Sighting a Royal Bengal Tiger in the wild leaves a lasting and profound impact, and tourists from far and wide come to India in the hope of seeing one. With travel and wildlife photography becoming a popular hobby among young urban Indians, lesser-known tiger reserves are catching up with the big names in India, which boasts a whopping 52 tiger reserves.
“Watching a tiger in the wild is exhilarating,” says wildlife photographer Joydeep Mondal who runs Wildchasers India, curating bespoke wildlife experiences for discerning travellers. “Luxury hotels now provide a more sensible approach to wild explorations. They also share knowledge and guidance on how people should treat the wild when holidaying, which I think is the only way to protect these national parks and yet improve tourism revenue,” shares Joydeep.
Look beyond the obvious sanctuaries for a quieter, unhurried experience. The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, for instance, has become a hotbed for tiger spotting, with guests sometimes seeing more than five big cats on a single safari.
