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  • Cubbon Park, Bangalore

    Cubbon Park, Bangalore

    Apt to the title of Garden City, Bangalore boasts of a number of parks providing the lung space to the city dwellers amidst the chaos of traffic and pollution. One such park that sits right in the middle of the city is the Cubbon Park (Kannada: ?????? ?????? | Hindi: ????? ?????).

    Officially known as Sri Chamarajendra Park, Cubbon Park was named after the 19th-century ruler of the state, Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar.

    Quick Menu : Cubbon Park

    History of Cubbon Park

    Cubbon Park was established in the year of 1870 by the then British Chief Engineer of Mysore state, Major General Richard Sankey. With an initial spread of 100 acres, it was later expanded to 300 acres of land.

    Since its establishment, the park has gone through several name changes. First it was named as Meade’s Park after Sir John Meade, the acting Commissioner of Mysuru in 1870. Later it was renamed as Cubbon Park in the honor of the longest-serving commissioner of the time, Sir Mark Cubbon.

    Later, in the year of  1927, it was again renamed as Sri Chamarajendra Park to mark the Silver Jubilee of Sri Krishnaraja Wodeyar’s rule in Mysore State. However, Cubbon Park is the most popular name associated with this park.

    Cubbon park is under the maintenance of Horticulture Department of the Karnataka government. According to the Preservation Act passed by the state government in the year 1979, no constructions are allowed inside the Park nor any additional land can be granted for any further constructions.

    Flora in Cubbon Park

    The lush greenery of Cubbon Park provides a relaxing atmosphere to the nature lovers visiting the park. The park boasts of 6000 plants of 96 species belonging to around 68 categories. Some of the local species found in this park are artocarpus, cassia fistula, ficus, polyalthias etc.

    The park is also home to exotic species such as araucaria, bamboo, castanospermum australe, grevillea robusta, millettia, peltophorum, schinus molle, swietenia mahagoni, tabebuia. sp etc.

    Cubbon Park also comprises of ornamental trees such as Grevillea Robusta (silver oaks), the first one imported from Australia in the entire of Bangalore. Another ornamental tree that finds a place in this park is the tropical tree delonix, known more commonly as the gulmohar tree.

    Architecture of Cubbon Park

    Often compared to the Lodhi Garden of Delhi, Cubbon Park has been landscaped beautifully with natural rock outcrop, huge bamboo trees, lush green grass, historical monuments, large number of trees and flower beds lining its various avenues quite close to the administrative buildings located in the park.

    Motorable roads are also laid inside the park that allow light motor vehicles to ply in and out of the park. However, no vehicles are allowed from 5:00 am to 8:00 am in the mornings. The well laid out walking path in the park makes it an ideal place for joggers who come in huge numbers to get some fresh air.

    Cubbon Park is also home to many prominent buildings and monuments. Attara Kacheri, Iyer Hall,  Indira Priyadarshini Children’s Library, Venkatappa Art Gallery, the Aquarium, YMCA, Yuvanika, Century Club, Press Club, Jawahar Bal Bhavan, Tennis Pavilion, Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall and the Ottawa Chatter are some of the famous structures within and around its premises.

    Statues in Cubbon Park

    Cubbon Park is adorned with marble statues of famous personalities adding to the magnificence of this place. The statue of Queen Victoria that stands near the Mahatma Gandhi Circle was installed in the year 1906.  The statue of King Edward VII was installed in 1919. The statue of Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar that was installed in 1927 is located right in the center of the park near the tennis pavilion.

    The statues of Sir Mark Cubbon near the terrace garden and the statue of  Sir K. Sheshadri Iyer (installed in 1913) are some of the other statues worth admiring.

    Major Attractions at Cubbon Park

    1. Cubbon Park Aquarium

    Located at the entrance of Cubbon Park, Bangalore aquarium greets its visitors with its exotic range of fishes. This second largest aquarium in India is administered by the Karnataka State Government Department of Fisheries.

    Located at the entrance of Cubbon Park, Bangalore aquarium greets its visitors with its exotic range of fishes. This second largest aquarium in India is administered by the Karnataka State Government Department of Fisheries.

    Also known as Government Aquarium and Bangalore Aquarium, it is built in an octagonal shape consisting of three floors. The ground floor is used for office and laboratory purpose. The first floor comprises of 14 large tanks while the second floor has two rows of around 69 tanks.

    The aquarium is home to a large variety of fishes such as eels, angelfish, glowlight tetra, hockey stick tetra, red-tail shark, catla, Indian tiger barb, mahseer, freshwater prawns, blue gourami, pearl gourami, goldfish, moon tail, etc.

    The aquarium at Cubbon Park is open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm on all days except Mondays and second Tuesdays of the month. A minimal entry fee of Rs. 15 per person is required to visit the aquarium. There is no entry fee for children below 12 years of age.

    2. Cubbon Park Toy Train

    A favorite among the children, Toy train ride in Cubbon Park should not be missed by anyone visiting the park. Named as Putani Express, it runs on bio fuel.

    Painted in bright colors, the Putani express runs every 10-20 minutes. It takes around the park through the various structures and flora amidst the large buildings situated in the park.

    Toy train timings are from 10:30 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening. It closed on Thursdays.

    3. Attara Kacheri

    Located opposite to Vidhan Soudha, Attara Kacheri – the high court of Karnataka is another important structure near Cubbon Park. Built in  Graeco-Roman style of architecture, this red colored two-storeyed building is worth visiting for its imposing architecture and proximity to other important structures.

    Under the supervision of Rao Bahadur Arcot Narayanaswami Mudaliar, it took 4 years to complete the construction of the High Court, having started in the year 1864 and completed in 1868 at a cost of Rs. 4.5 lakhs.

    Attara Kacheri was originally named as Old Public Offices. However, when the eighteen departments in the general and revenue secretariat of the Mysore Government were shifted from Tipu Sultan’s summer palace to this premises, it was christened as Attara Kacheri meaning Eighteen offices.

    The High Court can be visited from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days of the week except Sundays. There is no entry fee to visit the premises.

    4. Government Museum

    Another place worth visiting on a trip to Cubbon Park is the State Archeological Museum that resides within the premises of the park. Built in 1876 by Colonel Sankey, it is one of the oldest buildings in India.

    The museum boasts of  two exhibition floors consisting of 18 galleries belonging to different genres such as sculpture, natural history, geology, art, music and numismatics. The collection at the museum includes sculpture from the Hoysala, Gandhara and Nolamba periods, artifacts from Mohenjodaro, Halebid and Vijayanagar and rare paintings of Deccan, Mysore and Tanjore kingdoms.

    Government Museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days of the week except Mondays. There is an entry fee of Rs. 20 for adults and Rs.10 for Children to visit the museum.

    5. Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall

    Amidst the lush green surroundings of Cubbon Park, stands an impressive red building – the Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall. This structure was built in the year 1915 AD in the honour of the Dewan of Mysore State from 1883 to 1901, Sir K.Seshadri Iyer.

    Built in European style architecture with Tuscan and Corinthian columns, this memorial building is a must visit place for book lovers as it houses the Seshadri Memorial library. A beautiful rose garden in the front side of the building makes it all the more alluring.

    With an area of 300 sq. km and a collection of 2.65 lakh books including Braille section, the library is worth visiting for its vast collection of books. The library was recipient of  Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation Award for the best state central library in the year 2000 AD.

    The Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall is open from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm on all days of the week except Mondays and 2nd Tuesdays of the month. There is no entry fee to visit the memorial hall.

    6. Band Stand

    Once a popular place for music concerts, Band Stand is an octagonal shaped structure made of cast-iron built in early 1900s. Before India got its independence, this place was used by British Royal Air Force to play western band music on Saturday evenings.

    Recently, an NGO named Prakruti has started conducting musical concerts at the Bandstand to revive its old glory.

    7. Jawahar Bal Bhavan

    A visit to Cubbon park is incomplete without a trip to Jawahar Bal Bhavan, an amusement park as well as recreation center designed especially for children. Spread over 12.5 acres of land, Bal Bhavan includes a children’s play area with a variety of swings and slides.

    One of the main attractions of Bal Bhavan is the toy train that runs around the Park. Doll museum which boasts of a rich collection of dolls and toys from around the world is another place worth visiting. Jawahar Bal Bhavan also offers boating facility to its visitors.

    Along with the recreational activities, Bal Bhavan houses an amphitheatre where various film shows and theatre performances are conducted on a regular basis. Hobby classes such as painting, arts and crafts are also held at the park.

    Jawahar Bal Bhavan Timings are from 10.00 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening. The entry fee is Rs.10 per person for kids above 10 years of age while the entry is free for kids below 10 years of age.

    Entry Fee and Timings of Cubbon Park

    Cubbon Park is open from 6 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening on all days of the week except Mondays and second Tuesdays of the month. No vehicular movement is allowed from 5 am to 8 am to provide a peaceful environment for morning walkers.

    There is no entry fee to visit the Cubbon Park.

    How to reach Cubbon Park

    Cubbon Park is located at the heart of the city and is easily accessible from M.G. Road, Kasturba Road, Hudson Circle, and Ambedkar Veedhi. Visitors can either take a cab or a BMTC Bus / KSRTC Bus that is well connected to various parts of the city.

    The park also has its own Metro Station which is about 100 meters away.

    Parking at Cubbon Park

    To facilitate the visitors coming to the park in their own vehicles, Cubbon Park provides ample parking space in its four major parking lots such as on the Queens Road side, from Bal Bhavan upto high court complex.

    One of the top sightseeing places in Bangalore, Cubbon Park truly supports the title of Garden City of India associated with Bangalore. With its well maintained gardens, the historical buildings and Children play area, Cubbon Park offers something for everyone. A place worth visiting for anyone travelling to this city, Cubbon Park will surely leave plenty of memories worth cherishing for a lifetime.

  • Bangalore Palace

    Bangalore Palace

    The Garden city of India, Bangalore has gone through several transformations over the period of time. It blends the modern technological era with historical era perfectly. Situated in the heart of the crowded city where one can see the IT professionals thronging to their companies, stands the magnificent Bangalore Palace.

    One of the main attractions of the city, the Bangalore Palace (Kannada: ???????? ????? | Hindi: ??????? ?????) is an epitome of great architectural beauty. Also a preferred location for important events and cultural activities, the Palace attracts tourists in large numbers who appreciate the architectural brilliance of this royal palace.

     Quick Menu: Bangalore Palace

    Quick Facts

    Construction Started1874
    Construction Completed
    		1878
    Property OwnerMaharani Pramoda Devi Wadiyar
    Architectural StyleTudor Revial Architecture
    Coordinates12.9987°N 77.5920°E
    Area454 Acres

    History of Bangalore Palace

    The area where the current Bangalore Palace stands originally belonged to  Rev. J. Garrett, the first principal of the Central High School. It was later purchased by the British Guardians of the then minor Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar X in the year 1873 AD  to help him with his education and administrative training.

    It took 4 years for the initial construction of Bangalore Place to be completed. The construction started in April 1874 and was completed by 1878. Mr. Cameron of Lalbagh was administered the task of landscaping the palace.

    The palace has gone through several additions and improvements over the subsequent years, such as addition of certain portions outside Durbar hall by Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar.

    It is believed that King Chamaraja Wodeyar was charmed by the Windsor Castle of London during one of his trips and built the Bangalore Palace on those lines. One can find similarities of the palace to the castles of Normandy and England.

    The possession of Bangalore Palace has gone through several hands. At present, the palace is under the ownership of Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar’s only son Srikanta Datta Narsimharaja Wadiyar.

    Architecture of Bangalore Palace

    Sprawling over an area of 454 acres, Bangalore Palace was built in Tudor Revival style architecture.  With a floor area of 45,000 sq ft, the interiors of the palace is impressively decorated with floral motifs, cornices, wood carvings. The ceilings are adorned with relief paintings.

    With Victorian, neo-classical and Edwardian style furniture, Roman arches and coat of arms gifted from the British; Bangalore Palace is furnished with structures from various parts of the world.

    The palace boasts of 35 well maintained rooms including a swimming pool. A manual lift, imported stained glass and mirrors, wooden fans are some of the other features of the palace.

    Interior Decor of Palace

    The artistic brilliance of Bangalore Palace can be found in its captivating interiors.  This two level palace has an open courtyard in the ground floor with seats made of granite covered with fluorescent blue ceramic tiles. A ballroom specially designed for holding private parties is also present in the ground floor.

    A well decorated staircase leads the visitors to the main attraction of the palace, the Durbar Hall. This is the place where the king used to attend to his people. The wall is adorned with beautiful paintings and a huge elephant head in the hall is also worth admiring.

    The Gothic style stained glass windows on one side and the beautifully colored walls in yellow are other prominent features of the Durbar hall. A separate area for ladies to witness the assembly proceedings can also be seen here.

    Paintings are one of the main highlights of the hall. Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, and some old paintings of  Greek and Dutch can be seen in the interior walls of the hall. A dining table that belonged to the Diwan of Mysore, Sir Mirza Ismail is another attraction of the hall.

    The Grounds of the Palace

    The grounds of the Bangalore Palace were once used for conducting many public events including music concerts. Elton John, Enrique Iglesias, Don Moen, David Guetta, Mark Knopfler, Akon, Roger Waters are some of the famous artists who performed here.

    The Palace grounds have also played host to some of the popular bands like Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Backstreet Boys, Deep Purple, Textures, Amon Amarth, Lamb of God, The Black Eyed Peas, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, Michael Learns to Rock, Guns N’ Roses, The Prodigy, No Doubt, Sepultura, Scorpions,, Machine Head, Cradle of Filth.

    As of now, the grounds are severely neglected. The activities on the grounds are restricted to parties conducted by the private companies that are controlled by the royal family.

    The grounds complex is also equipped with an amusement park called Fun World. It is a fun filled place which can enjoyed by the visitors, especially children, where one can find various joy rides, water park and snow room.

    Location & How to Reach Bangalore Palace

    Bangalore Palace is centrally located  between Sadashivanagar and Jayamahal. The nearest airport to the palace is Bangalore International Airport and it takes around an hour to reach the palace from the airport.

    The nearest railway station to the palace is the Bangalore City Railway station which is just 4 km away.

    There are a number of buses that ply around this area.  287, 287B, 287C, 287D and 287E are some of the BMTC buses which ply out of the central bus terminal. Auto-rickshaws and private car rentals in Bangalore are also easily available.

    Bangalore Palace Entry Fees & Timings

    The entry fees to the Bangalore Palace is Rs. 250 for Indians and Rs. 460 for Foreign tourists. Still Camera is charged at Rs. 685 and the fees for Mobile Camera is Rs. 300. The fees for carrying Video Camera is Rs. 1485.

    Bangalore Palace is open from 10:00 AM in the morning to 5:30 PM in the evening on all days of the week.

    One of the most popular attractions in the Garden city, Bangalore Palace is sure to mesmerize everyone with its captivating beauty. An amazing architectural masterpiece, this palace will leave one spellbound with its intricate carvings and beautifully crafted artwork.

    Though the grounds are quite neglected, with utmost care and maintenance Bangalore Palace can remain to be an important historical site for years to come.

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  • Arunachal Pradesh: A Wonderland

    Arunachal Pradesh: A Wonderland

    The moment I think of a break or a vacation, the first option that comes to my mind is Arunachal Pradesh as one trip is simply not enough to see this unexplored paradise. Unparalleled scenic beauty at each and every corner of the state with exotic wild vegetation is yet to be fully explored.

    Arunachal Pradesh: A Wonderland

    The state of rising sun is nothing less than a paradise for nature lovers presenting them with dense mysterious forest creating a perfect contrast with our concrete jungles. Ask any resident or simply follow their footsteps and you will find yourself in the middle of a forest where they generally go for hunting purposes!

    My journey into the wilderness of the nature and spirituality began with warm greetings from Arunachalies. In their broken Hindi mixed with Assamese and few English words here and there they welcomed me as soon as I entered the state. This state of India has almost 65 different tribal groups, each tribe with with their own dialect. And thus the commonly used language is Hindi and Assamese.

    Entering the state, I found myself struggling in finalizing the places I wished to visit. On one hand, Malinithan, Parshuram Kund, Rukhmini Nagar and Tawang’s 400 years old monastery promises to give our religious selves a treat. While on the other, the scenic beauty of the rivers like Kameng, Subansiri, Siang and the grandness of Himalayan range quench the thirst for the natural beauty.

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    Dense forests with exquisite orchid varieties and rare wildlife is the state’s top attraction. Namdapha National Park in Changlang District presents you with exceptional opportunity to see the rare Hoolock Gibbon. The fact that it has four of the felines all at one place – the tiger, the leopard, the snow leopard and the clouded leopard, makes it even more special.

    Mouling National Park and Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary also offer interesting tour options. Polo Park in Naharlagun also grabbed my attention with its botanical specimens.

    Beyond all these, what attracted me the most was the Orchidarium at Tipi, located in the West Kameng District. More than 500 orchid species can be seen here. We can reach the place by taking a bus from Bomdila.

    Through out my travel around the state, I had been mesmerized by this magical place called Arunachal, with in between hurdles due to lack of facilities and comfort. But that is a cost worth paying for the beauty you will experience on this land less traveled.

    The state offers its tourists with ample of excitement and adventure as well. With more than 80 percent of the area covered with dense evergreen forests and five major rivers- Kameng, Subansiri , Lohit , Siang and Tirap beautifying the state, Arunachal presents apt settings for sports like trekking, angling, boating and rafting along with offering varied mountainous trekking routes.

    Food can be a delight for non-vegetarians and who love to taste the ‘real taste’. Trying Yak momos and other dishes like thukpa, thenthuk is sure to give your palate some treat. For your sweet tooth you might want to try Churpi. These are the varieties of food we get if we go to the Twang and colder areas of the state.

    In spite of being a vegetarian and having limited options I enjoyed having the local food. Apong, the liquor made from rice, is also a must try. And let me warn you, it is stronger than you think!

    I also had great time while shopping and had some splendid art works to take home. I bought traditional attires like galles, which are very much similar to long skirts adding an ethnic touch to my wardrobe. These can be bought from any of the government art and culture centers which can be found easily.

    Adi style hats, cane and bamboo goods like cane belts, cane bracelets, eye-catching smoking pipes also make for interesting buy. Woolen carpets with exceptionally attractive and colorful designs at the Tawang Craft centre also made some place in my bags back home!

    Top Places to visit in Arunachal Pradesh

    Although I can go on describing this north eastern state, I have picked few places that impressed me.

    Tawang

    Located 183 Kms away from Bomdila, the town of Tawang is a treat for eyes as well as soul. Its exceptional natural settings and religious significance make the place one of the most sought after tourist destinations. Tawang Monastery, which is also called as Galden Namgey Lhatse is the most popular tourist attraction in the town. It is said that the place got its name from this monastery which also has a legend behind its name.

    The word Tawang has ‘Ta’ meaning Horse and ‘Wang’ which means Chosen depicts the popular belief that the site on which the monastery has been constructed was chosen by the horse, which was owned by Merag Lama Lodre Gyamtso.

    The fact that it is the second largest Monastery in Asia and the largest one of its kind in the country controlling 17 Gompas in the region adds on to its attraction. Looking at the 28 ft high Golden statue of Buddha in the monastery filled me with a strange sense of peace and calmness.

    Breath taking lakes like Sangetsar Lake and PTso Lake surrounded by beautiful landscape create a picture perfect settings. Trying out activities like trekking and rafting and shooting with camera adds more excitement.

    Festivals like Losar, Torgya, Choekhor and Dupka Tse-She re makes the place all the more colourful and thus visiting during this period can be a good idea. Season wise, the best time to visit is from the months of July to October.

    Pasighat

    Situated at the East Siang District, Pasighat is apparently the oldest town of the state. This almost 100 years old town is located at the centre of the state. Popularly known as “Gateway of Arunachal Pradesh”, Pasighat is well connected to rest of the state and other parts of the country.

    Situated on the banks of the mighty river Siang, surrounded by snow covered mountains, with greenery around and rich variety of flora and fauna, the city is right refereed as a “photographer’s delight”.

    Though the place has got its name from the tribes named ‘Pasis’, it is inhabited by various different tribesmen presenting the place with varied traditions.

    The place has various tourist attractions apart from a refreshing setting to just relax and rejuvenate yourself. Sunset and sunrises at the Brahmaputra river which is called Siang River in the state will take to your a different world altogether.

    The best time to visit the city is during the months from November to April. However, the weather is pleasant through the year. Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary (13Km from Pasighat), Mouling National Park that is 195 Km away from Pasighat and Kekar Monying (Black Rock), are few of the places that are worth visiting near the town.

    You can also visit Yingkiong which is 180Km from Pasighat and experience the adventure even on the route.

    It was not just these destinations which impressed me. Even while on the move, the lush greenery around and simplicity of life kept me in state of trance all together!

    However, the roads which are not always charcoaled and are just sandy paths made from pebbles and mud can be slight tiring. They were good enough to get me out of my dream world!

    Entering the Wonderland

    Reaching here is no easy task either. To enter the state we need inner line permit (ILP) that can be obtained by an application with particulars and on payment of Rs. 100/- per permit from Resident Commissioner’s office/ Liaison Offices located at New Delhi, Calcutta, Guwahati, Shillong, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, North Lakhimpur and Jorhat and from all the Deputy Commissioners of 16 Districts of the state.

    For foreign tourist, Protected Area Permit can be obtained from all Indian Missions abroad. There are many tour operators in India to help us in the procedures we need to undergo for entering this nature’s wonderland.

    They can obtain PAP for a period of 30 days and can also apply for through local approved tour operators and by paying USD 50 per head as Royalty to the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

    Reaching the nature’s paradise

    To reach here we have following options to choose from:

    Reaching Arunachal Pradesh by Air: Nearest airport is Lilabari (North Lakhimpur) in Assam and approximately 67 Kms away from Itanagar. We can also opt for Indian Airlines that provide direct flights from Tezpur or go for the Arunachal Pradesh helicopter services from Guwahati to Tawang and Guwahati to Naharlagun. You also have helicopter service  connecting places within the state making it easier to travel around.

    Reaching Arunachal Pradesh by Rail: The nearest railway station is Harmutty (near Banderdewa check gate) in Assam that is 33 km from Itanagar. However it is more convenient if we take North Lakhimpur (Assam) route that 60 km away from Itanagar.

    Reaching Arunachal Pradesh by Road: Bus services are the most frequent ones and available to many places in Arunachal Pradesh. There are many direct bus services from North Lakhimpur and Guwahati and between Naharlagun and Itanagar.

    I took the rail route which is an experience in itself. One on one with localities and having a closer look at their lifestyle as they travel by your side is quite enthralling. Girls in modern dresses, ladies in traditional attires of galle paired with colorful shirts and elderly in their traditional overcoat galup look no less than walking and talking dolls.

    Stations filled with hawkers selling colorful shawls, blankets, plastic toys and utility items varying from comb to table lamps, create a lively picture that lightens even a tiring journey.

    With the places still not popular enough to gather hordes of tourists, I enjoyed my each and every day in Arunachal without having to face tourists’ rush. It is hard to tell which place was better as each had its own charm. It is up to you to take a call and go on discovering few sets of places of your choice.

    But wherever you go, you will never come back unsatisfied if you are a nature lover and seek adventure. The time to visit Arunachal also differs with the places you decide to visit, although I would to prefer it any time of the year!

    Must Haves for Arunachal Pradesh Trip

    As the climate is mostly moderate and nights in the state are generally cold, it is advisable to carry few warm clothes with you.

    Have an umbrella and if possible a raincoat with you as well.

    A strong and comfortable pair of walking shoes is must to walk on the hilly areas.

    Have few packed food packets and water bottles with you while on the tour in the state. There are chances that you will not find shops selling for basic amenities.

    It is recommended to wear clothes that suits the local culture and surroundings. It is advisable to be appropriately dressed to conform to local culture and requirements.

    It is recommended that prior consent is obtained before photographing people and ceremonies.

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  • Garden of Five Senses, Delhi

    Garden of Five Senses Delhi Timings & Entry Ticket Fee

    Delhi has an edge over other metro cities in very many ways. Not just its infrastructural development, but Delhi is also equally popular for its greenery. The gardens and parks in the city make it even more beautiful and soothing. If you want to feel the city to its best, you must visit Garden of Five Senses, Delhi’s biggest and one of the most popular gardens.

    Garden Of Five Senses is situated in the heart of the city. Spread over an area of about 20 acres, the park is located in Saidul Ajaib Village, next to Saket and close to Mehrauli heritage area.

    The park has been designed by Delhi based architect Pradeep Sachdeva and has been developed by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation. An investment of Rs 10.5 crore has gone into the making of this park and it has been developed over a period of three years. It was in February 2003 that Garden of Five Senses was open to the general public.

    The park has been interestingly designed with several themes incorporated into one. While a portion of it is built like a rocky terrain, another section of it gives a glimpse of Moghul Gardens. Beautiful Bamboo Courts, solar energy park, herb gardens and pools of water lilies add to the beauty of the place.

    The story behind the name

    Garden Of Five Senses stands true to its name. It has been meticulously designed to stimulate the five senses of a human being with its attraction and beautiful aura. If you are fond of natural beauty around you, Delhi’s Garden of Five Senses will give you a fair chance to feel, touch, smell, hear and see the best of natural surroundings. Over the years, it has become a prominent cultural venue of the national capital.

    In August 2005, the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Limited had allowed opening of restaurants and bars after an agreement with ITE India Pvt Ltd. As many as 31 commercial food and craft outlets were allowed to be operated in the premises of Garden Of Five Senses for a tenure of about ten years. The park, now, has several restaurants and liquor serving bars. Not only that, a whole lot of food festivals and cultural activities are organised in this beautiful park throughout the year.

    Replica of the Mexican Mayan Labná Arc

    Garden of Five Senses in Delhi became an even more interesting destination for tourists after India joined hands with Mexico. To honour the flourishing relationship between the two nations, India unveiled the replica of the Mexican Mayan Labná Arc, which has been put up in this park. This is one of the most artistic gesture from India towards Mexico. This beautiful arch was inaugurated in Garden of Five Senses in 2013. It was on 16th September 2013 that the Mayoress of New Delhi, Sheila Dixit and the Mexican Ambassador Jaime Nualart inaugurated this replica. It was constructed after sourcing stone from Rajasthan, which was quite similar to that of the Puuc region of Yucatán.

    This replica of Mexican Mayan Labná Arc was constructed by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage by some of the most renowned stonecutters of the country, who were put to task. Julio Faesler-Carlisle, Mexican Ambassador to India (2001-2004) had initiated the project and it was funded by private enterprises of both the countries, India and Mexico. Ever since, the arch has been serving as the venue for several cultural events being organised in the city.

    Garden of Five senses: The Key Attractions

    The entire park is a treat to self but there are certain key attractions that will pull your attention towards them, while you visit the Garden of Five Senses. Here they are:

    • Khas Bagh: It is a spiral walkway situated within the park. This garden is patterned quite like the famous Mughal Garden in Rashtrapati Bhavan. One gets to walk alongside the fragrant plants and trees and encounter water cascades on the way.
    • Fountain Tree: This unique tree is a sculpture encapsulating the expression of fountains that are lit by fibre optic lighting systems. Besides, there are several well lit fountains that one can enjoy while on a trip to Garden of Five Senses.
      Variety of shrubs of flowers planted in unique patterns add colour and life to the small gardens built within the park.
    • Food court: This food court not only serves amazing variety of food, but also provides the right kind of ambience to enjoy it. The terraced seating arrangement in the food court add to its beauty and charm.
    • Shopping court: While there may not be something unique that you may find in the shopping court of Garden of Five Senses, you will still get some interesting stuff, that you can add in your set of memorabilia.
      Some other major attractions of the park include:
    • A unique, modern sculpture in stainless steel Bell tree
    • Stone crafted elephant troop
    • Neel Bagh, that has a water pool with lilies
    • Amphitheatre, where the seating area is made of sandstone
    • Unique sculptures and murals, that give a character to the park. These are set up around the garden and make for one of the largest collection of public art across the nation.

    How to reach:

    Garden of Five Senses is located in a prime location of the capital city, which is well connected. Here’s how you can reach to the park:

    Metro: The nearest metro station is Saket. After getting down from the metro, one can take an auto or a taxi to reach the Garden of Five Senses.

    Bus: The area is well connected by DTC buses too. DTC buses numbering 522SPL, 427, 714 and 47A operation to Garden of Five Senses.

    Cab/Taxi/Autos: For those who don’t want to take the pain of travelling in a crowded metro or a bus, Delhi has an amazing network of cabs, taxis and autorickshaws. Use Uber, Ola or Jugnoo apps to order these vehicles or you can call them while on the road too.

  • Bandipur Tiger Reserve

    Bandipur Tiger Reserve

    Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Previously the personal game reserve of the Maharajas of Mysore, Bandipur Tiger Reserve is located in the state of Karnataka in the District of Mysore. Spread across an area of 800 sq. km, Bandipur was declared a national park under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. In the year of 1973 it came under the Project Tiger by the Government of India.

    Bandipur Tiger Reserve is amongst the first nine Tiger Reserves of India created in the 1973 under the Project Tiger. It is adjacent to the Madhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu to south and to the south west Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala along with Nagarhole National Park in the north-west. It is part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve which is the first bio-reserve in India.

    Along with presenting rich and exotic flora and fauna, the reserve boasts of mesmerising natural beauty as well. The park has three main rivers namely Nugu, Kabini and Moyar. The River Nugu crosses the reserve in the middle while the River Moyar creates the boundary between Madhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the south western side and the River Kabini creates boundary between reserve and Nagarhole.

    For safaris, tourists can opt from options like open top jeep or bus safaris. Elephant rides are also available making the experience all the more enjoyable.

    Flora @ Bandipur Tiger Reserve

    The main kind of forest in the reserve is dry deciduous forest along with other kinds like dry deciduous scrub, moist deciduous and mixed forests. Some of the commonly found trees are teak, math, hand, honne, axlewood, sandalwood, jamun, silk cotton, etc.

    Fauna @ Bandipur Tiger Reserve

    Along with the obvious Tiger, the Bandipur tiger reserve has various other mammals inhabiting in its region. Some of these are leopard, dhole, common palm civet, stripe-necked mongoose, small Indian civet, Asian elephant, gaur, sloth bear, giant squirrel, four-horned antelope, Indian porcupine, mouse deer, barking deer, Sambar, Eurasian otter, Indian pangolin, etc.

    Marsh crocodile, Indian monitor, Indian cobra, Indian rat snake, common bronzeback tree snake and Indian rock python are few of the reptiles found in the reserve.

    The area boats of umpteen numbers of rare birds making itself one of the popular spot for bird watching. Some of these are Changeable Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Hill Myna, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Woolly-necked Stork, Great Hornbill, etc.

    Best time to visit Bandipur Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit the reserve is during the months of October to May as during this time of the season animals can be seen in groups searching for water sources.

    Reaching Bandipur Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport to the reserve is Bangalore International Airport which is well connected to the rest of the country and the world. It is at a distance of 215 km from Bandipur. One can hire a taxi from airport to the reserve.
    • By rail: The nearest rail head is in Mysore which is at a distance of 80 km. The Mysore railway station is connected to Bangalore and other cities. Another nearby railway station is Nanjangud which is 20 km away.
    • By road: There are many bus services operating from various nearby places to Bandipur. Tourists have the option of KSTRC buses as well as private buses to choose from.

    Accommodation @ Bandipur Tiger Reserve

    Tourists can choose from various ranges of hotels and cottages present in Bandipur and other nearby places. Most of these accommodation options offer tourists with the facility of daily safaris to the reserve.

  • Bhadra Tiger Reserve

    Bhadra Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the Western Ghat in Chikmagalur and Shimoga districts in the state of Karnataka, Bhadra Tiger Reserve covers an approximate area of 493.46 sq. km. The area presents amazing scenic beauty along with rich flora and fauna. It is surrounded by various hill ranges namely Mullaianagiri, Hebbegiri, Gangegiri & Babaudangiri. River Bhadra and its tributaries such as Somavahini, Thadabehalla and Odirayanahalla also adore the area. There is a dam on the River Bhadra.

    Along with experiencing rich wildlife, tourists can go for sightseeing to various places such as two temples at Bhadra namely Bhakta Markandeya Temple of Khandya, Bhavani Shankar Temple of Hebbe, Kemmanagundi, Bababudana Hill, Bhadra Reservoir, Sri Dattatraya Peeth and Mullayanagiri.

    Flora @ Bhadra Tiger Reserve

    The kinds of forests present at the reserve are Southern tropical dry deciduous dry teak, Northern tropical dry deciduous mixed forest, Dry deciduous scrub forest, Boswellia forest, Dry bamboo brakes and Anogeissus pendula forest. Trees like teak, rosewood, mathi, hone, nandi and kindal can also be found.

    Fauna @ Bhadra Tiger Reserve

    The main species of mammals that can be seen here are elephants, spotted deer, Sambar, cheetah, wild boar, gaur, chital, sloth bear, muntjac, leopards, tigers, macaques, etc. Marsh crocodiles, monitor lizards and many other reptiles can be seen as well.

    Some of the birds that can be spotted in the reserve are Grey Junglefowl, Red Spurfowl, Emerald Dove, Southern Green imperial pigeon, Great Black Woodpecker, Malabar Parakeet and Hill Myna.

    Best time to visit Bhadra Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit Bhadra Tiger Reserve is during the months of March to July. This is the time when many animals can be spotted in huge herds in search of water. The time between September and October is also quite good to visit.

    Reaching Bhadra Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport is Mangalore which is at a distance of 190 km. Another nearby major airport is the Bangalore international Airport which is well connected to rest of the country and major international cities. It is 285 km away from Bhadra Tiger Reserve.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station to Bhadra is Hassan. One can hire a taxi or take a bus to the reserve from here.
    • By road: The most convenient way to reach Bhadra is via NH 48 which runs from Bangalore to Hassan. Visitors can also take another route which is via NH 4. There are many buses running from nearby cities to the reserve.

    Accommodation @ Bhadra Tiger Reserve

    Some of the accommodation facilities available for tourists are Forest Rest House, PWD Bungalow, Circuit house, etc. Tex Woods Resorts and River Tern Lodge are two of the lodges offering decent and comfortable stay.

  • BR Hills Tiger Reserve

    Biligiriranga Hills Tiger Reserve / BR Hills Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Popularly called as BR Hills Tiger Reserve, Biligiriranga Hills Tiger Reserve is located near Kollegala, in Karnataka state. Spread across an area of 540 sq. km, the BR Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is between two main rivers namely Cauvery and Tungabhadra. The sanctuary was established in the year of 1974 and is at a height of 3,350 to 5000 feet above sea-level.

    Along with various kinds of flora and exotic fauna, the BR Hills Tiger Reserve presents tourists with exciting sport opportunities as well as interesting sightseeing options. Some of the activities that tourists can involve in are jeep safari, trekking, elephant rides, professional angling, amateur fishing, coracle boat rides, bird safari, river rafting, camping, etc.

    The nearby places which are worth visiting are Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai. The temple of Lord Ranganatha located in the sanctuary also attracts many religious tourists.

    Flora @ Biligiriranga Hills Tiger Reserve

    The flora of the reserve varies from high altitude grasslands to the evergreen forests and the scrub jungles. Main kinds of forests here are evergreen and deciduous along with grassland vegetation. There are almost 800 species of plants grown in the reserve.

    Fauna @ Biligiriranga Hills Tiger Reserve

    The main kinds of mammals found in the BR Hills Tiger reserve along with Tigers are Panthers, Gaurs, Chitals, Sambars, Bears, Sloth bears, Civet, Mongoose, Giant squirrel, Porcupine, Common langur, Bonnet macaque, Wild pig, Spotted deer, Elephants, Leopards, Wild dogs, Jungle cat, etc.

    The area also boasts of around 270 species of birds. The avian fauna at the reserve is consisted of racquet-tailed drongo, whistling thrush, crested hawk eagle, yellow throated bulbul and many other birds.

    Best Time to Visit Biligiriranga Hills Tiger Reserve

    The ideal time to visit the reserve is during the months from September to May.

    Reaching BR Hills Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport is Bangalore International airport which is at a distance of 160 km from the reserve. It is well connected to the rest of the country and the world.
    • By rail: The nearest railway head is at Mysore which is 80 km away. One can hire a taxi or take a bus from here to the reserve.
    • By road: It is easily accessible via road. There are many buses running from Mysore and Bangalore to the BR Hills Tiger Reserve. One can opt for Bangalore-Mysore-Nanjangud route. The nearest town to the reserve is Chamrajnagar.

    Accommodation @ Biligiriranga Hills Tiger Reserve

    Various kinds of accommodation is available at BR hills for the tourists. Some of the options are Maharaja’s Bungalow, tents, ethnic huts, Jungle Lodges, K Gudi Wilderness Camp, etc.

  • Bori – Satpura Tiger Reserve

    Bori – Satpura Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located between latitudes of 22º 15’ and 22º 45’ N and longitudes of 77º 50’ and 78º 30’ E, the Bori-Satpura Tiger Reserve is located within the area of Satpura Range of the Himalayas in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is spread across an area of 1427 sq. km. This includes Bori and Panchmarhi Sanctuaries as well which are located close by. Bori-Satpura was declared as tiger reserve in the year of 1981.

    The reserve promises an enjoyable and exciting days to each and every nature enthusiast. Tourists can take elephant rides as well along with jeep safaris. Boat rides are also available letting tourists to explore the rich flora and fauna in a much better way.

    Flora @ Bori – Satpura Tiger Reserve

    The forests at the reserve are mainly of three kinds namely tropical dry deciduous, tropical moist deciduous and sub-tropical forests. There are teak, Sal and mixed forests as well along with various species of bamboo like bans Dendrocalamus strictus, water ferns, mahua(Indian Butter Tree), Aonla,, tendu, haldu, jamun and Bel (Stone Apple).

    Fauna @ Bori – Satpura Tiger Reserve

    The main species of animals found here are tiger, leopard, elephant, bison, wild buffalo, barasingha, sambar, sloth bear, rhesus monkey, wild dog or dhole, wolf, common fox, jackal, jungle cat, giant squirrel, flying squirrel, chital, barking deer, chinkara, mouse deer, chausingha or four horned antelope and nilgai. Some of the reptiles that also reside here at the reserve are Cobra, Russels viper, python, chameleon, common Indian monitor, crocodile.

    The main species of birds found here are Jungle Fowls, quails, owls, warblers, mynas, munias, bulbuls, Paradise Fly Catchers, egrets, vultures, falcons, eagles partridges, pigeons, doves, parakeets, bee-eaters, kingfishers, woodpeckers, , etc.

    Best time to visit Bori – Satpura Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit the tiger reserve is during the months of December to June.

    Reaching Bori – Satpura Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearby airports are Bhopal, Jabalpur and Nagpur. Tourists can reach any of these as per their convenience and then travel via road to the reserve.
    • By rail: Nearest railway stations to the reserve are in the cities of Bhopal, Jabalpur and Nagpur. Tourists can also take Bombay-Howrah Route and reach Piparia or Itarsi and travel via road from there.
    • By road: The nearest town to the Bori-Satpura tiger reserve is Pachmarhi which is at a distance of 52 km. It is well connected to cities like to Bhopal (210 km), Jabalpur (240 km) and Nagpur (250 km) by buses. One can also hire a taxi and travel on their own.

    Accommodation @ Bori – Satpura Tiger Reserve

    There are various kinds of accommodation facilities available in and around reserve. Some of the options are Reni Pani Jungle Lodge, Madhai Wildlife Resort, Forsyth Lodge, ReniPani Lodge, Madai Wildlife Lodge, Denwa Backwater Escape, etc.

  • Buxa Tiger Reserve

    Buxa Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the Alipurduar sub-division of Jalpaiguri district in the state of West Bengal, Buxa Tiger Reserve shares the international boundary with Bhutan. To the northern side of the reserve is the Sinchula hill range while the eastern side runs along the boundary of Assam State.

    Buxa was declared a tiger Reserve in the year of 1983. In the year of 1982, it was declared as the national park. Spread across an area of 761 sq. km, the Buxa tiger reserve got its name from Buxa Fort which is located on the Sinchula Range at an altitude of 867 meters.

    Two rivers namely River Raidak and River Jayanti flow through the forest of Buxa. The Narathali Lake located here attracts many kinds of migratory birds making the reserve all the more attractive. Along with having closer glimpses of wild fauna and exotic flora, tourists can also go for trekking.

    Flora @ Buxa Tiger Reserve

    The area is consisted of mainly deciduous forests. The reserve boasts of close to 300 species of trees, 250 species of shrubs, 400 species of herbs, 150 species of orchids, 100 species of grass , 9 species of cane, 10 species of bamboo, 130 species of aquatic flora, almost 160 species of other monocotyledons and ferns, etc. Some of the prominent species here are Sal, Champ, Gamar, Simul, Chikrasi, etc.

    Fauna @ Buxa Tiger Reserve

    Buxa tiger reserve has the second largest population of tiger in West Bengal. First being the Sunderbans tiger reserve. Along with tigers, it has almost 73 species of mammals, 76 species of snakes, 5 species of amphibians. Some of the animals found here are Leopard, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat, Indian Civet, Palm Civet, Wild Dogs, Malayan Giant Squirrels, Mangooses, Asian Elephant, Gaur, Small Clawless Otter, Chital, Sambar, Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Wild Buffalo, Chinese Pangolin, Clouded Leopard, etc. Reptiles like Regal Python, Monitor Lizard and various kinds of tortoises can also be seen.

    The reserve has close to 390 species of birds. Some of these are Bengal florican, Fairy Bluebird, ioras, munias, finches, Black Storks, the rare Ashy Minivets, Sultan Tits, Ibis Bill, Fork-tails, Red-stars, Wag-tails, Gargani Teal, Large Whistling Teal, White Eyed Poachared, etc.

    Best time to visit Buxa Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit the reserve is during the months of October to April. The reserve is closed from June 15 to September 15.

    Reaching Buxa Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport to the reserve is at Bagdogra which is approximately 195 km. away.
    • By rail: The nearest railways station is Alipurduar Junction or New Alipurduar which is at a distance of just 17 km.
    • By road: The nearest town to the reserve is Alipurduar which is well connected to other places via road. Tourists can hire taxi from here to the reserve. Tourists can also hire taxi from Siliguri to Buxa.

    Accommodation @ Buxa Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation tourists have wide range of options to choose from. Various WBFDC forest rest houses can be found in the places like Rajabhatkhawa, Nimati, Barobisha, Raidak, Raimatang, Bhutanghat, Buxaduar and at the banks of River Jayanti.

  • Corbett Tiger Reserve

    Corbett Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the state of Uttarakhand, in the foothills of the Himalayas, Corbett Tiger Reserve is one of the most popular tiger reserves of the country offering nature enthusiasts with breathtaking natural beauty and exotic flora and fauna.

    In 1936, the area was known with the name of ‘Hailey National Park. Later in the year of 1955, it was renamed as Ramganga National Park. However, later in 1955-56, it was again renamed as the Corbett National Park. The oldest National Park of India, Corbett was amongst the nine Tiger Reserves declared under the Project Tiger in the year of 1973.

    Spread across an area of 797.72 sq. km, the reserve constitutes the Kalagarh Forest Division along with 301.18 sq. km. area of Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, 96.70 sq. km. of Ramnagar Forest Division and an area of 89 sq. km.

    Once at the reserve, tourists can go for Elephant Safari, Jeep Safari, fishing, trekking in the forest reserves around the park and make their stay all the more exciting.

    Flora @ Corbett Tiger Reserve

    The main kinds of forests in the area are Northern Moist Deciduous, Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous and Himalayan Subtropical Pine Forests. It has close to 600 species of trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers, bamboos, grasses and ferns. Some of the prominent trees found here are Sal, Khair, Sissoo, Khingan, Kharpat, Rohini, Bakli, Pula, Bamboo, Ber, Kuthber, Bel, Chbilla, Dhak and Semal.

    Fauna @ Corbett Tiger Reserve

    The reserve along with boasting a rich density of tiger population, has other mammals like Leopard, Elephant, Cheetal , Sambar , Hog Deer, Barking Deer , Wildboar Langoor, Rhesus Monkey, Fishing Cats , Caracal Sloth Bear, Muntjac Bear and Ghoral. Reptiles like Indian Marsh Crocodiles, Gharials, King Cobra, Common Krait, Cobra, Russel, Python and Monitor Lizard are also found.

    The place has close to 585 species of avian creatures making itself nothing less than paradise for bird watchers. Some of the species of birds that can be spotted here are migrant Gulls, Mynas, Kingfishers, Snipes, Harriers, Ospreys, Stone Curlews, Minivets, Babblers, Hornbills, Kalij Pheasants, Grebes, Grey Lags, Herons, Darters, Cormorants, Lapwings, Paradise Flycatchers, Munias, Weaver birds, Eagles, Black throated Payas, falcons, Peacock, Jungle Fowl, Parakeets, Laughing Thrush, Orioles, KingFishers, Drongo, Doves, Woodpeckers, Ducks, Teals, Storks, Seagulls, etc.

    Best time to visit Corbett Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit the reserve is during the months of November to June. For bird watchers, the best time is to visit during winter months from December to February when the area is visited by many migratory birds as well. To spot the wildlife, it is best to go during summer as the animals come out in search of water more often.

    The park usually opens from 6 to 11 in the morning and from 2.30 to 5.30 in the evening for tourists to visit. Tourists can enter the park after getting the permit from park administration in Ramnagar.

    Reaching Corbett Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport is Phoolbagh or Pantnagar which is approximately 52 km away from the reserve.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is at Ramnagar. There is a direct train Corbett Link Express running between Delhi and Ramnagar.
    • By road: There are various and frequent busses running from Delhi to Ramnagar via Muradabad. There are buses from cities like Haridwar and Dehradun as well.

    Accommodation @ Corbett Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation, tourists have various options in and around the reserve. Some of the luxury resorts around the reserve are Infinity Resort, Wood Castle Resort, Corbett Hideaway, Corbett Leela Vilas, Corbett Ramganga Resort, Manu Maharani Resort, etc. while Escape Corbett Resort, Corbett River View Retreat, The Wild Crest Resort, Corbett Jungle Club, Tiger Camp Resort, Corbett Suman Grand Resort, etc. are some of the deluxe resorts. For standard resorts, tourists have options like Camp Wild Adventure, RoseWood Resort, Corbett International Resort, Corbett Safari Park, Corbett Aroma Resort, etc.

  • Dampa Tiger Reserve

    Dampa Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located on the border of Bangladesh in the western part of Mizoram State, Dampa Tiger Reserve with its rich fauna, exotic fauna and mesmerising natural settings increases the charm of north east. The lower reaches is consisted of valleys and runs along three rivers namely Keisalam, Seling and Aivapui which later drain into the River Khawthlagtuipui. Spread across an area of 550 sq. km, Dampa was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in the year of 1978. In the year of 1994, it was declared as Dampa tiger reserve.

    Flora @ Dampa Tiger Reserve

    The main kinds of forests in the reserve are Tropical evergreen, Semi-evergreen forests, Tropical moist deciduous forests and Sub Montane type. The lower part of the area has moist deciduous forests and evergreen bamboo forests while the semi-evergreen forest along with grasslands is found in the upper reaches of the reserve.

    Most commonly found species of trees here are Simal, Mesua ferrea, White Cedar, Cedrela toona, Agarwood, Indian Rubber, Bamboo, etc.. Various kinds of orchids and cane grass are also found in abundance here.

    Fauna @ Dampa Tiger Reserve

    Along with Tigers, the reserve boasts of other animals like Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Wild dog, Sambar, Barking Deer, Gaur (Indian Bison), Sloth bear, Hoolock gibbon, Porcupine, Slow loris, Jungle cat, Pangolin, Black Bear, Giant squirrel, Common Langur, Rhesus macaque, Wild boar, Otter, Elephant, Serow, Binturong, Flying squirrel, etc.

    Reptiles including Python, King Cobra, Monitor lizard, Hill Tortoise, etc. can also be spotted. The area has rich population of avian fauna as well. Some of the birds that can be spotted here are Great Indian hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, Peacock pheasant, Red jungle fowl, Crested serpent eagle, Emerald dove, Hill Myna.

    Best time to visit Dampa Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit the Dampa Tiger Reserve is during the months of November to March.

    Reaching Dampa Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport is the Lengpui Airport of Aizawl. The airport is well connected to other cities like Guwahati, Silchar and Kolkata. From here one can travel via road to the reserve.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is Silchar Railway Station which is connected to many important places and cities of the country.
    • By road: The reserve is easily accessible by road from the city of Aizawl which is close to 128 km away. One can also hire a taxi from Silchar and reach the reserve.

    Accommodation @ Dampa Tiger Reserve

    Tourists will have various accommodation facilities available in places like Teirei, Phuldungsei and Damparengpui. Within the forest also there are rest houses for tourists to stay.

  • Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve

    Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Dandeli Anshi Tiger Reserve is situated in the Karwar District of Uttara Kannada which is the northern-most district of Karnataka state. The town of Dandeli is located on the River Kali. The reserve is consisted of merged area of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park as well as of various adjacent forests. It is spread across an area of 875 sq. km. Being the fourth tiger reserve of Karnataka, Dandeli – Anshi was declared a tiger reserve in the year of 2006-2007. Along with this, it also has been recognised as Hornbill reserve and Crocodile reserve.

    Apart from spotting exotic fauna and flora, tourists can also engage themselves in various adventures activities. Some of the sports options available at the reserve are from jungle safari, trekking, rappelling, fishing, boating, swimming, bird watching, coracle rides, white water rafting, canoeing and sailing.

    There are few interesting places for sightseeing as well. Naghjari viewpoint, Ulavi, Syntheri rocks, Maulangi, Kulgi nature camp, Shanmukha viewpoint, Vincholli falls, Magod falls, Supa dam, Supa catchment area, Ganeshgudi, etc. are few of the places worth visiting.

    Flora @ Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve

    The main varieties of forests at the reserve are deciduous, evergreen and rain forests. One can find wide varieties of teak, bamboo, canes and climbers.

    Fauna @ Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve

    Some of the commonly spotted mammals at the reserve are tiger, elephant, leopard, dhole, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, gaur and mouse deer. Various kinds of reptiles can also be seen. Some of these are Malabar pit viper, hump-nosed pit viper, bamboo pit viper, krait, ornate flying snake, wolf snake, marsh crocodile, gliding lizard, king cobra, Russel’s viper, etc.

    Various kinds of birds like Pompador Pigeon, Emerald Dove, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Paradise Fly Catcher, Malabar Trogon, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Great Pied Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Ceylon Frogmouth, beautifully add on to the rich fauna of the place. Along with various avian species, the reserve has umpteen numbers of butterflies as well. Some of these are malabar tree nymph, southern birdwing, blue mormon, crimson rose, common rose, cruiser, common map, tigers, bush browns, oak leaf, clipper, tailed jay, red Helen, etc.

    Best time to visit Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve is during the months of January to May and October to December.

    Reaching Dandeli Anshi Tiger Reserve

    • By air: Some of the nearby airports are Hubli which is 75 km away and Goa which is at a distance of 150 km. These are connected to the rest of the country.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is Alnavar which is at a distance of 32 km which is connected to Bangalore railway station and Goa. Another nearby railway station is Londa which is about 48 km away.
    • By Road: There are many buses running to Dandeli from places like Bangalore, Mumbai, Goa, Belgaum, Karwar, Dharwad and Hubli.

    Accommodation @ Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve

    Tourists will have umpteen numbers of staying options to choose from. Some of these are Jungle Lodges Kali Wilderness Camp, Hornbill River Resorts, Anshi Nature Camp, Old Magazine House Forest Camp, Bison River Resort, Kulgi Nature Camp, Stanley Farm House, Century Resort, Milind’s Homestay, State Guest House, etc.

  • Darrah Tiger Reserve

    Darrah Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the state of Rajasthan at a distance of 50 km from Kota, the Darrah Tiger Reserve presents tourists with amazing holidaying options especially for wildlife enthusiasts. Spread across an area of 250 sq. km, Darrah was declared as the protected area in the year of 1955.

    The area, located between the Mukundarah hill ranges, has been quite important in the earlier era as well as it used to be the hunting ground of the Maharajas of Kota. Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary is apparently one of the first wildlife sanctuaries of the Independent India.

    In order to enter the reserve, tourists require prior permission from the local forest ranger. Foreign tourists are charged with Rs. 100 while domestic tourists are required to pay an entry fee of Rs. 20.

    Tourists visiting the Darrah Tiger Reserve have not just wildlife to look at but also various interesting sightseeing options. Jhalwar Fort with Zanana Khas inside is located quite close to the reserve. Another place which is worth visiting is Jhairapatan which was built in the 10th century. It has ruins of Sun Temple which presents mesmerising view.

    Fauna @ Darrah Tiger Reserve

    Along with presenting you with exciting sights of tigers, the reserve has various other animals as well. Some of these are wolf, cheetah, nilgai, wild boar, spotted deers, bears sambhars, leopards, panthers, antelopes, etc. There are high chances that tourists will easily spot a leopard or sloth bear at the reserve.

    Best time to visit @ Darrah Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit the reserve is during the months of October to June. The sanctuary is open to the tourists all throughout the year excluding the monsoon months (July to September)

    Reaching Darrah Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport to the reserve is at Udaipur which is well connected with other places like Delhi, Mumbai, etc.
    • By rail: The nearest railhead to the reserve is at Kota which is situated on the Delhi Mumbai Rail Route. It is also well connected to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, and Jaipur
    • By road: The town of Kota which is just 50 km away is well connected via road.

    Accommodation @ Darrah Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation, tourists have the option of rest houses at the sanctuary run by the forest department offering decent stay.

  • Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

    Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the Lakhimpur- Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh state, on the Indo-Nepal border, the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve was established in the year of 1987-88. Spread across an area of 884 sq. km, the reserve constitutes Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Sanctuary.

    The Sonaripur Sanctuary was renamed as Dudhwa Sanctuary in the year of 1968. It was created in the year of 1958 with an area of 15.7 sq. km in order to protect the swamp deer. It was later enlarged to 212 sq. km. In the year of 1977, the area was further enlarged and declared as the Dudhwa National Park.

    Flora @ Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

    The main kinds of forests found here are tropical semi-evergreen forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, riparian and swamp forest and dry deciduous forest.

    Some of the prominent trees found at the reserve are Shorea robusta, Terminalia tomentosa, Adina cordifolia, Terminalia belerica, Eugenia jambolana, Dalbergia sissoo, Bombax malabaricum, etc.

    Fauna @ Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

    Some of the common animals found here are Tiger, Leopard, Swamp deer, Rhinoceros, Cheetal, Hog deer, Barking deer, Sambar, Wild boar, Ratel, Hispid hare, Elephant, Jungle Cat, Civet, Fishing Cat, etc.

    The area boasts of over 450 species of avian creatures presenting good opportunities for bird watching. Some of these are Hornbill, Red Jungle Fowl, Peafowl, Bengal Florican, Fishing eagle, Serpent eagle, Osprey, Sarus Cranes, Owls, Barbets, Woodpeckers, Shama, Indian Pitta, Paradise flycatcher, Orioles, Emerald dove, etc.

    Best time to visit Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit Dudhwa Tiger reserve is during the months of November and May. The park is open for tourists from the month of November to June. Tourists can visit the reserve after getting permission from the Director of the Park, at the district headquarters of Lakhimpur Kheri.

    Reaching Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport to the reserve is at Lucknow. It is well connected to various cities of the country like Delhi and Mumbai.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is Dudhwa which is just 4 km away and is connected to Lucknow and Nainital via Mailani. Other nearby railway stations are Palia at a distance of 10 km and Mailani which is close to 37 km away.
    • By road: There are various UPSRTC and private bus service operating between Palia and Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Delhi, etc. Tourists have frequent buses between Palia and Dudhwa.

    Accommodation @ Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation tourists have various options in and around the reserve. There are staying facilities inside the park by the forest department. Swiss Cottage rents Tharu Huts and other options are available at Dudhwa, Sathiana, Bankatti, Sonaripur, and Kila.

  • Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve

    Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the Koria district of Chhattisgarh state, Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve was initially a part of former Sanjay National Park. However, with the formation of new state 60 per cent of the area came in the state of Chhattisgarh state. Spread across an area of 2,303 sq. km, the forest was declared a national park in the year of 1981. The park has been named after reformist Guru Ghasidas. Government of India has granted permission for the Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve recently. This was given along with permission to National Tiger Conservation Authority for developing six new tiger reserves in the country including the Guru Ghasidas.

    Flora @ Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve

    The vegetation at the reserve is consisted of primarily mixed deciduous forest along with sal, teak, bamboo trees, etc.

    Fauna @ Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve

    The Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve offers great opportunity to spot the royal of all the mammals-tiger. Along with tiger, tourists can also spot Leopards, Chital, Nilgai, Chinkara, Jackals, Sambar, Four-horned Antelopes, Jungle Cat, Barking Deer, Porcupine, Monkey, Bison, Striped Hyena, Sloth Bear, Wild Dogs, etc.

    The park presents amazing bird watching opportunities. Both residents and migratory birds beautify the place. Some of the birds found here are Golden Hooded Oriole, Racket-Tailed Drongos, Indian Pitta Rufous-Treepie, Lesser Adjutant, Red-Headed Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Indian White-Rumped Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Nightjars, etc.

    Best time to visit Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve

    The best time to plan your trip to the Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve is during the months of November to June.

    Reaching Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve

    The nearest railway station to the park is the Jaora Railway Station. It is situated on the Riva-Sidhi-Mirjapur-Varanasi state Highway. The park is at 60 km away from Sidhi which is in the state of Madhya Pradesh. One can reach the park via road from here.

    Accommodation @ Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve

    There are various forest rest houses available offering tourists decent accommodation facilities.

  • Indravati Tiger Reserve

    Indravati Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Indravati Tiger Reserve is located in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh state. Spread across an area of approximately 2799.08 sq. km, the forest was declared as the National Park in the year of 1981. It was given the status of Tiger Reserve under the Project Tiger of India after two years in 1983. One of the famous national parks of Chhattisgarh, the name Indravati has been derived from the River Indravati. This river flowing from east to west creates the northern boundary of the reserve.

    The park has the hilly terrain with an altitude varying from 177 to 599 m above the sea level. The area has been covered by various hills such as Kutroo, Kandlapatru and Matti Murka. Along with experiencing rich wildlife and exquisite vegetation, tourists also have the options of sightseeing. An old Shiva temple near village Pasewada inside the Tiger Reserve is a place worth visiting.

    Flora @ Indravati Tiger Reserve

    The main kinds of forests at the reserve are Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest with Teak, Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous forest without Teak and Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest.

    Other species which are found are Teak, Achar, Karra, Kullu, Shisham, Semal, Haldu, Arjun, Bel, Jamun, Rohan, Bahera, Mundi, Kasai Dhaora, Lendia, Saja, Salai, Moyan, Mahua, Dhoban, Siras, Tendu, Bija, etc.

    Fauna @ Indravati Tiger Reserve

    Along with Tiger, the other endangered species which is found in the reserve is wild buffalo.

    Some of the other animals that tourists can spot are Leopards, Gaurs (Indian Bison), Nilgai, Sambar, Wild Boar, Flying Squirrel, Porcupine, Pangolins, Monkeys, Langurs, Chausingha (four-horned Antelope), Sloth Bear, Dhole (Wild Dog), Striped Hyena, Muntjac, etc.

    Freshwater Crocodile, Monitor Lizard, Indian Chameleon, Common Krait, Indian Rock Python, Cobra and Russell’s viper are few of the reptiles found here in the park.

    Various kinds of birds also reside in the reserve providing good bird watching opportunities.

    Best time to visit Indravati Tiger Reserve

    The ideal time to visit Indravati Tiger Reserve is during the months of December to June.

    Reaching Indravati Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport to the reserve is at Raipur which is at a distance of 486 km.
    • By Rail: The nearest railhead is at Jagdalpur which is 168 km away from the Indravati National Park.
    • By road: One can reach the reserve quite easily from Jagdalpur which is the district headquarter of Bastar. It is connected to various places via road. The entry point to the reserve is at the village Kutrue, which is located at a distance of 22.4 km on north of Jagdalpur- Bhopalpattanam road.

    Accommodation @ Indravati Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation, there are various kinds of hotels available near the sanctuary.

  • Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

    Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the south Western Ghats in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve has been established in the year of 1988. It is the seventeenth Tiger Reserve of India. Spread across an area of 895 sq. km, the reserve comprises of two wildlife sanctuaries namely Kalakad and Mundanthurai which are adjacent and located in the district of Tirunelveli. Parts of Veerapuli and Kilamalai Reserve Forests were also joined to the reserve in the year of 1996.

    Once at the reserve, tourists have various options to entertain themselves along with the excitement of catching the glimpses of rare and wild animals. Some of these are bird watching, boat rides and trekking in the jungles, etc.

    Flora @ Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

    The main types of forests at the reserve are Southern Hill top Tropical Evergreen Forests, Southern dry mixed deciduous forests, Carnatic umbrella thorn forests, Ochlandra reeds, Southern moist mixed deciduous forests, Tropical riparian fringe forests, Euphorbiaceous shrub, High/ low altitude grasslands, West coast tropical evergreen forests, Tirunelveli semi-evergreen forests, Dry teak forests.

    Some of the prominent species of trees found here are Hopea parviflora, Hopea utilis, Calophylum elatum Felicium decipiens, Mallotus philippensis, Litsea species, Dalbergia latifolia, Kingiodendron pinnatum, Albizia lebeck, Tectona grandis, Ficus spp., Phyllanthus emblica, Hardwickia binata, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus, Alstonia scholaris, Mangifera indica, Decussocarpus Wallichianus, Podocarpus latifolia, Eugenia species, Garcinia cambogia, Xanthophyllum flavescens, Wrightia tinctoria, chloroxylon swietenia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Anogeissus latifolia, Careya arborea, Terminalia spp., etc.

    Fauna @ Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

    Animals that can be spotted at the reserve are Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Mouse deer, Leopard, Rusty spotted cat, Bonnet Macaque, Slender Loris, Lion tailed Macaque, Sloth Bear, Brown mongoose, Nilgiri Martin, Indian pangolin, Brown palm civet, Leopard, Sambhar, Spotted deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri Langur, etc. Reptiles like King Cobra, Python, Monitor Lizard, Flying Lizard, Pit viper and many others can also be seen here.

    The reserve is rich in avian fauna as well. Some of the birds seen here are Ceylon mouth frog, Oriental bay owl, Broad tailed Grass warbler, Grey headed bulbul, Great Pied hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill, Malabar Grey hornbill.

    Best time to visit Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is during the months of September to January.

    Reaching Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport is at Thiruvananthapuram which is located at a distance of 160 km from the reserve. Another nearby airport is at Madurai which is 200 km away.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is at Tirunelveli which is just 45 km away from the reserve.
    • By road: There are regular and frequent buses running from Papanasam to Nagarcoil. There are many bus services connecting Nagarcoil to various cities of south India.

    Accommodation @ Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

    Tourists can stay at the Forest Department guest houses. They can contact Chief Conservator of Forests & Field Director, Thirunelveli for advance booking. There are accommodation facilities available at Tirunelveli also.

  • Kanha Tiger Reserve

    Kanha Tiger Reserve

    Kanha Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Situated in the “Maikal” hills of the Satpuras, Kanha Tiger Reserve is consisted of Mandla and Balaghat districts in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Spread across an area of 940 sq. km, the reserve presents not just rich flora and fauna but also beautiful scenery and refreshing environment. Kanha was declared a sanctuary in the year of 1933. And in the year of 1955, it was declared as a national park. Kanha Tiger reserve came into being in 1973. This was done under the Project Tiger by Government of India.

    Flora @ Kanha Tiger Reserve

    The prominent kinds of forests at the reserve are Moist Peninsular Sal Forests, Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest and Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Mixed Forest. Vegetation of the reserve is also consisted of Sal, Saja, Lendia, Dhawa, Tendu, Bamboo, Palas, Bija, Mahua, Aonla, Achar, etc.

    Fauna @ Kanha Tiger Reserve

    Along with having a considerable good population of tigers, the reserve also has species of endangered barasingha. Along with these, other animals that one can spot are Chital , Sambar , Barasingha , Barking deer , Chousingha , Gaur , Langur , Wild pig , Jackal, Sloth bear, Wild dog, Panther, etc.

    Wide variety of reptiles can also be seen such as Python, Indian Cobra, Russell’s Viper, Indian Krait, Common Rat Snake, Common Skink, Indian Monitor, Fan Throated Lizard, Indian Garden Lizard, etc. Along with these, many fishes like Giant Danio, Common Rasbora, Green Snakehead, Mud Perches, Brown Snakehead, etc. can also be seen.

    The reserve also boasts close to 300 species of birds providing good opportunities for bird watching.

    Best time to visit Kanha Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit the reserve is during the months of February to June. The reserve is open from October to June for tourists. However, it can be closed earlier too by the management depending on the rains.

    Reaching Kanha Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport is at Jabalpur which is 185 km from Kanha. There is one flight from Delhi to Jabalpur also. Another airport which is located quite close is Nagpur airport which is at a distance of 260 km.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is Jabalpur Railway Station. One can hire taxi or take a bus from Jabalpur to the reserve.
    • By road: The reserve is well connected via road. From Jabalpur it takes around three hours via road to reach the reserve. Equal amount of time is required from Bilaspur which is key place for tourists travelling from eastern part of India.

    Accommodation @ Kanha Tiger Reserve

    Tourists have umpteen numbers of accommodation facilities in and around Kanha to choose from. Some of these are Krishna Jungle Resort, The Wild Chalet Resort, Tuli Tiger Resort, Royal Tiger Resort, Kanha Jungle Lodge, The Hiawatha Resort, The Celebration Van Villas, Kipling Camp, Shergarh Resort, Infinity Resort, Muba at Mukki, The Sanjay Tiger Resort, etc.

  • Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve

    Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the Terai area on Indo-Nepal border of Bahraich district of the Uttar Pradesh state, Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve presents rich flora and fauna to all the nature enthusiasts. Spread across an area of 400 sq. km, Katarniaghat was declared as a Sanctuary in the year of 1976.

    River Ghaghra crosses the reserve. River Girwa and River Kodiala join together and form River Ghaghra. The area has been protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and the U.P. Wildlife Protection Rules 1974 which prohibit anyone from hunting animals and birds found in the region.

    Once at the reserve, tourists have the option of Elephant ride and Boat ride.

    Flora @ Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve

    The main type of vegetation found here are saal, asna, sheesham, bel kusum, banyan, semal, khair, kaus, munj and many more.

    Fauna @ Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve

    Along with tigers, other animals inhabiting here are leopard, swamp deer, blackbuck, chital, barking deer, sambar, nilgai, sloth bear, wild boar, flying squirrel, blue bull, rhinoceros, elephant, four horned antelope, Indian gazelle, peafowl, jackal, bear, etc. Along with these, the reserve also has various kinds of fish like Rohu, Bhakur, Parhin, Nain, Tongan, Belgagra, Karaunch etc. Crocodiles, Ghariyals, Tortoise along with Python, Beaver also reside in the area.

    The place is good for bird watching as well with close to 350 kinds of avian creatures. Some of these are migratory birds like Red Crested Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, White-Rumped Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Indian Roller, Rufous Treepie, River Lapwing, Black-Winged Stilt, Common Coot, Pied Kingfisher, White-Throated Kingfisher, Spoonbill, Asian Openbill, Lesser Whisling Teal, Northern Pintain, Mallard, Tufted Poachard, Great-Crested Grebe, Great Egret, Peasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze-Winged Jacana, Shikra, Red-headed Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Long Billed Vulture, Rocket-tailed Drongo, Black Hooded Oriole, Green Bee-eater, Stork Billed Kingfisher, etc.

    Best time to visit Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve is during the month of Mid-November to Mid-June.

    Reaching Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport is at Lucknow. It is well connected to various other parts of the country.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is at Bichhiya which is well connected to various towns and cities.
    • By road: There are various buses running to Katarniaghat. The nearest bus station to the reserve is at Bichhiya.

    Accommodation @ Katarniaghat Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation, tourists can opt for forest rest houses which are available at Katarniaghat, Nishangara, Dharamapur and Murtiha.

  • Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

    Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    India presents a rich and exceptional combination of flora and fauna. There are umpteen numbers of national parks, tiger reserves in India, each of them promising a memorable time to not just nature lovers but to each and every one. One of the popular tiger reserves in not just Assam but in India is Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.

    The Kaziranga Tiger Reserve came into being in the year of 1905 when the Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest was created in an area of 232 sq. km. Later in 1916, it was converted into a game sanctuary which was named as Kaziranga Game Sanctuary. However, in 1950, it was again renamed as Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary by P. D. Stracey, the forest conservationist. This was primarily done to get away with any relation to the game of hunting.

    Later in the year of 1974, after passing the ‘The Assam National Park Act of 1968’, the state government of Assam declared the Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary as the designated national park which was spread across an area of 430 sq. km. And in the year of 1985, UNESCO declared Kaziranga a World Heritage Site because of its unique natural environment.

    Located in the Golaghat and Nagaon district of Assam, on the banks of River Brahmaputra, Kaziranga Tiger Reserve has been quite popular because of its rich flora and fauna along with rare opportunities to have close look at the tigers.

    Fauna @ Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

    In Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, tourists can spot wide range of mammals and reptiles. Out of all, there are about 15 species of mammals that are endangered. Apart from Royal Bengal Tiger, the kaziranga is also known for one horned rhinoceros. Some of the commonly spotted animals here are wild buffalo, Indian elephant, Indian wild boar, eastern mole, pangolin, Indian gaur, swamp deer, sambar, barking deer, white browed gibbon, hog deer, capped langur or leaf monkey, rhesus macaque, Assamese macaque, leopard, sloth bear, Indian porcupine, large Indian civet, small Indian civet, Indian gray mongoose, bengal fox, golden jackal , etc.

    There are umpteen numbers of snakes, lizards and turtles and tortoise along with crocodiles at the Kaziranga. Two of the largest snakes in the world, the Reticulated Python and Rock Python along with the King Cobra can be spotted here. Apart from various species of snakes, almost fifteen species of turtle and around 42 species of fish are inhabited in this area.

    Kaziranga national park is also a good place for activities like bird watching. Some of the avian creatures that can be spotted here are the Crested Serpent Eagle, Palla’s Fishing Eagle and Grey Headed Fishing Eagle, Great Adjutant Stork, Crane, Bengal Florican, Bar-Headed Goose, Whistling Teal, Pelican, etc.

    Flora @ Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

    The reserve boasts of rich flora as well. It is consisted of three prominent kinds of vegetation. These are tropical wet evergreen forests, tropical semi-evergreen forests and alluvial inundated grasslands. Presence of umpteen numbers of water lilies, water hyacinth and lotus add on to the beauty of the place.

    Best time to visit Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit Kaziranga Tiger Reserve is during the months of November and March.

    Reaching Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

    • By Air: The nearest airport to the reserve is Jorhat which is at a distance of 97 km. Near-by major airport is Guwahati Airport which is about 220 km away. Another nearest airport is in Tezpur which has frequent flights between Kolkata to Tezpur.
    • By Rail: The nearest major railhead is Guwahati. There are umpteen numbers of trains connecting Guwahati to the rest of the country. One can hire a taxi or take a bus from the city to the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
    • By Road: There are many Government buses running from cities like Guwahati, Tezpur, etc. to the park. If interested one can take their private vehicle or hire a taxi.

    Accommodation @ Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation, lodges from forest departments are available. Lodges such as Arayan Lodge, Bonani Lodge, Bonoshree Lodge, Kunjaban Lodge, etc. presents decent and comfortable staying opportunities amidst best of natural settings.

  • Kudremukh Tiger Reserve

    Kudremukh Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Kudremukh Tiger reserve has been recently approved by the Govt. of India. In the year of 2011, Government has permitted official declaration of Kudremukh National Park as tiger reserve. This will make Kudremukh National Park (KNP) as the fifth tiger reserve of the Karnataka state and 41st tiger reserve of India. Located in the south-west of Chikmagalur town of Karnataka, Kudremukh National Park is spread across an area of 600.32 sq. km.

    Kudremukh boasts of exceptionally rich flora and fauna as well as various kinds of adventurous activities. It is a trekker’s paradise offering terrains with varied difficulty level and exotic natural setting full of lush greenery, refreshing rivers, slopes, cascades, rare orchids, caves, ruins and traces depicting history.

    Other tourist spots that one can visit are Lakya Dam which is situated near the Kudremukh project area, Radha Krishna Temple, Ganga Moola, etc.

    Flora @ Kudremukh Tiger Reserve

    The main kind of vegetation in the area is consisted of tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests and high altitude shola–grasslands.

    Fauna @ Kudremukh Tiger Reserve

    The park has rich wildlife with highly endangered and wildlife species, including tigers, leopards and wild dogs. This apart, the park is home for more than 169 species of birds of which eight are endemic to the Western Ghats. It also houses around 50 species of reptiles and 34 species of amphibians.

    Along with the mighty tigers, other animals that can be spotted here are leopard, wild dog, jackal, lion-tailed macaque, common langur, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, Malabar giant squirrel, giant flying squirrel, porcupine and the mongoose. Reptiles such as various snakes species and tortoises can also be seen. There are close to 50 species of reptiles and 34 species of amphibians in the park.

    The area is wonderful for the activity of bird watching as well with almost 169 species of birds. Some of the avian species which are found are Malabar trogon, great pied hornbill, Malabar whistling thrush, the imperial pigeon-birds, etc.

    Reaching Kudremukh Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest domestic airport is in Mangalore which is 130 km away from the reserve. Bangalore international airport is the nearest international airport which is at a distance of approximately 350 km. One can hire a taxi or take a bus from the airport.
    • By rail: The nearest railway head is in Mangalore which is at a distance of 130 km.
    • By road: The place is well connected to various cities and town via road. The nearest town to the park is Kalasa which is 20 km away. Other near-by towns are Karkala (50 km), Mudigere (75 km), Mangalore and Bangalore.

    Accommodation @ Kudremukh Tiger Reserve

    There are various kinds of accommodation facilities available at Kudremukh Tiger Reserve offering decent and comfortable stay.

  • Manas Tiger Reserve

    Manas Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the state of Assam at the foothills of the Bhutan hills, Manas Tiger Reserve has been created in the year of 1973. This was done with the launch of Project Tiger in India. It has Manas Sanctuary as its core which was established in the year of 1928. Earlier, the area used to be called as Manas Reserve Forest. It was also a hunting preserve for the Raja of Gauripur and the Cooch-Behar Royal Family. Spread across an area of 391 sq. km, the sanctuary now covers six districts which are Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang.

    Manas Tiger Reserve has been one of the popular tiger reserves of India and presents tourists with not just a rich fauna but exotic flora as well to look at.

    Flora @ Manas Tiger Reserve

    In Manas Sanctuary, one can spot wide range of species which constitute 374 species of dicots and 139 species of monocots. Some of the species of the plant that you can find here are Reinwardia indica, Bischofia javanica, Callicarpa arboarea, Dendrocalamus bamiltonii, Duabanga grandiflora, Biden pilore, Exacum teres, Pygmaeoprema herbacea, Chiloschhiosta junifera, Oplismenus megaphyllus, Magnifera sylvetica, grasses Imperata Cylindrica, Narenga porphyrocoma, etc.

    Fauna @ Manas Tiger Reserve

    The Manas reserve boasts of around 21 recorded endangered species of mammals. Some of the prominent species, apart from the Tiger, which are found here are Capped Langur, golden Langur, Slow Loris, Tiger, Black Panther, Leopard Cat, Clouded Leopard, Golden Cat, Fishing Cat, Bear cat, Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Indian Pangolin, one-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic Water Buffalo, Swamp Deer, Particoloured Flying Squirrel, Hispid Hare and Gangetic Dolphin.

    Best time to visit Manas Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit Manas Tiger Reserve is during the months of November and April. As during monsoon season, the places sees heavy rainfall and in summers it gets humid and hot, it is better to visit from the months of November to March or April.

    Reaching the Manas Tiger Reserve

    • By Rail: The nearest railway station to the reserve is at Barpeta Road which is located at a distance of 44 kilometres. There are trains running regularly between Guwahati railway station, which is a major railway station and Barpeta Road.
    • By Air: The nearest airport is at Guwahati. It is connected to the rest of country via various flight services. Along with important cities such as Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi, there are flights from smaller airports as well like Itanagar, Shillong and Tawang. One can hire taxi from the city to the reserve.
    • By Road: There are many private and public buses running to the reserve from nearby towns and cities. One can also hire a private vehicle and travel at his/her own pace and in comfort.

    Accommodation @ Manas Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation of tourists, there are tourist Lodge and Forest Rest Houses available. A forest bungalow at Mothanguri with dormitory style facilities providing accommodation for 48 persons is located within the park. There are many other camps available as well for the tourists.

  • Melghat Tiger Reserve

    Melghat Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Situated in the southern region of the Satpura hill range, named as Gawilgarh hills, in the central part of India, Melghat Tiger Reserve presents tourists with rich flora and fauna along with breathtaking nature and a refreshing environment. Spread across an area of 1676.93 sq. km, the Melghat Tiger Reserve came into being in the year of 1974. It was in the year of 1994 that the original area of Melghat Tiger Reserve (788.28 sq. km) was combined with Gugarnal National Park area (361.28 sq. km) along with buffer area of the reserve and notified as the Melghat Sanctuary.

    Flora @ Melghat Tiger Reserve

    The main kinds of forests in this region are Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests. The reserve has close to 700 naturalised plant species consisting of 90 tree species, 66 shrubs species, 316 herbs species, 56 climbers, 23 sedges and 99 grass species, etc.

    The most predominant tree here is Teak. Some of the other commonly found species are Lagerstroemia parviflora, Lannea coromandelica, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia tomentosa, Anogeissus latifolia, Oujenia oojeinesis, Bamboos, etc.

    Fauna @ Melghat Tiger Reserve

    The reserve boasts of various kinds of mammals. Along with Tiger, you can spot other species like Leopard, Sloth bear, Wild dog, Jackal, Sambar, Gaur, Barking deer, Nilgai, Cheetal, Chousingha, Ratel, Porcupine, Pangolin, Mouse deer, Python, Otter, Caracal, Black napped hare, Flying Squirrel, Wild boar, Langur, Rhesus monkey, etc. Almost 16 species of reptiles also reside in this area. Some of these are green vine snake, python, cobra, fat-tailed geckos, forest calotes, lizards, fresh water turtles, etc.

    The Melghat reserve has rich avian fauna as well. An approx. of 250 species of birds can be spotted here. Some of these are Crested Serpent Eagle, Rufous Treepies, Golden Oriole, Black-hooded Oriole, Gold-mantled Leafbird, Grey Francolin, Jungle Bush Quail, Parakeets, the Asian Paradise Flycatcher, the Racket-tailed Drongo, bee-eaters, Black-rumped Woodpecker, the Stork-billed Kingfisher, Black-capped Kingfisher, Crested Larks, Great Bustard, Fairy Bluebird, Forest Spotted Owlet, etc.

    Best time to visit Melghat Tiger Reserve

    The ideal time to visit the reserve is during the months of December to May. The park opens for tourists from October to June.

    Reaching Melghat Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport to the reserve is at Akola which is 160 km away. Nagpur which is at a distance of 260 km is another nearby airport connected to the rest of the country.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is at Badnera. There are many trains running to the Badnera from Mumbai, Ahmedabad and other cities. One can also take train to Nagpur and travel via road from there.
    • By road: Chikhaldara is the nearest connecting point to the reserve as is 25 km away. It is well connected to other cities and towns. There are various bus service operating from Nagpur, Amravati and other cities to Chikhaldara.

    Accommodation @ Melghat Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation, tourist have various options in and around the reserve such as Chikhaldara Convention Complex, Semadoh Tourist Complex, etc.

  • Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the Nilgiri district in the western-most part of Tamil Nadu State, sharing boundaries with states of Karnataka and Kerala, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is spared across an area of 321 sq. km. The first wildlife sanctuary of South India, it was declared as a sanctuary in the year of 1940.

    The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is also quite close to Bandipur National Park, Wayanad Sanctuary and the Sigur and Singara reserve forests and comes under the proposed Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The River Moyar separates the reserve from Bandipur.

    Flora @ Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    The main types of forests here are Tropical Moist Deciduous, Tropical Dry Deciduous and Southern Tropical Thorn forest or scrub jungle.

    Fauna @ Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    Mudumalai Tiger Reserve boasts of having the highest density of tigers in the country. It has rich fauna constituting of close to 50 species of fish, 21 kinds of amphibians, 34 species of reptiles along with various kinds of mammals.

    The reserve has 55 species of mammals. Some of the animals that can be spotted here are Tigers, Dhole, the Asiatic Wild Dog, Asian Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Indian Muntjac, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar, Leopard, Striped Hyena, Jackal, Sloth Bear, Bonnet Macaque, Langur, Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, etc. Reptiles like Monitor Lizard is commonly spotted in the reserve.

    The reserve has almost 227 species of birds. Some of these are Malabar Trogon, Malabar Grey Hornbill, White-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Babbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Pacific Swallow, Orphean Warbler, Temminck’s Stint, White-rumped Needletail, Grass Owl, Scops Owl, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, etc.

    Best time to visit Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit the reserve is during the months of February to May and September to October.

    Reaching Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport is at Coimbatore which is 160 km away.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is Udhagamandalam (Ooty) railway station which is at a distance of 65 km. Another railway junction located nearby is at Mysore which is approximately 95 km away.
    • By road: The nearest town to the reserve is Gudalur which is just 16 km away. The town is located along the Udhagamandalam – Mysore highway and thus well connected via road. There are regular and various bus services operating from cities and towns like Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Mysore, etc.

    Accommodation @ Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    For accommodation, tourists have various options to choose from. Some of these are Jungle Retreat, Blue Valley Jungle Resorts, Monarch Safari Park, Forest Hills Farm & Guesthouse and many more.

  • Nagarhole Tiger Reserve

    Nagarhole (extension) Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Nagarhole (extension) Tiger Reserve is located in the state of Karnataka as a part of the largest bio reserve of the country-Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Nagarhole was established as a wildlife sanctuary in the year of 1955 and a national park in the year of 1975. Nagarhole National Park was previously a private hunting reserve of Maharaja’s of Mysore.

    In the year 1999-2000, it was declared as the tiger reserve. Spread across an area of 664 sq. km, the Nagarhole (extension) Tiger Reserve lies in the area across Coorg and Mysore district of Karnataka. Along with various kinds of safaris such as bus safaris and jeep safaris, tourists can also go for elephant rides as well as boat rides.

    Flora @ Nagarhole Tiger Reserve

    The landscape in Nagarhole is comprised of slopes and shallow valleys along with swamps. Trees species like teak, Rosewood, Bamboo, Sandal, Silver Oak Trees, Eucalyptus, Terminalia tomentosa grow in large numbers here. Along with these in the dry areas, one can find species of trees such as bamboos, Dindalu (Anogeissus Latifolia), Flame of the Forest, Indian Laburnum, etc.

    Fauna @ Nagarhole Tiger Reserve

    The fauna of the area comprises of mammals such as Tiger, Elephant, gaur, sambar, cheetal, barking deer, mouse deer, four horned antelope, wild pig, black-naped hare, pangolin, Indian porcupine, giant squirrel, flying squirrel, slender loris, sloth bear, tiger, leopard, wild dog, striped hyena, jungle cat, leopard cat, rusty spotted cat, small Indian civet, otter, etc.

    The place offers amazing bird watching opportunities as well. Some of the avian species that tourists can spot are cormorants, teals, ducks, waders, herons, ospreys, grey-headed fishing eagles, crested hawk eagle, vulture, grey jungle fowl, red spurfowl, grey partridge Malabar trogon, Malabar pied hornbill, fairy bluebird, Indian pitta, scarlet minivet, paradise flycatcher, Malabar whistling thrush, Imperial pigeon, serpent eagle, honey buzzard, shahin falcon, hobby, king, etc.

    Best time to visit Nagarhole Tiger Reserve

    The ideal time to visit the reserve is during the months of October to June.

    Reaching Nagarhole (extension) Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The Nearest airport is Bangalore which is at a distance of 236 km. It enjoys good connectivity with the rest of the world and many important international cities. One can hire a taxi or take a bus from here to the reserve.
    • By rail: The nearest railhead to Nagarhole is Mysore which is at a distance of 80 km. Taxis are available from here to the park.
    • By road: It is well connected to various cities and towns via road such as Madikeri (93 km), Mysore (80 km), Bangalore (236 km), etc. The nearest town to the reserve is Kutta which is just 7 km way. There are many public and private buses as well as taxis running to the reserve from nearby towns and cities.

    Accommodation @ Nagarhole Tiger Reserve

    Tourists have the options to choose from Government owned forest rest houses, private lodges and cottages. Kabini River Lodge is the one of the options available.

  • Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve

    Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located at the border of the two Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largest tiger reserve of India. Spread across an area of 356,000 hectares, covering five districts of the state, the reserve constitute areas of places namely Nalgonda, Mahaboobnagar, Kurnool, Prakasam and Guntur. At latitude between 16°15¢-16°45¢ in the North and longitude between 78°45¢-80°00¢ in the East, the Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve not just offer exotic flora and fauna but also mesmerizing scenic beauty to spend some relaxed time along with usual excitement of a tiger reserve.

    Surrounded by the Nallamalla Hills on the southern and eastern side along with River Krishna flowing through it, the reserve creates a worth capturing natural beauty.

    In the year of 1973, the forest was declared as a wildlife sanctuary. Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve came into being in the year 1983 under the Project Tiger of Government of India.

    Apart from experiencing the rich wildlife from close, there are various other options as well for the tourists. Mannanur, situated quite close to the sanctuary is a small village with crocodile pond and an environment education centre along with well-furnished camp bungalow makes for an interesting visit. Nagarjuna Sagar has various historical monuments which have been unearthed during many excavations. If the time permits, tourists can go and visit the site.

    Flora @ Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve

    The kind of vegetation in the reserve is mostly the tropical dry deciduous forests with scrub and bamboo thickets. Some of the rare species of plants which are found are Niebuhria apetala, Ziziphus xylopyrus, Cissus vitiginea and Pterolobium indicum, etc.

    Fauna @ Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve

    Visitors can spot various kinds of animals here at the reserve. Some of the these , along with obvious mighty tigers, are Leopard, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, Pangolin, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Mouse Deer, Black Buck, Striped Hyena, Chinkara, Barking Deer, Nilgai, Indian Pangolin, Indian Giant Squirrel, Common Langur Chowsinga, Mugger, Python, Cobra, Peafowl, etc.

    For bird watchers, the sanctuary has avian species like large Cormorant, Eurasian Thick-knee, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Grey Heron, Black Ibis, Stork-billed Kingfisher along with Oriental Honey-buzzard, White-eyed Buzzard, Osprey, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Common Kestrel Bonelli`s Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle,etc.

    Best time to visit Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit is during the winter months which are from November to March.

    Reaching Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport is at Hyderabad city. The airport is connected to all the important cities of the country as well as to many important international cities.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is at Srisailam. It is connected to the city of Hyderabad which in turn is connected to the rest of the country.
    • By road: There are many buses available from places like Kurnool, Hyderabad, Guntur, etc. Srisailam is the main entry point to the reserve and is at a distance of 190km from Kurnool, 216km from Hyderabad and 220km from Guntur.
      If you take bus from Hyderabad, it will take an approximate time of 6 hours. One can also hire taxis from these places.

    Accommodation @ Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve

    Accommodation facilities are available in the town of Srisailam. There are cottages and guest houses near the temple inside the sanctuary. Forest rent houses are also available to choose from.

  • Namdapha Tiger Reserve

    Namdapha Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Situated in the Changlang District in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Namdapha was first a forest reserve which was declared a wildlife sanctuary under Assam Forest Regulation in the year of 1972. It was established as a national park in the year of 1983-84. Presenting a mesmerizing scenic view and rich flora and fauna, the tiger reserve lies on the hills of Patkai mountain ranges along the river side.

    The name of the Namdapha has been derived from the tributary named “Namdapha” which joins the river, Noa-dehing. With an attitudinal variation from 200m (MSL) to 4500m, the park also has a river flowing from east to west. With more than 60 percent of area untouched, the reserve offers exciting and adventurous opportunities at each and every corner.

    Flora @ Namdapha Tiger Reserve

    The main kind of vegetation in Namdapha National park is tropical wet evergreen forest. Species of cane, bamboo, wild banana, climber along with various exotic shrubs and herbs can be easily found here. Timber kinds such as Hollong, Hollock, Mekai, Jutuli, Champa and Bhola along with species of pine trees like Pinus merkusai and Abies delavavi add on to the exclusivity of the reserve. Many varieties of orchids adorn the park and also medicinal plants are found here. Blue vanda and coptis teeta are two amongst the rare species.

    Fauna @ Namdapha Tiger Reserve

    The reserve showcases rich fauna as well. Along with mighty tigers, there are various other exotic animals to spots. Some of these are leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, gaur, mithun, elephant, Himalayan black bear, wild goat, musk deer, slow loris, binturong, red panda, Assamese macaque, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque and the distinctive hoolock gibbon. The Indian python, reticulated python and king cobra are few of the reptiles which can be spotted here in the park.

    The reserve presents amazing bird watching opportunities as well. Some of the avian species found here are White Winged Wood Duck, satyr tragopan, kalij and monal pheasants, giant hornbill, forest eagle, owl, jungle fowl and pheasants, etc.

    Best time to visit Namdapha Tiger Reserve

    The Namdapha National Park opens for tourists during the months of October to April.

    Reaching Namdapha Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport to the reserve is at Dibrugarh which is in the state of Assam. From Dibrugarh one has to travel via road.
    • By Rail: The nearest station is also located in Assam situated at Tinsukia.
    • By Road: To reach till the reserve, tourists are required to travel via road till Miao. Various buses run from Tinsukia and Dibrugarh to the destination. One can also hire a vehicle and travel at their own pace.

  • Nameri Tiger Reserve

    Nameri Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Nameri Tiger Reserve is located in the District of Sonitpur in the state of Assam. At the foothills of Eastern Himalayas, the reserve is spread across an area of 200 sq. km. and adjoins Pakhui (Pakke) Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh on the North-Eastern point. The Nameri National park came into being in 1878 when it was declared a reserved forest. The park has been bifurcated by the River Jia and its tributaries namely Diji, Dinai, Doigurung, Nameri, Dikorai and Khari etc.

    Popular for tigers, the Nameri Tiger Reserve is also popular for huge number of Indian Elephants. Along with boasting of rich varieties of flora and fauna, the reserve also offers wide range of activities adding to the level of adventure and excitement. One can go for picnic by the side of Jia Bhoroli River. Elephant ride is the most popular of all the activities. Boat ride on River Jia Bhoroli also make for an interesting activity.

    Flora @ Nameri Tiger Reserve

    The reserve boasts of exotic flora. Its vegetation is consisted of Assam Valley Tropical Evergreen Forests, Assam Alluvial Plains semi Evergreen Forests, Eastern Alluvial Secondary Semi Evergreen Forests, Sub Himalayan light Alluvial Semi- Evergreen Forests, Cane Brakes, Wet Bamboo Brakes, Northern Secondary Moist Mixed, Deciduous Forests, Eastern Hollock Forests, Eastern Seasonal Swamp Forests, Eastern Dillenia Swamp Forests, etc.

    Fauna @ Nameri Tiger Reserve

    Along with rich population of tiger, the Nameri Tiger Reserve has various other kinds of mammals as well such as Leopard, Black Panther, Clouded Leopard, Lesse Cats, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Elephant, Indian Bison, Dhole, Sambar, Barking Deer, Dog Deer, Fox, Hispid Hare, Indian Hare, Capped Langur, Slow Loris, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Himalayan yellow Throated Martin, Malayan giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Wild Pig and many more.

    Some of the reptiles present here are King cobra, cobra, Pit Viper, Russels Viper, Banded Krait, Python, Rat Snake, Assam Roof Turtle, Malayan Box Turtle, Keeled Box turtle, Asian Leaf Turtle, Narrow Headed soft Shelled Turtle and Indian soft Shelled Turtle. Fishes such as Golden Mahseer, Shaort gilled Mahseer and Silghoria are also present.

    The reserve is a good place for the activity for bird watching as well with avian creatures like Long Billed Ring Plover, Khallej Pheasant, Hill Myna , Pin tailed green Pigeon, Himalayan pied Kingfisher, Three Toed kingfisher, Fairly Blue Bird, White winged wood duck, Great Pied Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Rufous Necked Hornbill, Black Stork, Ibis Bill, etc.

    Best time to visit Nameri Tiger Reserve

    The best time to visit the reserve is during the months of December and January. The park opens from the month of November to April. Avoid visiting during monsoon season as the area sees heavy rainfall usually.

    Reaching Nameri Tiger Reserve

    • By Air: Tezpur is the nearest airport to the reserve which in turn is connected to the airports of places like Kolkata and Silchar. One can hire a taxi from the airport to the park.
    • By Rail: The Nearest railway station to the reserve is in Rangapara which is at a distance of 21 km.
    • By Road: There are many public and private buses running from the Tezpur and other nearby areas. One can also hire a taxi or travel in their private vehicle at their own speed at utmost convenience.

    Accommodation @ Nameri Tiger Reserve

    Tourists have various options of staying in and around Nameri Tiger Reserve. Nameri Eco Camp located at Potasali offers decent and comfortable accommodation with all the modern amenities. Jia Bhorali Resort and Kanyaka forest lodges are few other accommodation facilities available.

  • Pakhui Tiger Reserve

    Pakhui Tiger Reserve (Timings, Entry Fee, Safari Online Booking & How to Reach)

    Located in the East kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, the Pakhui Tiger Reserve is the south western side of the state. Offering rich and exotic flora and fauna, the reserve has dense and unexplored mysterious jungles promising an exciting and adventurous time to all its visitors. The place also presents exceptional scenic beauty with Kameng River in its west and the River Pakke located in its east. Spread across an area of 862 km, it was declared as Pakhui Wildlife sanctuary in the year of 2002. In the same year, it was declared as the Pakke Tiger Reserve under the Project Tiger scheme of Government of India.

    Flora @ Pakhui Tiger Reserve

    The reserve is consisted of various kinds of forests such as Assam valley tropical semi evergreen forests, Sub-Himalayan light alluvial semi evergreen forests, Eastern Hollock forests, Upper Assam valley tropical evergreen forests, Tropical revering forests and Secondary moist bamboo tract, etc.

    Some of the species of bamboo which are found in abundance in this area are Dendroclamus hamitonii, Bamboosa pelida and Pseudostachym polymorphism. Various flora species also add on to the reserve’s beauty. Some of these are Hoolock (a huge tree), giant bamboos, orchids, pine, oaks, walnuts, spruce and rhododendrons.

    Fauna @ Pakhui Tiger Reserve

    The reserve boasts of wide range of fauna as well. Along with majestic tiger, tourists can spot animals such as leopard, clouded leopard, jungle cat, Sambar, Hog deer, barking deer, slow Loris, wildboar, yellow throated martin, wild dog, fishing cat, jackal, Indian fox, Himalayan black bear, binturong, elephant, gaur, Malayan Giant squirrel, flying squirrel, squirrel, civet, capped langur, rhesus macaque, Assamese Macaque, stamp tailed macaque, bison etc. Different kinds of reptiles like Python, Cobra and Krait can be found.

    There are various kinds of birds as well offering good bird watching opportunities such as hornbill, white winged wood duck, jungle fowl, peacock pheasant, khaleej pheasant, dove, barbets, drongo, eagle, ducks, etc.

    Best time to visit Pakhui Tiger Reserve

    The ideal time to visit the reserve is during the months of October to April.

    Reaching Pakhui Tiger Reserve

    • By air: The nearest airport to the reserve is Tezpur. From here, one can hire a taxi from the airport for the destination.
    • By rail: The nearest railway station is at Rangapara. Tourists can either take a bus or hire a taxi from the station and travel to the reserve.
    • By road: There are many buses running from Tezpur to other places of Arunachal Pradesh. One can get buses from Bhalukpong as well.

    Accommodation @ Pakhui Tiger Reserve

    There are various kinds of accommodations available at Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary. Tourists can choose from jungle resorts, Government guest houses and forest rest houses.