I still remember the sound. A sharp alarm from a spotted deer. Then silence. Our jeep halted as the guide raised one hand and gestured towards the tall grass. A few seconds later and a tigress walked out. Slow, calm, confident as if it owned the forest. It was my first tiger at Tipeshwar.

That night I sat by the fire while a friend asked me how many tiger reserves in India there are. I gave a wrong number. When I got back I did some research to get it right.

This guide will answer how many tiger reserves in India there are. I will also share what I learnt on my trip. You will get the complete number, state-wise list, some interesting facts, and my Tipeshwar safari tip. If you love the jungle, then keep on reading.

How many tiger reserves in india today

Let me address the big question first. How many tiger reserves in India are there? The answer today is 58 tiger reserves. They are located in 18 states.

New Madhav tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh came online in March 2025 to become number 58. It followed a recent addition of two other reserves namely the Ratapani in Madhya Pradesh and Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla in Chhattisgarh.

The 58 reserves together cover about 84,000 square km in India. That is barely 2.3% of our land. Surprising as it sounds, this tiny strip of wilderness hosts about 3 out of every 4 wild tigers on the planet.

The last tiger census in 2022 found 3,682 tigers. The next round of census is underway and the results are yet to come out. However, most experts expect the number to have crossed 4,000.

Why tiger reserve numbers keep changing

In your search for how many tiger reserves in India there are, you might have stumbled on old articles stating 50, 53, or even 55 tiger reserves. The reason is simple. As of October 2026, there are 58 tiger reserves. New ones are added periodically which means the number keeps changing. In case you are wondering, I cross-verified the number on a couple of resources before publishing this post.

My piece of advice is to always look out for the date on whichever site you are exploring. If the post is from 2021, rest assured that the figure of 58 is as of October 2026.

A brief history of Project Tiger

To understand how many tiger reserves in India there are, we have to go back to 1973 when tiger conservation took centrestage. Due to rampant poaching and loss of habitat, the tiger population was on the brink of extinction. The government responded by rolling out Project Tiger with 9 tiger reserves.

Jim Corbett in Uttarakhand is the first tiger reserve in India. It was initially known as Hailey National Park. Kanha in Madhya Pradesh and Bandipur in Karnataka were also part of the original 9.

So how many tiger reserves in India are there today? The question is not just historical but also a celebration of 5 decades of tireless work by forest rangers, locals, and researchers.

An overview of tiger reserves in India by state

Now that you know how many tiger reserves in India there are, the next logical question is about their distribution. The following is a snapshot of the states that have tiger reserves. I have identified the popular reserves in each to help you personalise your holiday.

State Well-known tiger reserves Madhya Pradesh Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, Sanjay-Dubri, Veerangana Durgavati, Ratapani, Madhav Maharashtra Tadoba-Andhari, Pench, Melghat, Sahyadri, Nawegaon-Nagzira, Bor Karnataka Bandipur, Nagarahole, Bhadra, Dandeli-Anshi, BRT Rajasthan Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills, Ramgarh Vishdhari, Dholpur-Karauli Tamil Nadu Mudumalai, Anamalai, Sathyamangalam, Kalakad-Mundanthurai, Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Uttarakhand Corbett, Rajaji Uttar Pradesh Dudhwa, Pilibhit, Amangarh, Ranipur Assam Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang Chhattisgarh Achanakmar, Indravati, Udanti-Sitanadi, Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam, Amrabad, Kawal Kerala Periyar, Parambikulam West Bengal Sundarbans, Buxa Odisha Similipal, Satkosia Arunachal Pradesh Namdapha, Pakke, Kamlang Bihar, Jharkhand, Mizoram Valmiki, Palamau, Dampa

Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tiger reserves in India at 9. This is the reason why it is often called the Tiger State. Maharashtra and Karnataka follow closely.

With this overview, you now know how many tiger reserves in India there are and their distribution. In the following section, I will expound on some of the interesting facts around tiger reserves.

Fun facts about tiger reserves

How many tiger reserves in India are there? Well, as per the latest data, there are 58. The next logical question is about the largest and the smallest tiger reserves.

Largest and smallest tiger reserves

As mentioned, the largest tiger reserve in India is Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam that covers about 3300 square km. It spans two states namely Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The topography varies from hills and valleys to dry forests. Notably, the recently opened Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla reserve in Chhattisgarh is also among the larger reserves in the country.

The smallest tiger reserve in India is Bor in Maharashtra with a core area of about 138 square km. Some sources put Orang in Assam as the smallest when the entire area is considered.

First tiger reserve

Jim Corbett in Uttarakhand was the first tiger reserve in India and continues to attract record numbers of visitors.

A list of tiger reserves in Maharashtra

Coming back to the state of Maharashtra, I was excited to see that it has 6 tiger reserves. The following is a snapshot of each one:

Melghat in Amravati district is Maharashtra’s first tiger reserve which was opened in 1973-74.

Tadoba-Andhari in Chandrapur is arguably the most famous tiger reserve in Maharashtra.

Pench near Nagpur borders Madhya Pradesh.

Sahyadri in Maharashtra’s Western Ghats.

Nawegaon-Nagzira in Gondia and Bhandara districts.

Bor in Wardha district is the smallest tiger reserve in India.

So, how many tiger reserves in Maharashtra are there? According to the Maharashtra forest department, there are 6 tiger reserves as of now. Many visitors to Tipeshwar are surprised that it is not in the list of tiger reserves in Maharashtra. Let me clarify.

Tipeshwar's status

Tipeshwar is a wildlife sanctuary and not a tiger reserve. This means that when asked how many tiger reserves in India there are, Tipeshwar is not among them. The wildlife sanctuary is in Yavatmal district bordering the town of Pandharkawada. However, the forest is contiguous with the larger tiger reserves and has about 20 tigers including cubs. Consequently, young tigers often stray into the sanctuary from the larger tiger reserves.

Whenever I share the tiger reserves in Maharashtra list with friends, I always add Tipeshwar as a value addition. The sightings are often fantastic in this small forest. Also, the foliage is not that dense to impede the line of sight.

My experience at Tipeshwar

I went on 3 safaris on 2 different days. On the first evening, we saw nothing more exciting than peacocks, langurs, and spotted deer. The driver would always joke that tiger comes when tiger wants.

But the next morning, the forecast came true as we saw the tigress drink from a waterhole. She was elegant as she lay down to sleep in the shade. We watched her for almost 20 minutes without a single soul in our jeep saying a word. That morning, I decided to see more of the big cats and set out to count how many tiger reserves in India there are that I can visit in my lifetime.

Apart from the big cats, you can also spot leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, nilgai, and hyenas. I must also mention the avian diversity including kingfishers, eagles, and several other small brightly-plumed birds.

Safari timing and gate info

Here is the critical information that you need to know before going on a jungle safari.

Gates

There are 3 gates at Tipeshwar:

Sunna Gate is about 7 km from Pandharkawada on the main highway NH 44. It is the busiest gate.

Mathani Gate is about 23 km from Pandharkawada. It is a good option if you do not mind a slightly longer drive.

Kodori Gate is the farthest and has the fewest visitors.

Only 24 jeeps are allowed inside the sanctuary per day with 12 jeeps allowed from Sunna and 12 from Mathani gates. Of the 24, 12 will start in the morning and 12 in the afternoon. The gates fill up fast on weekends and public holidays.

Timing

The timings change depending on the season:

October to November 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM December to February 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM March to April 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM May to June 5:30 AM to 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

The park closes for the monsoon from 1st July to 30th September. It also closes for a day on a weekly basis. You should confirm the closed day from your resort or the forest authorities.

When to visit

The best time to visit Tipeshwar is from October to February for a cooler experience. However, April and May are the best months to see the tigers as they come out to drink from waterholes. I was there in March and enjoyed it too.

How to reach

Getting to Tipeshwar is straightforward with excellent road connectivity:

From Nagpur: It is a 3 to 4-hour drive on NH 44.

From Hyderabad: It takes about 5 hours by road.

The nearest town to Tipeshwar is Pandharkawada. There are buses that ply to the town and you can also hire a cab.

Where to stay near Sunna Gate

There are several good options to choose from but I stayed at Avani Tiger Resort which is close to the Sunna Gate. Being close to the gate meant that I arrived at the gate faster than other groups who had driven from a distance.

The place was neat, tidy, and the private swimming pool was the best part of the afternoons. I would jump into the pool after a tiring and dusty safari to soak up in the coolness of the pool. The evening meal was served outdoors as we enjoyed the landscape under the cloudy sky.

The open-air dinner was pleasant where we shared stories of the day’s safari. Someone asked how many tiger reserves in India there are and I was ready with the correct answer.

They also helped with the safari bookings. I did not have stress with the slots or permits as they advised which gate to book and the timing that would be ideal for a first-time visitor. If you are thinking of your first safari in Tipeshwar, such assistance is invaluable.

Some quick tips before your safari

Based on my experience, here are a few helpful tips:

Do the booking well in advance.

Avoid bright clothing and stick to earth tones.

Also, bring a sweater or jacket for the evenings and mornings.

Keep quiet inside the jeep as we do not want to disturb the wildlife.

Do consider doing more than one safari. I did 3 safaris on 2 days and it was worth every bit.

Bring a good camera with a good zoom if you can.

Do your research on tiger reserves in India to help set your expectations.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How many tiger reserves in india 2026?

As mentioned, there are 58 tiger reserves in India as of October 2026. Madhav Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh is the latest addition to join the list of tiger reserves. Madhya Pradesh leads the list of states with the most tiger reserves in India at 9.

Is Tipeshwar a tiger reserve?

No, Tipeshwar is a wildlife sanctuary. Although it is not a tiger reserve, it has about 20 tigers and is a fantastic place to see the big cats in Maharashtra.

Which is the best gate for a Tipeshwar safari?

Sunna Gate is the busiest but also the easiest to reach given its proximity to the main highway. If you do not mind a longer drive, Mathani Gate has fewer visitors.

How do I book a Tipeshwar jungle safari?

You can book a jungle safari through the Maharashtra forest safari website. Alternatively, you can utilise the services of Avani Tiger Resort as they have experience in helping first-time visitors with safari bookings.

Plan your getaway to Tipeshwar

Now that you know how many tiger reserves in India there are, you can start planning your holiday. Armed with the knowledge of the number of tiger reserves in India and which ones are worth your time and money, I hope you will consider visiting Tipeshwar.

If you like the idea of a luxury getaway near the Sunna Gate with private swimming pool, then book a cottage at Avani Tiger Resort. Call us at 96768 71777 or 98850 12626 or you can book a stay here: https://avanitigerresorts.com/contact-us/

The tigers await your visit at Tipeshwar.

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How many tiger reserves in india complete list & Tipeshwar safari guide