Lesser Known Tiger Reserves of India

This entry is on the basis that there are many tiger reserves in India but few are in the active circuit as far as tourism is concerned. Tourism is present in these reserves but they are less popular amidst the International and National circuits.   

The top five reserves in India are Internationally famous and offer good tiger sightings. These are Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Tadoba, and Ranthambore. In recent times Corbett has become the hub of tiger tourism but it is favored more by overseas tourists for the birding potential it holds. Due to altitude migration, the park is home to more than five hundred species. 

Among the second rung of the list (comparative) are the reserves that are more popular amongst local tourists.  The reason that they are less popular overseas is many. The primary reason for a tiger reserve to get fanciful numbers of tourists is the sightings of course. Being a keystone species wildlife lovers keep tiger sightings as the first priority in their wishlist of reserves. In some of these reserves, tiger sightings may be poor and the tourism infrastructure may not be up to the required standards, Another reason may be their remoteness with connectivity being a major issue. In some of the reserves problems regarding law and order in terms of extremists may be a major hindrance. In many destinations, human settlements create man-animal conflict and are a hindrance to tiger conservation.  

The reserves may also contain smaller populations of big cats. But this can be seen in a brighter light as they are destinations that can harbor more tigers in time to come with proper conservation practices. 

Amrabad Tiger Reserve in the newly carved Telangana State has the potential to attain popularity. It is one of the biggest reserves with an area of 2880 sq. km. The reserve holds twenty-three tigers approximately and they are more often seen on camera traps rather than on safaris.   

Nagarjuna Srisailem Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh is the largest reserve in India with an area of  3568 sq. km. The core area is 1200 sq. km. The National Park faces the threat of armed extremists.  

Tiger - Dinesh Makhija

Indrawati Tiger Reserve in the State of Chhattisgarh is virtually out of bounds for tourists due to armed extremist problems. The 2799 sq. km reserve holds the last remaining population of wild buffalo the fate of which is difficult to gauge in present times. Some efforts are being made to encourage tourism here. Jagdalpur at a distance of 168 km is the nearest railhead.

Kanger Valley National Park in the State of Chhattisgarh is 200 sq. km in area. The park contains an impressive list of forty-nine Central Indian mammals including the tiger and the leopard. Jagadalpur rail head at a distance of thirty-three km offers good accommodation. Natural cave formations are an interesting feature of this destination.    

Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve in the State of Madhya Pradesh. The park has an area of 1674 sq. km and is home to big cats as well as Central Indian Mammals. The Tiger population here is very small.    

Guru Ghasidas National Park in Korea District was carved out of Sanjay Dubri TR whence the State of Chattisgarh came into being. The tiger population here is very small in an area of  2898 sq. km. 

There will be more on  Lesser Known Tiger Reserves of India in my next blog entry.