Southern TadobaMoharli Zone
A major visitor cluster connecting two core gates with four buffer entry areas near Chandrapur.
Core
- Moharli
- Khutwanda
Buffer
- Agarzari
- Adegaon
- Dewada
- Junona
Tadoba National Park Guide: Zones, Gates, Tigers & Wildlife
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger ReserveFact-checked · 9 October 2026
Quick Answer
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, home to Maharashtra’s oldest national park (1955), lies in Chandrapur district, about 140 km from Nagpur. It covers 1,727.59 km² (625.82 km² core, 1,101.77 km² buffer) and holds 80+ tigers inside the reserve, around 200 across the wider landscape. Safaris run from four official zones — Moharli, Kolara, Navegaon, and Pangdi & Zari — with 6 core and 16 buffer gates. The core is closed every Tuesday and from 1 July to 30 September; March to June is the best season for tiger sightings.
- Total reserve
- 1,727.59 km²
- Core habitat
- 625.82 km²
- Buffer
- 1,101.77 km²
- Safari clusters
- 4 official zones
- Nearest city
- Chandrapur
Highlights
- Maharashtra’s oldest national park (1955), now part of a 1,727.59 km² tiger reserve.
- Teak and bamboo forest, Tadoba Lake and the Andhari River shape where wildlife moves.
- Four official safari clusters — Moharli, Kolara, Navegaon, and Pangdi & Zari — each with core and buffer gates.
- Home to tiger, leopard, dhole, sloth bear and gaur, plus 280 recorded bird species.
Not one park, but a living landscape
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve lies in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district, where teak woodland, bamboo, grassland, rocky ridges, seasonal streams and permanent water meet. It contains Tadoba National Park and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary within a much larger core-and-buffer conservation landscape.
The name “Tadoba” is associated with Taru, a local deity honoured at a shrine near Tadoba Lake. The Andhari River gives the sanctuary its second name. Together, these histories make the reserve both an ecological stronghold and a cultural landscape.
Read the forest by its layers
Teak dominates extensive tracts, with bamboo across a substantial part of the habitat. Ain, bija, dhaoda, haldu, salai, semal and tendu add structural diversity; mango, jamun and arjun favour moister ground.
Tadoba Lake, the Andhari River and a network of perennial and seasonal sources sustain wetland life and become especially influential in the dry months. Grasslands, forest edges, rocky slopes and drainage lines change vegetation, visibility and animal use across the reserve.
- Forest ranges are administrative divisions used for management.
- Tourism zones group visitor access; safari gates are physical entry points.
- An animal’s territory may cross any of these human boundaries.
Conservation in practice
Protection, habitat management, research, monitoring and coexistence around the buffer operate together. Field staff and patrols protect habitat; camera trapping and field evidence track populations; water, grasslands, fire and invasive plants need long-term management.
Community-led tourism and conservation incentives in the buffer connect local livelihoods with a healthy forest. Tourism is only one visible part of that system.
Conservation Timeline
- 1879The Tadoba forest was recorded as reserved forest under the forest law then in force.
- 1955Tadoba National Park was declared, protecting 116.55 km².
- 1986The adjoining Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was declared.
- 1995Tadoba-Andhari was notified as a tiger reserve on 23 February.
- 2007The critical tiger habitat was notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
- 2010The surrounding buffer was notified, expanding landscape-level conservation.
Safari Zones & Gates
Check official availability ↗The directory follows the current grouping on the official Tadoba tourism portal. Gate status and schedules can change — recheck before booking.
Southern Tadoba
Northern TadobaKolara Zone
A northern cluster centred on Kolara Core and a broad set of buffer entry areas.
Core
- Kolara
Buffer
- Kolara Chauradeo
- Madnapur
- Belara
- Alizanza
- Shirkada
- Palasgaon (noon)
North-eastern TadobaNavegaon Zone
A compact visitor cluster with Navegaon Core plus Navegaon Ramdegi and Nimdela buffer access.
Core
- Navegaon
Buffer
- Navegaon Ramdegi
- Nimdela
South-eastern TadobaPangdi & Zari Zone
A large south-eastern cluster spanning two core gates and five buffer entry areas.
Core
- Pangdi
- Zari
Buffer
- Pangdi Aswal Chuha
- Keslaghat
- Zari Peth
- Mamla
- Somnath
Which Tiger Rules Which Zone in Tadoba?
Territory holders by zone, past and present, from official records, dated news and 2024–25 field reports. Territories change every season; no live locations are given.
| Zone | Past holders | Now (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Moharli Zone | Waghdoh (T-33) (Until 2015); Madhuri (T-10) (c. 2014–2022); Sonam (T-24) (c. 2015–2022+); Maya (T-12) (c. 2014 – August 2023); Matkasur (T-49 in a 2024 official account) (c. 2019); Lara (T-19) (2022); Madhu / Chhoti Madhu (T-127) (2022–2026); Chhoti Tara (c. 2024–2025) | Field reports from 2024–25 say Chhoti Tara and her daughters Roma and Bijli now use Maya’s old Pandharpauni ground, while Telia remains contested. No official territory map is published. |
| Kolara Zone | Bajrang (Until c. 2020); Junabai (2018–2025); Xylo (c. 2022–2025); Veera and Bela (c. 2024) | Field reports from 2025 name the male Xylo (born 2019) across the Kolara, Madnapur, Belara and Palasgaon buffers, with the tigress Junabai raising cubs in the Madnapur–Kolara buffer. |
| Navegaon Zone | Mowgli (Until early 2021); Chhota Matka (T-126) (2021 – August 2025); T-158 (Brahma) (12 May 2025); Chhota Matka (T-126) (27 August 2025) | Open. Since Chhota Matka was removed in August 2025, field reports describe young transient males competing for the Navegaon and Nimdela area; no new dominant male is confirmed. |
| Pangdi & Zari Zone | Shivaji (c. 2015–2021) | Few dated records are public for this quieter side. Treat any named “ruler” here as unverified until the reserve publishes it. |
Wildlife of Tadoba
Official profiles record 280 bird species, 54 reptiles, 11 amphibians, 84 fishes and 667 flowering plants — a tiger reserve protects an entire living system.
Famous Tigers of Tadoba
All 10 profiles →Evidence-labelled histories built from official reserve publications — historical ranges only, never live locations.
Seasons in the Forest
Nov – Feb
Cool & layered
Comfortable safari temperatures, softer light and lingering green after the monsoon. Mornings feel cold in an open vehicle.
Mar – Jun
Hot & water-led
Heat intensifies, foliage thins and water becomes a strong influence on where animals move. Prepare for high daytime temperatures.
Jul – Oct
Rain-washed & renewed
The forest regenerates. Core and buffer access differ in the monsoon, so consult the live official schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tadoba National Park the same as Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve?
Not exactly. Tadoba National Park is one protected component of the larger Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, which also includes Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary plus a notified buffer landscape.
How are Tadoba safari areas organised?
The official booking portal groups tourism into four visitor-facing clusters: Navegaon, Moharli, Kolara, and Pangdi & Zari. Each cluster contains specified core and buffer gates or entry areas.
Are safari zones and forest ranges the same?
No. Tourism zones organise visitor access, while forest ranges are administrative units used to manage and protect the reserve. This guide keeps the two systems separate.
Which season is best for visiting Tadoba?
There is no single best season for every traveller. Late winter offers comfortable conditions, summer concentrates wildlife activity around water, and the monsoon transforms the landscape while access varies by zone. Always confirm current openings before travel.
Which tiger rules Tadoba now?
No single tiger rules the whole reserve. In 2025 field reports name the male Xylo across the Kolara buffers and the tigress Chhoti Tara around Pandharpauni, while Navegaon has been open since Chhota Matka (T-126) was removed in August 2025.
How far is Tadoba from Nagpur?
Kolara gate is about 110 km (2–2.5 hours) and Moharli gate about 140–150 km (3–3.5 hours) from Nagpur. Moharli is only 30–45 km from Chandrapur.
Does a Tadoba safari guarantee a tiger sighting?
No. Tadoba is a wild landscape, and sightings depend on animal movement, weather, route allocation and chance. A responsible safari values the entire forest ecosystem.
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Sources & References
Facts on wildlife and visitor access can change. These are the principal references for this page; always confirm current permits and rules with the responsible forest department.
Photo Credits
Photos without a credit below are by Wild Excursions. The rest come from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown.
- Bengal tigress with her cub at the edge of tall grass in Tadoba — Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Red-earth safari track running through a tunnel of bamboo in Tadoba — Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wide view of the largest lake in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve under a clear sky — Aashay25, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stone signboard for Tadoba National Park, declared on 9 April 1955 with an area of 116.55 km² — Chetangondane, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Male tiger Matkasur walking past a rocky waterhole in Tadoba — Sundarraj Kaushik, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Three painted storks standing on the shore of a Tadoba lake — Eeshan Sonak, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gaur cow and calf crossing a road in Tadoba — Aashay25, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sambar deer wading in the Pandharpauni waterhole in Tadoba — BASUDEO69, CC BY-SA 4.0
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