📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Appaloosa
Travel
Indravati Tiger Reserve to welcome tourists from Nov 1 after 40‑year closure
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 15 Sep 2026, 04:16 PM
👁 14
The Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh will reopen its gates to visitors on 1 November, ending a four‑decade ban on tourism.
The forest department announced that the Indravati Tiger Reserve, located in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, will resume tourist activities from 1 November. The decision comes after a 40‑year suspension that was imposed to protect the core tiger habitat and allow ecological recovery.
Authorities said that only designated buffer‑zone zones will be accessible to visitors, while the core sanctuary will remain off‑limits to ensure the safety of the resident tiger population. Facilities such as guided safari routes, eco‑lodges and information centres are being prepared to meet the expected influx of nature‑tourists.
The move is expected to boost local livelihoods, especially for communities that depend on tourism‑related employment, while the department will monitor wildlife disturbance closely. The forest officials have urged tourists to follow strict guidelines, including staying within marked trails and avoiding littering, to preserve the fragile ecosystem.
The reopening aligns with the government’s broader push to promote sustainable wildlife tourism across India, showcasing the country's rich biodiversity while generating revenue for conservation.
Authorities said that only designated buffer‑zone zones will be accessible to visitors, while the core sanctuary will remain off‑limits to ensure the safety of the resident tiger population. Facilities such as guided safari routes, eco‑lodges and information centres are being prepared to meet the expected influx of nature‑tourists.
The move is expected to boost local livelihoods, especially for communities that depend on tourism‑related employment, while the department will monitor wildlife disturbance closely. The forest officials have urged tourists to follow strict guidelines, including staying within marked trails and avoiding littering, to preserve the fragile ecosystem.
The reopening aligns with the government’s broader push to promote sustainable wildlife tourism across India, showcasing the country's rich biodiversity while generating revenue for conservation.