Tadoba Andhari National Park: – Spread across 626 square kilometers, Tadoba National Park is the largest as well as the oldest national park in the state of Maharashtra. The national park is located roughly 150 kms from Nagpur, in Chandrapur district. Tadoba, among 47 tiger reserves in India, is also commonly referred to as Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. The national park derives its name from the regional god Tadoba, while Andhari is the name of the river which flows in the area. The national park is also home to three water bodies, namely, Tadoba Lake, Tadoba River, and Kolsa Lake. These water bodies can be referred to as the lifeline of the vast park as they provide the necessary ingredients for the sustenance of the park’s flora as well as fauna. Visitors will come across a plethora of mammals, reptiles, and birds. In addition to tigers, the park is home to Indian leopards, striped hyena, jungle cats, barking deer, sambar, spotted deer, marsh crocodile, Indian Cobra, Indian Python, peacock, crested serpent eagle, and other animals. The most commonly spotted flora are teak, ain, tendu, hirda, mahua madhuca, karaya gum, arjun, and bamboo.
Tadoba National Park is mostly covered with dense woodlands with myriad trees. Bamboo and teak are most commonly found here. During a leisurely stroll, visitors will come across ain (crocodile bark), hald, salai, bija, dhauda, tendu, mahua madhuca (crepe myrtle), karaya gum, lannea coromandelica, baheda, and hirda. Popularly known as ‘The Land of Tigers’, Tadoba National Park is home to a vast number of Royal Bengal Tigers. The most widely found mammals include Indian Leopards, nilgai, dhole, striped hyena, sloth bears, gaur, Small Indian Civet, sambar, jungle cats, spotted deer, chital, chausingha, honey badger, and barking deer. The national park houses the rare Indian Python and a plethora of other reptiles, including Indian Monitor, Indian star tortoise, russell’s viper, Indian Cobra, and Terrapins. With over 195 species of birds, Tadoba is a delight for visitors fond of bird watching. The most popular commonly found species include orange-headed Thrush, stone curlew, crested honey buzzard, Indian Pitta, crested treeswift, paradise flycatcher, lesser golden backed woodpecker and bronze winged jacana. Grey headed fish eagle, changeable hawk-eagle and crested serpent eagle are the prominent raptors here.
History – Legend holds that Taru was a village chief who was killed in a mythological encounter with a tiger. Taru was deified and a shrine dedicated to Taru now exists beneath a large tree on the banks of Tadoba Lake. The temple is frequented by tribes, especially during a fair held annually in the Hindu month of Pausha (December–January). The Gond kings once ruled these forests in the vicinity of the Chimur hills. Hunting was banned in 1935. Two decades later, in 1955, 116.54 square kilometres (45.00 sq mi) of this forest area was declared a national park. Andhari Wildlife Sanctury was created in the adjacent forests in 1986. In 1995, the park and the sanctuary were merged to establish the present tiger reserve.
Geography – Tadoba Andhari Reserve is the largest national park in Maharashtra. The total area of the reserve is 625.4 square kilometres (241.5 sq mi). This includes Tadoba National Park, with an area of 116.55 square kilometers (45.00 sq mi) and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary with an area of 508.85 square kilometers (196.47 sq mi). The reserve also includes 32.51 square kilometers (12.55 sq mi) of protected forest and 14.93 square kilometers (5.76 sq mi) of uncategorised land. To the southwest is the 120 hectares (300 acres) Tadoba Lake which acts as a buffer between the park’s forest and the extensive farmland which extends up to Irai water reservoir. This lake is a perennial water source which offers a good habitat for crocodiles to thrive. Other wetland areas within the reserve include Kolsa Lake and the Andhari River. Tadoba Reserve covers the Chimur Hills, and the Andhari sanctuary covers the Moharli and Kolsa ranges. It is bounded on the northern and western sides by densely forested hills. Thick forests are relieved by smooth meadows and deep valleys as the terrain slopes from north to south. Cliffs, talus, and caves provide refuge for several animals. The two forested rectangles are formed of the Tadoba and Andhari ranges. The south part of the park is less hilly than the remainder.
Climate – Winters stretch from November to February; during this season, daytime temperatures are in the 25°-30°C range and the park is lush green. While summers are extremely hot in Tadoba, with the temperature rising to 47°C, it is the ideal time to sight mammals near lakes as vegetation is minimal. The monsoon season begins in June; the area receives heavy rainfall during this season (approx.1275 mm) and humidity hovers around 66%.

Dominant flora:
Bamboo, Ain, Bija, Dhaudab, Haldu, Salai, Semal, Shisham, Sisoo, Surya, Sirus, Bel, Chichwa, Dhawada, Kusum, Hirda, Karaya Gum, Tendu, Char, Mahua, Palas, Harra, Bahera, Kurlu, Ber etc.

Dominant fauna:
Mammals – Wolf, Jackal, Wild dogs, Fox, Hyenas, Spotted Deer, Wild Boars, Barking deer, Gaurs, Four horned Antelopes, Blue bulls, Indian Pangolins, Common Languor’s, Porcupines, Sambar, Spotted deer, Rhesus macaque, Leopard, Rusty spotted cat, Jungle cat, Leopard cat, Sloth bear etc.
Birds – Honey buzzard, Shy jungle fowl, Grey-headed fishing eagle, Paradise flycatcher, Peacock, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Painted Francolin, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Black Naped Blue Flycatcher, Plum Headed Parakeet, Gray Jungle Fowl, Bonelli’s Eagle, Crest Serpent Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Mottled Wood Owl, Warblers, Munias, Drongos, Pipits, Larks etc.
Reptiles – Indian python, Terrapins, Star tortoise, Cobra, Russell’s viper, Krait, Bronze tree snake, Rat snake, Leaf nosed snake, Indian Python, The fresh water crocodile, Monitor lizards etc.