Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is located in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state in India. It is Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park. Created in 1995, the Reserve includes the Tadoba National Park and the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary. The Reserve consists of 577.96 square kilometres (223.15 sq mi) of reserved forest and 32.51 square kilometres (12.55 sq mi) of protected forest.

Legend holds that Taru was a village chief who was killed in a mythological encounter with a tiger. Taru was deified and a shrine dedicated to Taru now exists beneath a large tree on the banks of Tadoba Lake. The temple is frequented by adivasis, especially during a fair held annually in the Hindu month of Pausha (December–January).

The Gond kings once ruled these forests in the vicinity of the Chimur hills. Hunting was banned in 1935. Two decades later, in 1955, 116.54 square kilometres (45.00 sq mi) of this forest area was declared a national park. Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was created in the adjacent forests in 1986. In 1995, the park and the sanctuary were merged to establish the present tiger reserve.

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Flora

Tadoba reserve is a predominantly southern tropical dry deciduous forest with dense woodlands comprising about eighty seven per cent of the protected area. Teak is the predominant tree species. Other deciduous trees found in this area include ain (crocodile bark), bija, dhauda, hald, salai, semal and tendu. Beheda, hirda, karaya gum, mahua madhuca (crepe myrtle), palas (flame-of-the-forest, Butea monosperma) and Lannea coromandelica (woodier tree). Axle wood (Anogeissus latifolia, a fire-resistant species), black plum and arjun are some of the other tropical trees that grow in this reserve.

Patches of grasses are found throughout the reserve. Bamboo thickets grow throughout the reserve in abundance. The climber kach kujali (velvet bean) found here is a medicinal plant used to treat Parkinson's disease. The leaves of bheria are used as an insect repellent and bija is a medicinal gum. Beheda is also an important medicine found here.

 

Fauna

As of August 2016, there are 88 tigers in the reserve, and 58 in the forests immediately outside the reserve.

Aside from the keystone species, the Bengal tiger, Tadoba Tiger Reserve is home to other mammals, including: Indian leopards, sloth bears, gaur, nilgai, dhole, striped hyena, small Indian civet, jungle cats, sambar, barking deer, chital, chausingha and honey badger. Tadoba lake sustains the marsh crocodile, which was once common all over Maharashtra.

Reptiles here include the endangered Indian python and the common Indian monitor. Terrapins, Indian star tortoise, Indian cobra and Russel's viper also live in Tadoba.

The lake contains a wide variety of water birds, and raptors. 195 species of birds have been recorded, including three endangered species. The grey-headed fish eagle, the crested serpent eagle, and the changeable hawk-eagle are some of the raptors seen in the park.

Other bird species found in the reserve include the orange-headed thrush, Indian pitta, crested tree swift, stone curlew, crested honey buzzard, paradise flycatcher, bronze-winged jacana, lesser golden backed woodpecker, various warblers, black-naped blue flycatcher and the Indian peafowl.

74 species of butterflies have been recorded including pansies, monarchs, Mormons and swordtails.

Insect species include the endangered danaid egg-fly and great eggfly. Dragonflies, stick insects, jewel beetles and the praying mantis are other insects located in the reserve.

The signature spider, giant wood spider and red wood spiders are often seen during the monsoon and soon after. Some hunting spiders like the wolf spiders, crab spiders and lynx spiders are also common.

A black panther was spotted in May 2018. As per the officials, it is a rare sight since black panthers normally live in evergreen forests and not in dry deciduous forests like Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve.

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Safari Gates in Tadoba

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      The safari in Tadoba Tiger Reserve will give opportunity to explore the rich wildlife of the park and spot the animals like tiger, leopard, wild dogs, sloth bear, etc. There are six core gates in the reserve that gives access to the Core Safari, namely Kolara, Moharli, Navegaon, Khutvanda, Pangdi and Zhari/Kolsa. As well there are buffer gates in the reserve that gives access to the Buffer Safari, namely-

• Buffer Gates near Moharli Core - Agarzari, Devada Adegaon, Junona and Mamla.

• Buffer Gates near Kolara Core - Kolara, Madnapur Kolara, Alizanza, Palsgaon and Sirkada.

• Buffer Gates near Pangdi/Zhari/Kolsa Core - Pangdi, Zari / Peth and Kesalghat.

• Buffer Gates near Navegaon Core - Ramdegi – Navegaon and Nimdhela.

 

     The timings of the Jeep Safari for the winter and summer are mentioned below:

 

Period                                                   Morning                                Afternoon

                                                      Entry              Exit                 Entry                 Exit

1st Oct to 31st Oct                 06:00 AM        10:00 AM        02:30 PM         06:30 PM

1st Nov to 28th / 29th Feb     06:30 AM        10:30 AM        02:00 PM         06:00 PM

1st Mar to 30th April               06:00 AM        10:00 AM        02:30 PM         06.30 PM

1st May – 30thJune                 05:30 AM        09.30 AM        03.00 PM         07:00 PM

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How To Reach:

The nearest International Airport is Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur (110 kilometres (68 mi) via Umrer, Bhisi, and Chimur). The park is accessible by rail via Nagpur railway station which is 110 kilometres (68 mi) & Chandrapur railway station (on the New Delhi–Chennai main line) which is 30 kilometers (18 mi) away. The nearest main bus stands are Chandrapur 30 kilometres (18 mi) away and Chimur 13 kilometers (8 mi) away.

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Distance to the Gates from Nagpur :

• Kolara Gate: This gate is located at a distance of 110 km from Nagpur.

• Moharli Gate: The distance between Nagpur and Moharli Gate is 180 km.

• Khutvanda: The distance between Nagpur and Khutvanda Gate is 140 km.

• Navegaon Gate: The distance from Nagpur to the gate is 140 km.

• Zari Gate: Zari Gate is located at a distance of 190 km from Nagpur.

• Pangdi Gate: The distance between Pangdi gate and Nagpur is 250 km.