Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is in Chandrapur district, in the eastern part of Maharashtra. It is one of the oldest and most loved tiger reserves in India, and it is famous for good tiger sightings. There is no airport or big railway station right at the park, but getting here is not hard. The roads are good, trains and flights reach nearby cities every day, and most resorts will help you with pickup. Most people fly or take a train to Nagpur or Chandrapur, and then travel the last part by road. Depending on where you start from, the whole trip can take a few hours or a full day.
Before you book anything, there is one thing to decide first: which safari gate will you use? Tadoba is a big forest, spread over a large area, and its gates are far apart from each other. The drive from Nagpur can be 2.5 hours for one gate and 4 hours for another. A gate on the north side and a gate on the south side can feel like two different trips. Many travellers book a train or flight first, and only then find out that their resort is much farther from the station than they thought. This costs them time on the first day, and sometimes even a safari slot. So pick your gate and resort first, then plan your travel around it. Once you know the gate, choosing the right airport, railway station and road route becomes very easy.
Tadoba has 23 safari gates: 6 cores and 17 buffers. The distances below are approximate, and drive time can change with traffic and road work.
| Gate | Type | From Nagpur Airport | From Chandrapur Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moharli | Core | 149 km to 166 km (~3.5 hrs) | 30 km to 36 km (~1 hr) |
| Khutwanda | Core | 138 km to 178 km (~3.5 hrs) | 40 km to 55 km (~1 hr) |
| Junona | Buffer | 149 km to 155 km (~3.5 hrs) | 29 km to 35 km (~1 hr) |
| Agarzari | Buffer | 140 km to 164 km (~3.5 hrs) | 23 km to 24 km (~40min) |
| Adegaon | Buffer | 150 km to 151 km (~3.5 hrs) | 22 km to 30 km (~40min) |
| Dewada | Buffer | ~150 km (~3.5 hrs) | 23 km to 24 km (~40min) |
| Gate | Type | From Nagpur Airport | From Chandrapur Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navegaon | Core | 115 km to 140 km (~3 hrs) | ~91 km (~2 hrs) |
| Nimdela | Buffer | 119 km to 132 km (~2.5 hrs) | ~79 km (~1.5 hrs) |
| Navegaon Ramdegi | Buffer | 105 km to 112 km (~2.5 hrs) | ~90 (~2 hrs) |
| Gate | Type | From Nagpur Airport | From Chandrapur Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolara | Core | 105 km to 118 km (~2.5 hrs) | 90 km to 111 km (~2.5 hrs) |
| Kolara Chauradeo | Buffer | 100 km to 110 km (~2.5 hrs) | 110 km to 115 km (~2.5 hrs) |
| Madnapur | Buffer | 114 km to 39 km (~2.5 hrs) | 105 km to 117 km (~2.5 hrs) |
| Belara | Buffer | 100 km to 120 km (~2.5 hrs) | 105 km to 112 km (~2.5 hrs) |
| Alizanza | Buffer | 109 km to 117 km (~2.5 hrs) | 101 km to 111 km (~2.5 hrs) |
| Shirkada | Buffer | 125 km 133 km (~2.5 hrs) | 90 km to 92 km (~2 hrs) |
| Palasgaon (Noon Buffer) | Buffer | 119 km 143 km (~2.5 hrs) | 97 to 98 km (~2 hrs) |
| Gate | Type | From Nagpur Airport | From Chandrapur Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pangdi | Core | 150 km to 158 km (~3.5 hrs) | 82 km to 90 km (~1.5 hrs) |
| Zari | Core | 182 km to 195 km (~4 hrs) | 36 km to 45 km (~1 hr) |
| Pangdi Aswal Chuha | Buffer | 143 km to 150 km (~3.5 hrs) | 70 km to 75 km (~1.5 hrs) |
| Keslaghat | Buffer | 176 km to 180 km (~4 hrs) | ~31 km (~1 hrs) |
| Zari Peth | Buffer | 179 km to 192 km (~4 hrs) | 30 km to 34 km (~1 hrs) |
| Mamla | Buffer | 152 km to 160 km (~3.5 hrs) | 12 km to 16 km (~30mins) |
| Somnath | Buffer | ~157 (~3.5 hrs) | 50 km to 54 km (~14 hrs) |
Tadoba National Park has no airport of its own. The nearest commercial airport is Nagpur (NAG), which has regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Schedules change, so confirm timings with your airline before booking.
From Nagpur, you can take a resort pickup, a pre-booked private cab, a prepaid airport taxi, or a self-drive rental. If your resort offers a pickup, it is usually the easiest choice, as drivers know the local roads and GPS can be unreliable near the forest edge.
To Kolara, the road runs from Nagpur through Umred and Chimur, about 110 to 120 km. To Moharli, it is about 140 to 150 km via Umred, Bhisi and Chimur, and longer via Chandrapur. Kolara and Moharli are on different sides of the reserve, so tell your driver the exact gate and resort name.
If your flight lands in the evening, consider staying a night in Nagpur and leaving early. Night driving near the forest is tiring and risky, with wildlife on the road and few street lights.
The train is the cheapest and one of the easiest ways to reach Tadoba. Nagpur, Balharshah and Chandrapur are all well connected to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Tickets for the October to June season sell out quickly, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. IRCTC usually opens bookings about 60 days ahead, so check the current window.
Chandrapur is the closest major station for most visitors, about 28 km from Moharli Gate. Taxis wait outside the station, and your resort can also send a car. The drive takes about an hour.
Warora is easy to overlook, but it is the nearest station for the Kolara side, at around 50 to 60 km. It can save you well over an hour compared with going via Nagpur. Check whether your train stops there before counting on it.
Balharshah Junction is about 15 km beyond Chandrapur and gets more long-distance trains. If your train skips Chandrapur, this is a good backup. Add roughly 45 minutes to the Moharli drive.
Nagpur Junction is the region's biggest hub, with trains from almost every part of India. If there is no convenient train to Chandrapur or Balharshah, come to Nagpur and take a cab. It is also the better choice for Kolara and Navegaon gates, and if you are changing from a flight.
Wardha Junction is further away, about 134 km from Moharli. Use it only if your train stops there and nowhere closer.
| Station | Best for |
|---|---|
| Chandrapur | Moharli, Khutwanda, Zari, Pangdi |
| Balharshah | Moharli side, when your train skips Chandrapur |
| Warora | Kolara |
| Nagpur Junction | Kolara, Navegaon, or connecting from a flight |
| Wardha | Only if no closer station works |
Whichever station you choose, tell your resort your train name and arrival time. They can arrange the pickup, and they will often know if the train is running late.
You can reach Tadoba National Park by car, taxi or bus. The roads from Nagpur and Chandrapur are in good condition, and the drive passes through farmland, small towns and patches of forest.
Nagpur is the main starting point. For the Kolara side, the route is Nagpur → Umred → Chimur, about 110 to 120 km.
For Moharli, the usual route is Nagpur → Umred → Bhisi → Chimur, about 140 to 150 km. The Chandrapur route is longer, around 190 km.
Chandrapur is the closest city. Moharli Gate is about 28 km away, roughly an hour's drive.
The Samruddhi Expressway has made the trip much shorter. Mumbai to Nagpur is about 787 km and takes around 10 to 10.5 hours, and Tadoba is another 3 to 4 hours from there. Pune drivers normally join the expressway near Shirdi. Either way, it is a long day behind the wheel. If you don't want to drive that far, take a train or flight to Nagpur and hire a cab from there.
MSRTC buses (Shivshahi and Parivartan) run between Nagpur, Wardha and Chandrapur. From Chandrapur bus stand, local buses go to Moharli village during the day, and Nagpur to Chimur buses can be used for the Kolara side. Buses are cheap, but they are slower, and timings are limited, so confirm the schedule locally. With family or heavy luggage, a private cab is easier.
| Your situation | What we suggest |
|---|---|
| Short trip, little time | Fly to Nagpur, then take a cab |
| Low budget | Train to Chandrapur or Nagpur, then a local cab or bus |
| Family with kids or bags | Private cab or tempo traveller from Nagpur |
| Coming from Mumbai or Pune | Overnight train or flight to Nagpur, then a cab |
| Love road trips | Drive via the Samruddhi Expressway |
| Staying at Moharli, coming by train | Get down at Chandrapur |
| Staying at Kolara, coming by train | Try Warora or Nagpur |
Day 1: Reach Nagpur or Chandrapur in the morning and travel to your resort. If your train or flight runs late, don't worry, as the day is meant to be slow. Check in, rest, and ask the resort team about safari timings and park rules. Keep your photo ID ready, since it is checked at the gate.
Day 2: Leave for the morning safari around 5 to 5:30 AM, as the gate opens at sunrise. Come back for breakfast and a rest. If you have booked an afternoon safari, it usually starts around 2:30 to 3 PM.
Day 3: Do one more safari if you have a booking, then check out and head back.
Before you book: Safaris must be booked online ahead of time, and good slots go quickly in season. Check the current timings and any weekly or seasonal closures for your zone.
Return travel: Don't book your flight or train right after the last safari. Keep a gap of at least 4 to 5 hours for a train from Chandrapur, and 6 hours or more for a flight from Nagpur, since the drive is about 3 hours and road delays can happen.
Fly or take a train to Nagpur or Chandrapur, then travel the last part by road. Most resorts offer pickup.
Nagpur Airport (NAG) is the nearest commercial airport. It is about 110 to 150 km from Tadoba, depending on the gate.
Chandrapur is the closest major station for Moharli, about 28 km away. For the Kolara side, Warora is closer.
About 103 km, or 2.5 to 3.5 hours by road. Kolara is closer, and Moharli and Zari are farther.
Moharli Gate is about 36 km from Chandrapur, roughly 1 hour by road.
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve has 6 core gates and about 16 buffer gates, roughly 23 in total.
Moharli is the most popular and has the most resorts. Kolara is closer to Nagpur, and Navegaon, Pangdi and Zari are good alternatives. Choose your gate first, then plan your travel.
Take an overnight train or a flight to Nagpur and hire a cab. By road, it is about 807 km.
Take a flight or train to Nagpur, then a cab. By road, it is about 783 km.
Take a direct flight or train to Nagpur, then a cab for 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
By road, it is about 415 km, or 8.5 to 9.5 hours via Adilabad and Chandrapur. A train to Chandrapur or Balharshah is also an option.
Yes. Nagpur, Balharshah, Chandrapur and Warora are all connected by rail. Chandrapur is best for Moharli, and Warora or Nagpur for Kolara.
Yes. The roads are good. Start early, fill fuel at Chimur or Chandrapur, download offline maps and drive slowly near the forest.
2 nights and 3 days is ideal for 2 to 3 safaris.
The morning safari starts around sunrise, so leave your resort by 5 to 5:30 AM. The afternoon safari usually starts around 2:30 to 3 PM.
Keep a gap of at least 4 to 5 hours for a train from Chandrapur, and 6 hours or more for a flight from Nagpur.
Wear neutral colours like green, brown, beige or khaki, and avoid bright colours. Carry a jacket in winter and a hat, sunscreen and water in summer.