Call of the Wild - Tadoba National Park

Tadoba National Park

State : Maharashtra Area : 625 sq. km Altitude: 200 - 350 m Vegetation : Tropical Dry Deciduou

In recent years Tadoba-Anadhari has emerged as one of the best tiger reserves in the country boasting a healthy population of tigers. The park derives its name from "Taru" the local deity of the Gond tribe community and the Andhari River that flows through the forest.

Called the “Jewel of Vidharva” and rightly so, the beautiful park, located in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra is home to a wide variety of animals like tigers, leopards, sloth bears, hyaenas, jackals, wild dogs, blue bulls and sambar.

The lush, southern tropical, dry deciduous forest features a beautiful lake at the centre and comprises mainly of teak trees, bamboo thickets and the ubiquitous “Mahua”, with its distinctive intoxicating smell that wafts through the forest when the golden grapelike fruit ripens in summer attracting the sloth bears. Mahua is also fermented for a potent brew, a favourite of the locals.

Palas or Flame of the Forest decorates the forest in vibrant colour. The vast Tadoba lake in the middle of the sanctuary is a beautiful sight. Deer and sambhar throng the banks, unmindful of the huge crocodiles waiting for an opportunity. This lake is a perennial water source that the area depends upon, especially during the dry summer months.

There are several watch towers in the reserve at the Panchadhara waterhole, Vasant Bhandara waterhole, two near Tadoba lake and one at Jamunbadi that offer rewarding animal sightings especially during the summer months. The reserve is dotted with several other lakes, and has large meadows and the occasional shrub land punctuating the thick tracts forests.

Taboda is bursting with wildlife. The tiger, leopard and jungle cat are at the top of the food chain. The jackal, hyena, Indian wild dog, civet, sloth bear may also be encountered. The reserve is also renowned for its herds of gaur. Large herds of chital and Sambar  Muntjac (barking deer), Chevrotain (mouse deer), common langur, flying squirrel and wild pig also abound.

Main Attraction : Tigers, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Wild Dogs, Gaur

Fauna : The tiger, leopard and jungle cat are at the top of the food chain. The jackal, hyena, Indian wild dog, civet, sloth bear may also be encountered. The reserve is also renowned for its herds of gaur. Large herds of chital and Sambar  Muntjac (barking deer), Chevrotain (mouse deer), common langur, flying squirrel and wild pig also abound.

Avifauna : Tadoba has a rich bird life with over 280 verities includes 50 species of migratory birds and 158 species of resident birds. The lake in the park invite a fair amount of water birds as well - Cormorants, herons, ibis, storks, varieties of ducks, bar-headed goose, buzzards, eagles, quails, purple swamp-hens, bronze winged jacana, Lapwings, common redshank, common and wood sandpipers and many more.