Maharashtra is abundant in forests and wildlife, especially the region around Nagpur. From Nagpur you can explore wildlife reserves of Maharashtra in all directions, and if the idea of spotting a tiger while on a jungle safari thrills you, here is a list of national parks and sanctuaries in Maharashtra that you will enjoy exploring.
Welcome To The Jungle: Jungle Safaris Around Maharashtra To Take This Year
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Tadoba Tiger Reserve
One of the most popular national parks in Maharashtra, Tadoba Tiger Reserve is located 3hrs away from Nagpur and is a popular destination for wildlife lovers and nature photography enthusiasts to holiday at. Being a tourist-friendly park, there are a lot of options for accommodation available in and around this national park.
Animals You Can Spot: It’s quite common to spot the tiger here, and other animals that you can see around the Buffer Zone of the park include the leopard, sloth bear, gaur, wild dog, cheetah, sambar, wild boar, and a plethora of birds.
Best Time To Visit: December to May
Pench National Park
2 hours from Nagpur lies one of the richest tiger reserves in the country called the Pench National Park. Nestled amidst the well-forested areas of Chhindwara and Seoni districts, Pench is known for some of the best tiger safaris in India and is spread across both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Animals You Can Spot: While the tiger is the main attraction here, you will also come across deer, wild dogs, monkeys, jackals, wild boars, leopards, mongoose, nilgai.
Best Time To Visit: February to April.
Melghat National Park
Tucked inside the Satpura hill range in Amravati district, Melghat National Park is a part of the Project Tiger initiative of India, and lies 5hr away from Nagpur. The park is abundant in hilly slopes and dense jungles, and hiring a guide to visit the protected area is highly recommended.
Animals You Can Spot: Melghat National Park is rich in animal species, with some of the major attractions being the Indian Pangolin, Indian Wolf, sloth bear, wild dog, wild boar, jackal, stripped hyena, jungle cat, gaur, deer and antelopes.
Best Time To Visit: December to June.
Tipeshwar National Park
Tipeshwar National Park lies 4 hours away from Nagpur and is a lesser-known and offbeat holiday destination for wildlife lovers. Since it is tucked into a rural corner of southern Maharasthra, accommodation options are limited here.
Animals You Can Spot Here: The inhabitants here include the tiger, blackbuck, nilgai, sambhar, sloth bear, wild boar and birds.
Best Time To Visit: February to May.
Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary
This little known wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra lies 2 hours away from Nagpur and attracts wildlife lovers from all over the country, especially those who prefer to stay away from the tourist-filled jungle safaris. The number of tiger cub spottings at this national park is quite a topic of discussion amongst wildlife enthusiasts. This sanctuary is closed on Mondays.
Animals You Can Spot Here: Apart from the tiger cubs, you can spot animals like the gaur, wild dog, pangolins, etc.
Best Time To Visit: October to June.
Nagzira Tiger Reserve
The Nagzira Tiger Reserve lies just a couple of hours away from Nagpur and is one of the smallest and least known tiger reserves of India. The accommodation options here are limited, and the park is closed to public on Mondays.
Animals You Can Spot Here: Apart from the tiger, you can spot nilgai, gaur, cheetal, sambhar, resident and migratory birds, etc.
Best Time To Visit: October to June.
