Bucket list holidays to India - Tiger safaris and national parks

Indian Wildlife Parks when is the best time to see Tigers in India?

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Visit the real JUNGLE BOOK in India

The tiger needs no introduction - this beautiful, large striped cat is the 'king of the jungle' is an icon of Asia and these gorgeous creatures have featured in many ancient myths and folklore and appear in films and literature all over the world.  They are also representative as mascots and coats of arms and feature as the national animal of India. Sadly, many sub-species have died out or are severely endangered and although the surviving tigers are now protected they do suffer still from hunting and habitat destruction.

The tiger is the largest of the Panthera genus which are the big cats in the family of Felidae.  The largest are the Siberian Tigers and can reach 3.3m  in total length and weigh up to 300 kilos! Historically, they ranged from Mesopotamia and the Caucasus through to most of South and East Asia.  They live to around 10-15 yrs in the wild and their habitat ranges from high Siberian plateaus to open grasslands and tropical mangrove swamps. Tigers seem to love water too! They are generally solitary animals and often find themselves in conflicts with humans.

Tiger reserves in India

Listed below are listed just some of the places you can go to enjoy a Tiger Safari to see the most numerous of the sub-species, the Bengal Tiger in India.  The coolest time in the parks is October (towards the end of Monsoon season) and from then until January, it's harder to see tigers as the terrain is lush and green but is the best time for birding.  April to June are the hottest months and with the land drying up, tiger sightings are easier as wildlife gathers around shrinking waterholes.

Corbett Tiger Reserve was the first wildlife reserve in India and was responsible for launching Project Tiger, the conservation programme. It is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in the state of Uttaranchal and can be reached by overnight train from Delhi or road transfer. Other commonly seen wildlife in Corbett include elephants, wild boars and flying foxes (bats). There are five Raj style guest houses inside the borders of the park and some tented options. Guided forest walks can be enjoyed here.

Ranthambore National Park Famous for it's tigers and a stunningly pretty park, Ranthambore covers about 400 sq km of Eastern Rajasthan between Kota and Bharatpur. It is now a wildlife sanctuary under the protection of Project Tiger (having been the former hunting ground of the Maharajah of Jaipur). Wild jungle is flecked with large lakes, surrounded by craggy cliffs and exposed crumbling tombs and pavilions. Large mammals found here include leopard, sloth bear and many deer. The park is closed July to September and the best time to visit is between October and May.

Bandhavgarh National Park is in Madhya Pradesh and is one of the best places to see tigers.  It is also home to over 150 species of birds and plenty of butterflies, making it a great place for natural history holidays and photography.  There are ancient ruins and statues scattered through the park.

Kanha National Park is one of India's most beautiful parks (supposedly the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book). There is a mix of savannah grasslands and forest and plenty of wildlife including the Gaur live here.  Because it's quite remote it's not as busy as some of the other parks which is another plus point!  Sited in southern Madhya Pradesh you can get to Kanha by rail via Jabalpur or by road.

Pench Tiger Reserve is a haven for birds with over 250 species and although now better known for Leopards than Tigers, sightings are on the increase. There is a reservoir in the centre of the park which attracts all kinds of wildlife to come and drink and is a great place to sit and observe them in the dry season. Pench is open from November to July.

Click here for just one example of a small group tiger safari. Contact us for your own bespoke wildlife holiday to India!