 tigers, per the 2022 census. This national park’s best attraction is its Bengal Tigers. It has more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds spread across an area of 1536 square kilometres. (Image: Bandhavgarh National Park)
4 / 5Nagarhole Tiger Reserve | Located in Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka in South India, the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve has 185 tigers. The reserve was initially established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and was identified as a national park in 1988. It also has over 270 species of birds, including endangered species like the oriental white-backed vulture and the great Indian bustard. (Image: Nagarhole Tiger Reserve)
5 / 5Kanha Tiger Reserve | Located in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha Tiger Reserve is home to 145 tigers. Kanha is one of the oldest protected areas of India, which was declared a forest reserve in 1879 and subsequently a National Park in 1955. It was also among the first nine Tiger Reserves of India. (Image: Canva)
