Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) near Chandrapur in Maharashtra is one of the best places in India to see a tiger in the wild. It was also home to Waghdoh, one of Asia's biggest tigers, and to the other famous tigers of Tadoba. A safari here needs some planning: permits sell out early, gates are far apart, and the reserve has strict rules about phones.
This guide covers everything you need to plan a gypsy safari. The booking rules, timings and fees below were checked against the official TATR website on 12 October 2026. Rules and fees can change, so confirm on the official site before you travel.
Quick facts
- Official booking website: mytadoba.mahaforest.gov.in
- 6 core gates and 16 buffer gates, grouped into 4 zones
- Core zone closed every Tuesday. Buffer zone closed every Wednesday.
- Core zone closed during the monsoon (1 July to 30 September). Buffer gates stay open.
- Booking opens 120 days in advance. Tatkal opens 3 days before at 8:00 AM.
- Mobile phones are not allowed during the safari (₹5,000 fine).
Core zone vs buffer zone
The reserve has two kinds of safari areas.
- Core zone: the protected heart of the reserve, with the highest density of tigers. Core permits are in the highest demand, and the core closes on Tuesdays and for the whole monsoon.
- Buffer zone: the forest belt around the core, shared with villages and farmland. Wildlife moves freely between core and buffer, and buffer safaris regularly produce excellent sightings. Waghdoh spent his last years in the Junona buffer area. Buffer gates are usually easier to book, close on Wednesdays, and stay open during the monsoon.
If core permits are sold out for your dates, do not cancel your trip. Book a buffer safari instead.
All safari zones and gates
The official website groups the gates into four zones. When booking, you choose a specific gate, and you must enter and exit through that gate.
Moharli zone
Core: Moharli, Khutwanda
Buffer: Agarzari, Dewada-Adegaon, Junona
Kolara zone
Core: Kolara
Buffer: Kolara Chauradeo, Madnapur, Belara, Alizanza, Shirkada, Palasgaon (noon safari only)
Navegaon zone
Core: Navegaon
Buffer: Navegaon Ramdegi, Nimdela
Pangdi & Zari zone
Core: Pangdi, Zari
Buffer: Pangdi Aswal Chuha, Keslaghat, Zari Peth, Mamla, Somnath
Moharli is the most popular core gate and usually sells out first. Kolara, on the northern side, is the closest core gate to Nagpur.
Distance from Nagpur and Chandrapur
Your choice of gate decides how far you drive. Morning safaris start as early as 5:30 to 6:30 AM, so book your stay on the same side as your gate. Otherwise you face a long drive in the dark before sunrise. See our gate-by-gate guide on where to stay near Tadoba.
From Chandrapur
Chandrapur is the nearest city and railway station for the Moharli, Khutwanda and Zari gates.
- Moharli: about 35 km, under an hour by road
- Khutwanda: about 43 km
- Zari: about 50 km
- Kolara: about 110 km, on the far (northern) side of the reserve
From Nagpur
Nagpur has the nearest airport. Depending on the gate, the reserve is roughly 110 to 170 km away.
- Kolara: about 110 to 120 km (2 to 2.5 hours), the closest core gate to Nagpur
- Moharli and Khutwanda: about 135 to 150 km (3 to 3.5 hours)
These are approximate road distances. For the exact location of each gate, use the Google Maps links on the official website. Have a free day? See our guide to places to visit in Chandrapur beyond Tadoba.
How to book a Tadoba safari
Beware of fake booking websites. The only government-authorised gypsy safari booking site is mytadoba.mahaforest.gov.in. The reserve also warns visitors not to pay agents extra: booking yourself on the official site gets you the actual rates.
- Register on the official website. Open mytadoba.mahaforest.gov.in and click Book My Safari. Registration is mandatory and uses your mobile number with a one-time password (OTP).
- Choose the date, gate and slot. Pick core or buffer, the exact gate, and morning or evening. Full-day safaris are also available.
- Enter every visitor's ID details exactly. The ID type and number you enter must match the original ID card each person will carry. Bookings with incomplete or incorrect ID details are treated as invalid.
- Pay online. The amount covers the entry fee, the gypsy (vehicle) and the guide. You book the whole gypsy.
- Download your ticket. Use the Download Ticket link on the official website. Keep a printed copy as well, because your phone will be locked away during the safari (see below).
Use a single browser tab while booking. The official site warns that booking in several tabs at once can make the order fail.
When booking opens
- Regular booking opens at 12:00 midnight IST, 120 days before the safari date, for both core and buffer gates.
- Tatkal booking opens at 8:00 AM IST, three days before the safari date. For example, Tatkal for 1 October opens at 8:00 AM on 28 September. Tatkal slots are limited and fill up very quickly.
ID proof: carry the original
Every visitor must carry the original of the ID entered in the booking. Photocopies are not accepted, and entry is refused without the original. Forest staff can also ask to see it during the safari. Accepted IDs for Indian citizens include:
- Aadhaar card
- Voter ID card
- Passport
- PAN card
- Driving licence
- Government-issued photo ID with a serial number
- Student ID card with photo from a recognised school or college
- Photo ID card of a Public Sector Unit
Foreign nationals must carry their passport. Bookings cannot be transferred, and you cannot add or change names after the booking is confirmed. Children below 8 years enter free without being named in the booking, with a maximum of 2 such children per gypsy.
Safari timings
Timings change with the season. Arrive at the gate well before entry time: late entry is not allowed, and exit times are strictly enforced. Not sure which season to choose? Read our guide to the best time to visit Tadoba.
Core gates
| Season | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct to 31 Oct | 6:00 to 10:00 AM | 2:30 to 6:30 PM |
| 1 Nov to 28/29 Feb | 6:30 to 10:30 AM | 2:00 to 6:00 PM |
| 1 Mar to 30 Apr | 6:00 to 10:00 AM | 2:30 to 6:30 PM |
| 1 May to 30 Jun | 5:30 to 9:30 AM | 3:00 to 7:00 PM |
| 1 Jul to 30 Sep | Core closed for monsoon | |
Buffer gates
Buffer gates also run a short noon safari.
| Season | Morning | Noon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct to 31 Oct | 6:00 to 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | 2:30 to 6:30 PM |
| 1 Nov to 28/29 Feb | 6:30 to 10:30 AM | 10:35 AM to 1:45 PM | 2:00 to 6:00 PM |
| 1 Mar to 30 Apr | 6:00 to 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM to 1:35 PM | 2:30 to 6:30 PM |
| 1 May to 30 Jun | 5:30 to 9:30 AM | 10:30 AM to 1:35 PM | 3:00 to 7:00 PM |
| 1 Jul to 30 Sep | 6:00 to 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM | 2:30 to 6:30 PM |
Safari fees and refunds
Fees are per gypsy (the whole vehicle), not per person. They include the entry fee, the gypsy charge and the guide fee. These are the rates published on the official site in October 2026.
| Gypsy safari | Mon to Fri | Sat and Sun |
|---|---|---|
| Core, booked 1 to 59 days ahead | ₹5,800 | ₹6,800 |
| Core, booked 60 to 120 days ahead | ₹8,800 | ₹12,800 |
| Buffer, booked 1 to 120 days ahead | ₹6,000 | ₹7,000 |
Note that booking a core safari early costs more: a weekend core safari booked 60 to 120 days ahead costs almost double the price of one booked within 59 days.
Full-day safaris and full-day photography permits are also available at much higher rates. Check the official fee page for these.
Cancellations and refunds
- Bookings made 60 to 120 days in advance cannot be cancelled, and no refund is given.
- Tatkal bookings, full-day safaris and no-shows get no refund.
- Other bookings get a partial refund if cancelled early enough. The percentage depends on how many days before the safari you cancel, so check the official cancellation policy before booking.
If the reserve management closes the entire park after you have booked, the full booking amount is refunded, excluding online transaction charges.
Mobile phone rule: the locked box
The official rules are clear. The use of mobile phones or similar electronic gadgets inside the Tiger Reserve by tourists, guides and drivers is strictly prohibited, and the fine is ₹5,000. The rule exists because crowds of phones, calls and video recording around a tiger sighting disturb the animals and lead to vehicles jostling for a view.
In practice it works like this:
- Before the gypsy enters the forest, every phone in the vehicle (yours, the guide's and the driver's) goes into a storage box kept inside the gypsy.
- The box is locked before entry.
- It is unlocked only after the safari ends and the gypsy has left the forest.
How to prepare:
- Carry a printed copy of your safari ticket along with your original ID.
- Tell family or friends that you will be unreachable for the safari, which lasts about 3 to 4 hours.
- If you want photos, bring a dedicated camera, because your phone will stay in the box.
- Wear a wristwatch if you like to keep track of time.
Camera rules and wildlife etiquette
Dedicated cameras, whether DSLR, mirrorless or compact, are allowed during a normal safari, and so are binoculars. Serious photographers can also apply for a full-day photography permit in the core zone. Only 3 such gypsies are allowed per day, and the application goes to the Field Director along with a confirmed online booking.
Keep these in mind while photographing:
- Do not use flash or bright lights. They startle animals, and disturbing wildlife can get your vehicle expelled from the reserve.
- Stay inside the vehicle. Getting down is not allowed except at designated places.
- Keep your distance. Vehicles must stay at least 20 m from any wild animal, must not stay at one spot for more than 15 minutes, and must keep 50 m from other vehicles. The speed limit is 20 km/h.
- Stay quiet. Shouting, playing music and blowing horns are prohibited. Chasing, cornering, luring or feeding animals can get your vehicle expelled from the reserve.
Other things you cannot carry or do
- Plastic of any kind. The reserve is a litter-free zone, so carry a bag and take all your waste back out.
- Alcohol or non-vegetarian food, and you cannot enter under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Smoking or lighting any fire.
- Pets or firearms.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tadoba open on Tuesday?
The core zone is closed every Tuesday, but buffer gates are open. On Wednesdays it is the other way round: buffer gates are closed and the core is open.
Is Tadoba open during the monsoon?
The core zone is closed from 1 July to 30 September. Buffer gates remain open, with monsoon timings.
Can I book a safari at the gate?
Gypsy safaris are booked online on the official website. If you missed regular booking, try Tatkal three days before your date at 8:00 AM. Shared 9-seater cruiser safaris run from the Moharli and Kolara core gates, but these are reserved for residents of Chandrapur district.
Can I carry my phone if I keep it switched off?
No. All phones, whether on or off, go into the locked box in the gypsy before entry, and using one inside the reserve can cost you a ₹5,000 fine.
Can I choose my guide or gypsy?
No. Guides and gypsies are allotted at the gate by a rotation system.
Is a buffer safari worth it?
Yes. Tigers do not recognise zone boundaries, and many memorable sightings happen in the buffer. Buffer gates are also easier to book and stay open in the monsoon.
Information checked against the official Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve website on 12 October 2026. Rules, timings and fees are set by the reserve management and may change without notice. Always confirm on mytadoba.mahaforest.gov.in before you travel.