Tadoba National Park

Tadoba National Park

Spread over 120 sq km, the Tadoba National Park is the oldest national park in Maharashtra and comes under the Project Tiger umbrella. It is located 100 km south of Nagpur and 45 km north of Chandrapur. The National Park is named after Tadoba, a courageous village chief who died while valiantly fighting off a tiger. Thickly forested hills form the north and western boundaries of the Tiger Reserve. To the southwest is the huge Tadoba lake, which acts as buffer in between the Park Forest and the extensive farmland extending right up to the Irai Lake. The national park is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers and is aptly called 'The Jewel of Vidarbha'. The rich deciduous forests of the reserve are blessed with a rich and varied flora and fauna. The main attraction of the Park is its jungle safari. A 12-seater minibus takes visitors around the Park. Keep a look out for the denizens of the Park that include more than thousand species of birds, animals, insects and other life forms. You will see large herds of Chitals, Sambars, Barking Deer, Chausingha and Neel Gai as you drive by. You would be lucky to spot a sloth bear, wild dog, wild boar and leopard who are other inhabitants of this beautiful wildlife sanctuary. Ornithologists will get to see as many as 181 species of birds, including water birds. The greatest attraction here is undisputedly the majestic tiger. It continues to enamor tourists of all age groups and interests. As the night falls the jungle air comes alive with the sounds of civets and squirrels. Head out to the large bamboo fringed Tadoba Lake. It is the home of the marsh crocodile and attracts many water birds like Cattle Egrets, Purple Moorhens and Jacanas. A motorable road runs along the perimeter of the lake and makes an excellent walker's track. The rich, dry deciduous forests are full of enchanting jungle trails. Experienced trekking guides are available to take tourists to the different points of interest. Wild life viewing has been made all the more easier with the help of observation towers and 'machaans' where animals are sighted especially at dusk. The best time to visit the park is in the cool months of November to February when the weather is very pleasant and humidity is at its lowest. There are good facilities for overnight stay at the park at the three forest rest houses located around the lake.