List of 57 Tiger Reserves- UPSC Exam

1. Bandipur Tiger Reserve

• Location: Chamarajanagar district and partially in Mysuru district, Karnataka.
• Encompasses dry deciduous forests, home to large populations of Indian elephants and gaur.
• Forms a critical portion of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, connecting with Nagarhole, Mudumalai, and Wayanad.
• Among the first 9 reserves established under Project Tiger (1973).

2. Corbett Tiger Reserve (Including Amanagarh Buffer)

• Location: Primarily in Nainital, Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand; Amanagarh Buffer in Uttar Pradesh.
• Formerly known as Hailey National Park, established in 1936.
• Famous for the Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, and rich birdlife.
• Oldest national park in India and the first to come under Project Tiger in 1973.

3. Kanha Tiger Reserve

• Location: Mandla and Balaghat districts, Madhya Pradesh.
• Characterized by lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows, and ravines.
• Known for efforts to conserve the hardground barasingha (swamp deer).
• Inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book”.

4. Manas Tiger Reserve

• Location: In the Himalayan foothills of Assam, near the Bhutan border.
• A UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Biosphere Reserve, and an Elephant Reserve.
• Renowned for rare fauna like the pygmy hog, golden langur, and Assam roofed turtle.
• One of the few places where one can spot the critically endangered pygmy hog in the wild.

5. Melghat Tiger Reserve

• Location: Amravati district, in the Satpura Hill ranges of Maharashtra.
• Dominated by tropical dry deciduous forests and tribal (Korku) communities.
• Important catchment for the Tapti River system.
• Holds one of the largest tracts of contiguous tiger habitat in the Satpura range.

6. Palamau Tiger Reserve

• Location: Latehar and Palamu districts, Jharkhand.
• Nestled in the forested area of Betla National Park.
• Notable for its mixed deciduous forests and scenic waterfalls.
• Among the first in the world to use advanced camera traps for tiger census.

7. Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

• Location: Sawai Madhopur district, Rajasthan.
• Known for its historic Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Hill Forts of Rajasthan).
• Tigers here are famously sighted in broad daylight due to minimal fear of humans.
• Notable for “Machli,” the iconic tigress often called the most photographed tigress in the world.

8. Simlipal Tiger Reserve

• Location: Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.
• Derives its name from the abundance of red silk cotton trees called ‘Shemul’.
• Features stunning waterfalls like Barehipani and Joranda, and rich tribal culture.
• Hosts unique melanistic (black) tigers occasionally sighted here.

9. Sundarban Tiger Reserve

• Location: South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, in the Sundarbans Delta.
• Largest mangrove forest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Known for its saltwater-adapted Royal Bengal Tigers.
• Renowned for the world’s only mangrove-inhabiting tiger population.

10. Periyar Tiger Reserve

• Location: Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts, Kerala.
• Centered around the scenic Periyar Lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam.
• Noted for elephants, gaurs, and exotic bird species.
• A pioneering site for community-based ecotourism involving local tribal communities.

11. Sariska Tiger Reserve

• Location: Alwar district, Rajasthan.
• Contains scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and rocky hills.
• Underwent a successful tiger reintroduction program after local extinction in 2004.
• First reserve to successfully relocate tigers after local extinction.

12. Buxa Tiger Reserve

• Location: Alipurduar district, West Bengal, bordering Bhutan.
• Rich in biodiversity, including various species of orchids and medicinal plants.
• Critical corridor for elephant migration between India and Bhutan.
• Known for its moist, dense forests and significant reptile diversity, including the rare King Cobra.

13. Indravati Tiger Reserve

• Location: Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh.
• Named after the Indravati River that flows along its northern boundary.
• Home to endangered wild buffalo and other rare wildlife.
• One of the least explored reserves due to its rugged terrain and sparse human population.

14. Namdapha Tiger Reserve

• Location: Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Situated in the Eastern Himalayas; merges with the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
• Contains habitats ranging from tropical moist forests to Alpine meadows.
• One of the only parks in the world where four big cats (tiger, leopard, snow leopard, and clouded leopard) coexist.

15. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

• Location: Nallamala Hills, Andhra Pradesh (and part of Telangana).
• Largest Tiger Reserve by area in India if combined with Amrabad side.
• Includes the Krishna River running through dramatic gorges.
• Famous for its ancient temples and the Srisailam Dam within the core area.

16. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

• Location: Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts, Uttar Pradesh.
• Comprises Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Characterized by tall grasslands and Sal forests.
• Known for successful reintroduction of one-horned rhinoceros.

17. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR)

• Location: Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, Tamil Nadu.
• Part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, famous for tropical evergreen forests.
• High biodiversity with numerous endemic species of flora and fauna.
• Hosts one of the most pristine watersheds in the Western Ghats.

18. Valmiki Tiger Reserve

• Location: West Champaran district, Bihar, near the India-Nepal border.
• Lies in the Gangetic plains with Himalayan foothills to the north.
• Rich in grasslands and wetlands, supporting diverse birdlife.
• Bihar’s only tiger reserve.

19. Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh)

• Location: Seoni and Chhindwara districts, Madhya Pradesh.
• Named after the Pench River flowing through it.
• The setting reportedly influenced “The Jungle Book” too, alongside Kanha.
• Known for high tiger density and frequent tiger sightings.

20. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

• Location: Chandrapur district, Maharashtra.
• Oldest and largest national park in Maharashtra, combining Tadoba National Park and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Famous for frequent tiger and wild dog sightings.
• Called “The Real Land of Tigers” due to consistent tiger spotting.

21. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

• Location: Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh.
• Renowned for the highest known density of Bengal tigers in the world.
• Historical fort and mythological references to the Ramayana.
• Has the highest tiger density of any Indian reserve.

22. Panna Tiger Reserve

• Location: Panna and Chhatarpur districts, Madhya Pradesh.
• Notable for its rocky terrain, gorges, and the Ken River.
• Reintroduction program brought tigers back after local extinction.
• Won the “Award of Excellence” in 2011 for its successful tiger conservation program.

23. Dampa Tiger Reserve

• Location: Mamit district, Mizoram.
• Characterized by steep hills, deep valleys, and dense tropical forests.
• Rich in birdlife with many Himalayan and Indo-Chinese species.
• Among India’s most remote and least explored tiger habitats.

24. Bhadra Tiger Reserve

• Location: Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts, Karnataka.
• Encompasses the Bhadra River and the surrounding Western Ghats.
• Notable for successful relocation of tribal settlements to reduce human impact.
• First tiger reserve in India to complete voluntary village relocation without conflict.

25. Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra)

• Location: Nagpur district, Maharashtra (adjoining Pench in Madhya Pradesh).
• Shares the Pench River ecosystem with Madhya Pradesh.
• Dry deciduous forest interspersed with bamboo and teak.
• Forms a critical corridor for tigers across state boundaries.

26. Pakke Tiger Reserve

• Location: Pakke Kessang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Also known as Pakhui Tiger Reserve.
• Known for hornbills; site of the Hornbill Nest Adoption Program.
• Recognized for successful community-based conservation of hornbill species.

27. Nameri Tiger Reserve

• Location: Sonitpur district, Assam.
• Mostly semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests near the Jia-Bhoroli River.
• Supports elephant, tiger, and the rare white-winged wood duck.
• Important birding site, especially for the endangered white-winged wood duck.

28. Satpura Tiger Reserve

• Location: Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram) district, Madhya Pradesh.
• Consists of Satpura National Park, Bori Sanctuary, and Pachmarhi Sanctuary.
• Rugged terrain allows activities like walking safaris.
• One of the few reserves that permits walking safaris in core areas.

29. Anamalai Tiger Reserve

• Location: Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, Tamil Nadu.
• Formerly Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.
• Part of the Western Ghats, rich in endemic flora and fauna.
• Notable for large elephant migrations between Anamalai and Parambikulam.

30. Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

• Location: Gariaband and Dhamtari districts, Chhattisgarh.
• Comprises Udanti and Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Important for the conservation of the endangered wild buffalo.
• Region known for the rare and genetically distinct population of wild buffalo.

31. Satkosia Tiger Reserve

• Location: Angul, Nayagarh, Boudh, and Cuttack districts, Odisha.
• Centered around the dramatic Satkosia Gorge over the Mahanadi River.
• Noted for rich aquatic fauna including gharial and freshwater turtles.
• Has one of the most picturesque river gorges in India.

32. Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

• Location: Golaghat and Nagaon districts, Assam.
• More famous for the highest density of one-horned rhinoceros globally.
• A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Holds the highest density of tigers among protected areas in the world (though overshadowed by rhino fame).

33. Achanakmar Tiger Reserve

• Location: Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh.
• Part of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, source of the Narmada River.
• Mixed forests with sal, bamboo, and medicinal plants.
• Critical corridor linking Kanha Tiger Reserve in MP and other reserves in Chhattisgarh.

34. Kali Tiger Reserve

• Location: Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka.
• Formerly known as Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve.
• Known for its biodiversity including black panthers and elephants.
• Encompasses the Kali River, famed for white-water rafting.

35. Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve

• Location: Sidhi and Singrauli districts, Madhya Pradesh.
• Comprises Sanjay National Park and Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Features diverse fauna including tigers, leopards, and sloth bears.
• Notable for less-crowded safaris and a quieter wilderness experience.

36. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

• Location: Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu.
• Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, flanked by Bandipur and Wayanad.
• Varied habitat includes tropical moist forest to shrubland.
• Functions as a crucial corridor for wildlife between the Western and Eastern Ghats.

37. Nagarhole Tiger Reserve

• Location: Mysuru and Kodagu districts, Karnataka.
• Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
• Dense forest of teak and rosewood, supporting healthy tiger and elephant populations.
• Renowned for one of the highest herbivore densities in Asia.

38. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

• Location: Palakkad district, Kerala.
• Known for Parambikulam Dam and scenic reservoirs.
• Rich tribal culture; multiple ecotourism activities managed by local communities.
• Hosts the world’s oldest and tallest Teak tree, named ‘Kannimara’.

39. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve

• Location: Satara and Kolhapur districts, Maharashtra.
• Encompasses parts of Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Part of the Northern Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot.
• Serves as an important watershed for the Krishna River.

40. Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve

• Location: Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.
• Named after the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple on a white rocky hill.
• Transition zone between the Eastern and Western Ghats, high biodiversity.
• Known for a distinct population of the Soliga tribal community coexisting with wildlife.

41. Kawal Tiger Reserve

• Location: Mancherial and Adilabad districts, Telangana.
• Dry deciduous teak forests with interspersed bamboo.
• Important corridor connecting Maharashtra’s forests with southern India.
• Home to endangered species like the Indian wolf and pangolin.

42. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

• Location: Erode district, Tamil Nadu, adjoining the Western Ghats.
• Combines the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats, forming a crucial wildlife corridor.
• Habitat for elephants, tigers, and leopards.
• One of the largest contiguous tiger habitats in the Nilgiri Biosphere.

43. Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve

• Location: Kota, Bundi, Chittorgarh, and Jhalawar districts, Rajasthan.
• Also known as Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary historically.
• Rugged hills and dense forests along the Chambal River basin.
• Serves as a corridor linking Ranthambore and other wildlife habitats in Rajasthan.

44. Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

• Location: Gondia and Bhandara districts, Maharashtra.
• Incorporates Nawegaon National Park and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Noted for undulating hilly terrain and water bodies sustaining rich biodiversity.
• Important corridor linking larger tiger landscapes in central India.

45. Amrabad Tiger Reserve

• Location: Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts, Telangana.
• Once part of Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve before Telangana state formation.
• Characterized by dense forests, deep valleys, and the Krishna River.
• Houses ancient cave temples and a strong Chenchu tribal presence.

46. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

• Location: Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, and Lakhimpur Kheri districts, Uttar Pradesh.
• Consists of extensive wetlands, grasslands, and Sal forests.
• Forms part of the transnational Terai Arc Landscape connecting India and Nepal.
• Awarded for doubling its tiger population in a span of just four years (2014–2018).

47. Bor Tiger Reserve

• Location: Wardha district, Maharashtra.
• Initially a small sanctuary, later upgraded to a tiger reserve.
• Comprises mixed forests of teak and bamboo with hilly terrain.
• Uniquely close to major urban centers like Nagpur, facilitating urban eco-tours.

48. Rajaji Tiger Reserve

• Location: Dehradun, Haridwar, and Pauri Garhwal districts, Uttarakhand.
• Formed by merging Rajaji, Motichur, and Chilla Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Important corridor for elephants migrating between Corbett and other areas.
• Known for the seasonal congregation of elephants along the Ganga.

49. Orang Tiger Reserve

• Location: Darrang and Sonitpur districts, Assam.
• Also called the “Mini Kaziranga” due to similar habitat and rhino population.
• Rich in wetlands and grasslands along the Brahmaputra River.
• Notable for a healthy population of the one-horned rhinoceros and Bengal tigers.

50. Kamlang Tiger Reserve

• Location: Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Named after the Kamlang River, includes tropical evergreen forests.
• Adjacent to the Namdapha region, enhancing tiger habitat connectivity.
• Harbors four major cat species — tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, and snow leopard — in different elevations.

51. Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve

• Location: Virudhunagar and Theni districts, Tamil Nadu.
• Combined areas of Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary and Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Encompasses high-altitude Western Ghats forests, crucial elephant corridors.
• Newly notified (2021), safeguarding the endangered Grizzled Giant Squirrel.

52. Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve

• Location: Bundi district, Rajasthan.
• Features a semi-arid terrain with tropical dry deciduous forests.
• Lies between Ranthambore and Mukundara Hills, creating a key corridor.
• Known for ancient temples and historical sites within its buffer areas.

53. Ranipur Tiger Reserve

• Location: Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh.
• Recently notified in 2022, includes Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Dry deciduous forests with potential for habitat expansion.
• Unique for ancient temples and cultural heritage scattered within the landscape.

54. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

• Location: Narsinghpur, Damoh, and Sagar districts, Madhya Pradesh.
• Notified in 2023, part of the central Indian tiger landscape.
• Features a mix of hills, plateaus, and riverine tracts.
• Aims to strengthen wildlife corridors linking Panna and Satpura regions.

55. Dholpur – Karauli Tiger Reserve

• Location: Dholpur and Karauli districts, Rajasthan.
• Notified in 2023, mostly semi-arid terrain with riverine patches along the Chambal.
• Potential corridor extension from Ranthambore complex.
• Important for gharial and riverine ecosystem conservation along the Chambal River.

56. Guru Ghasidas – Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve

• Location: Surajpur, Korea, and Balrampur districts, Chhattisgarh.
• Notified in 2024, merging Guru Ghasidas National Park & Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Forms a link between Bandhavgarh (MP) and Palamau (Jharkhand) via forest corridors.
• Crucial stepping stone for tigers moving between central and eastern Indian forests.

57. Ratapani Tiger Reserve

• Location: Raisen and Sehore districts, Madhya Pradesh.
• Notified in 2024, includes Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Dense teak forests and the Ratapani Dam within its expanse.
• Historic rock shelters and cave paintings found in the buffer zone (part of the Bhimbetka complex).