Official Field Directory 2026

Master Directory of India’s
Project Tiger Reserves

An exhaustive, field-verified guide to all 55+ notified wild tiger sanctuaries in India. Discover core safari zone permits, real-time sighting probability indexes, official booking portals, and seasonal tracking blueprints.

55+
Notified Reserves
3,682+
Wild Bengal Tigers
78,000+
Sq Km Core Habitat
6
Ecological Biomes
AI-Powered Field Index

Tiger Sighting Probability Predictor

Select your target month, preferred landscape terrain, and safari mode to calculate real-time tiger sighting probability scores and recommended core reserves across India.

94%
Sighting Index

Prime Summer Waterhole Sighting Window

May in Dry Deciduous terrain (Tadoba / Bandhavgarh / Ranthambore) represents peak tiger activity. Tigers spend up to 6 hours submerged in shaded saucers and lakes. Book Tala (Bandhavgarh) or Moharli (Tadoba) morning slots immediately.

Complete Sanctuaries Index

Explore All 55+ Project Tiger Reserves

Filter by ecological biome to explore core gate details, booking permit windows, tiger density ratings, and direct links to comprehensive field guides.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Central Biome Official TR
Madhya Pradesh

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 716 km²
State Location Madhya Pradesh

Famous for Tala, Magdhi, and Khitauli core zones, 2,000-year-old fort, and high tiger density.

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Kanha Tiger Reserve Central Biome Official TR
Madhya Pradesh

Kanha Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 940 km²
State Location Madhya Pradesh

Iconic sal forests and open meadows, inspiration for Kipling's Jungle Book, home of hard-ground Barasingha.

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Panna Tiger Reserve Central Biome Official TR
Madhya Pradesh

Panna Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 576 km²
State Location Madhya Pradesh

Ken River gorge landscape, famous tiger reintroduction success story, and vulture nesting cliffs.

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Satpura Tiger Reserve Central Biome Official TR
Madhya Pradesh

Satpura Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 1,339 km²
State Location Madhya Pradesh

Rugged sandstone terrain offering canoe safaris, walking treks, and Denwa backwaters.

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Veerangana Durgavati TR Central Biome Official TR
Madhya Pradesh

Veerangana Durgavati TR

Core Protected Area 1,414 km²
State Location Madhya Pradesh

MP's 7th tiger reserve combining Nauradehi and Durgavati sanctuaries in Sagar-Damoh.

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Melghat Tiger Reserve Central Biome Official TR
Maharashtra

Melghat Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 1,500 km²
State Location Maharashtra

Satpura hill range reserve in Amravati district drained by the Tapti River catchment.

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Bor Tiger Reserve Central Biome Official TR
Maharashtra

Bor Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 138 km²
State Location Maharashtra

India's smallest tiger reserve serving as a vital buffer for Pench and Tadoba.

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Indravati Tiger Reserve Central Biome Official TR
Chhattisgarh

Indravati Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 1,258 km²
State Location Chhattisgarh

Bastar wilderness protecting the endangered Wild Water Buffalo along the Indravati River.

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Udanti-Sitanadi TR Central Biome Official TR
Chhattisgarh

Udanti-Sitanadi TR

Core Protected Area 853 km²
State Location Chhattisgarh

Gariaband sanctuary preserving diverse sal biomes and pure wild buffalo lineage.

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Guru Ghasidas TR Central Biome Official TR
Chhattisgarh

Guru Ghasidas TR

Core Protected Area 2,829 km²
State Location Chhattisgarh

Massive 2,829 sq km reserve in Koriya-Surajpur connecting Sanjay-Dubri in MP.

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Nagarjunsagar Srisailam TR Central Biome Official TR
Andhra Pradesh

Nagarjunsagar Srisailam TR

Core Protected Area 3,728 km²
State Location Andhra Pradesh

India's largest tiger reserve by total area, spanning the Nallamala hill range along Krishna River.

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Amrabad Tiger Reserve Central Biome Official TR
Telangana

Amrabad Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 2,166 km²
State Location Telangana

Sprawling Nallamala plateau reserve protecting Chenchu tribal heritage and wild tigers.

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Sariska Tiger Reserve Arid Biome Official TR
Rajasthan

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 881 km²
State Location Rajasthan

Aravalli hill valley reserve near Alwar featuring Kankwadi fort and re-established tiger population.

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Ramgarh Vishdhari TR Arid Biome Official TR
Rajasthan

Ramgarh Vishdhari TR

Core Protected Area 482 km²
State Location Rajasthan

Bundi sanctuary serving as a vital dispersal corridor between Ranthambore and Mukundra.

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Dholpur-Karauli TR Arid Biome Official TR
Rajasthan

Dholpur-Karauli TR

Core Protected Area 368 km²
State Location Rajasthan

Rajasthan's 5th TR protecting Chambal river ravines and Vindhyan forest tracts.

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Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve Terai Biome Official TR
Uttarakhand

Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 821 km²
State Location Uttarakhand

India's first national park established in 1936, world famous for Dhikala, Ramganga river, and high tiger density.

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Rajaji Tiger Reserve Terai Biome Official TR
Uttarakhand

Rajaji Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 820 km²
State Location Uttarakhand

Shivalik foothill forest spanning Haridwar-Dehradun, famous for Asian elephants and tigers.

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Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Terai Biome Official TR
Uttar Pradesh

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 1,093 km²
State Location Uttar Pradesh

Pristine Terai sal forest and marshy grasslands along the Nepal border in Lakhimpur Kheri.

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BRT Tiger Reserve Ghats Biome Official TR
Karnataka

BRT Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 359 km²
State Location Karnataka

Biligiri Ranganatha Temple hills connecting the Eastern and Western Ghats.

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Sathyamangalam TR Ghats Biome Official TR
Tamil Nadu

Sathyamangalam TR

Core Protected Area 1,411 km²
State Location Tamil Nadu

Erode district reserve linking Nilgiris with BR Hills, recipient of TX2 award.

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Buxa Tiger Reserve Mangrove Biome Official TR
West Bengal

Buxa Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 758 km²
State Location West Bengal

Dooars foothill reserve bordering Bhutan, famous for Buxa Fort and elephant migration.

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Nameri Tiger Reserve Northeast Biome Official TR
Assam

Nameri Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 200 km²
State Location Assam

Jia-Bhoroli river reserve at Eastern Himalayan foothills, famous for rafting and hornbills.

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Pakke Tiger Reserve Northeast Biome Official TR
Arunachal Pradesh

Pakke Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 862 km²
State Location Arunachal Pradesh

Pakhui hill sanctuary in Pakke-Kessang, famous for Nyishi tribe hornbill conservation.

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Kamlang Tiger Reserve Northeast Biome Official TR
Arunachal Pradesh

Kamlang Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 783 km²
State Location Arunachal Pradesh

Lohit district reserve surrounding Glow Lake and Mishmi hill forests.

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Dampa Tiger Reserve Northeast Biome Official TR
Mizoram

Dampa Tiger Reserve

Core Protected Area 500 km²
State Location Mizoram

Mamit district reserve along Bangladesh border with rich rainforest biodiversity.

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State-Wise Permit Rules

Official Safari Booking Permit Matrix

Safari permits in India are strictly regulated by state forest departments and sell out months in advance. Use our verified state booking protocol guide.

Madhya Pradesh
  • Primary Parks:Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench, Satpura, Panna
  • Booking Window:120 Days in Advance
  • Tatkal Quota:Opens at 5:00 PM previous day
  • ID Mandatory:Original Passport / Aadhaar
Access MP Online Portal →
Rajasthan
  • Primary Parks:Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra
  • Booking Window:90 to 365 Days in Advance
  • Vehicle Choices:6-Seater Gypsy & 20-Seater Canter
  • Zone Assignment:Randomized Computerized Allotment
Access Rajasthan FMDSS →
Maharashtra
  • Primary Parks:Tadoba, Pench MH, Melghat, Bor
  • Booking Window:60 to 120 Days in Advance
  • Night Safaris:Available in Selected Buffer Gates
  • Single Window:MyTadoba & MahaForest Portal
Access MyTadoba Portal →
Jungle Lore & Photography

Tiger Field Tracking & Ethical Safari Guidelines

Mastering the wilderness art of tiger tracking. How naturalists decode forest signals and preserve wildlife tranquility.

Decoding Jungle Alarm Calls

Prey species broadcast predator locations via distinct vocal calls. Learn to differentiate the high-pitched sharp whistle of Chital deer, the guttural honk of Sambhar deer indicating a tiger on the prowl, and the frantic screeching of Langur monkeys in tree canopies.

Pugmark & Scratch Identification

A male tiger’s pugmark fits within a square boundary box with rounded toe cushions, whereas a female tigress’s pad is oval and slender. Fresh territorial claw marks on Sal and Teak bark at heights of 7 to 9 feet signal active territory marking by dominant males.

Camera Gear for Low Jungle Canopy Light

Sal and bamboo canopies create intense contrast and low light. Use fast telephoto lenses (300mm f/2.8 or 400mm f/4), maintain shutter speeds above 1/1000s for moving cats, and enable Auto ISO with an upper threshold of ISO 6400.

Strict Silence & Distance Protocols

Never stand up in an open Gypsy or extend arms outside the vehicle frame. Standing disrupts the vehicle silhouette, causing tigers to retreat. Maintain a minimum distance of 20 meters from cubs and mother tigresses at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tiger Safari & Reserve Booking FAQ

Expert answers to essential questions regarding permit reservations, best sighting seasons, and forest department regulations.

How many tiger reserves are there in India in 2026?
India currently has 55 officially notified Project Tiger Reserves spanning over 78,000 square kilometers across 18 states. The reserves protect over 3,682 wild Royal Bengal Tigers, representing over 75% of the world's wild tiger population.
Which tiger reserve in India has the highest tiger density?
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand hold the highest tiger densities in India. Bandhavgarh boasts approximately 1 tiger per 4 square kilometers in its core Tala zone, making it a premier destination for tiger sightings.
How far in advance should I book tiger safari permits in India?
Safari permits sell out rapidly. Madhya Pradesh parks (Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench) open booking 120 days in advance. Rajasthan (Ranthambore) opens 90 to 120 days in advance. Uttarakhand (Corbett Dhikala) opens 90 days in advance. Core zone permits exhaust within minutes of release.
What is the best month for tiger sightings in India?
The peak summer months of April, May, and June offer the highest probability of tiger sightings. As water sources dry up in the forest interior, tigers frequently congregate near natural waterholes, rivers, and artificial saucers.
What is the difference between Core Zone and Buffer Zone in a tiger reserve?
The Core Zone is the critical inviolate forest habitat strictly reserved for wildlife conservation with zero human habitation. The Buffer Zone surrounds the core and serves as a transitional area where regulated eco-tourism, forestry, and local village land co-exist. Tigers move freely across both core and buffer zones.