Inside Bandhavgarh’s forests: How tiger tourism is changing
Bandhavgarh: Bandhavgarh remains one of the top places in the world to spot a tiger, but the nature of tiger tourism in its forests is evolving rapidly, driven by immense sighting pressure, technology, and new conservation rules.
According to guides and operators in the reserve, the pressure to spot a tiger is pushing more tourists to frequent buffer zones, a trend not seen a few years ago. The reserve’s core zones – Tala, Magadhi and Khitauli – are still the most popular, but Panpatha and other buffer areas are now drawing crowds.
The shift marks a departure from older practices. Recalling Bandhavgarh a couple of decades ago, in the pre mobile-phone era, guides remember “tiger shows” as a popular concept. Elephants were employed to spot tigers and one elephant would be parked at that place. Tourists willing to pay a supplement would climb on the elephant to get a glimpse. With no pressure of a jeep sighting, the experience was more relaxed. Such shows were later banned by the government.
Today, technology has changed behaviour inside the park. The focus is often on capturing footage and photos, with cases of tourists trying to take selfies with tigers.
In an effort to promote responsible wildlife tourism and reduce stress for animals, most reserves including Bandhavgarh now do not allow cellphones inside, following a Supreme Court ruling in early 2026. Most reserves have lockers or boxes to deposit mobiles at the gate.
“In the past, the focus was on observing the beauty and grandeur of the tiger. Tourists used to spend time focusing on every little detail, including its stripes and injury marks. I hope we can bring back those times following this ban,” a veteran guide said.
Tourists enter the jungle through Tala Zone, which houses more than a dozen caves, some filled with bats. The 1,000-year-old fort at the heart of the forest gives Bandhavgarh its name – ‘fort for the brother’ – from the legend that Lord Rama built it for his brother Lakshman. It later became a hunting ground for kings. Maharaja Marthand Singh of Rewa is credited with establishing and conserving the National Park in the Sixties.
Despite conservation concerns, Bandhavgarh’s popularity is at an all-time high. The reserve recorded its highest-ever footfall in the 2025-26 season, with over 2.12 lakh visitors – including 1.80 lakh domestic and over 31,000 foreign tourists – generating around Rs 19.5 crore in revenue, up from Rs 16.33 crore the previous year.
Officials attribute the growth to improved visitor management and the reserve’s increasing global appeal, while emphasizing the need to balance conservation with tourism through sustainable practices.
