What the 'Vandarshan' Packages Include
Named 'Vandarshan', this new initiative aims to streamline wildlife tourism by removing the usual hassles of booking multiple components separately. The core promise is a single-window booking that covers confirmed train travel, local road transfers from
the station to your resort, accommodation, and, most importantly, assured wildlife safari permits—which are often the most difficult part to secure. These curated itineraries, typically structured as four-night, five-day trips, are designed for families, photographers, and first-time safari-goers departing from Mumbai.
1. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve
Often called 'The Jewel of Vidarbha', Tadoba is Maharashtra's most famous tiger reserve, known for its high density of tigers and frequent sightings. The landscape is a mix of dense forests, sprawling meadows, and a large lake that attracts a rich variety of wildlife, including leopards, sloth bears, and wild dogs. The IRCTC package simplifies access to this popular park, where securing a safari permit can be highly competitive. The tours utilize the Vidarbha Express from Mumbai to Nagpur, followed by a road transfer to the reserve.
2. Pench National Park
The inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book', Pench National Park is a magical landscape of teak forests straddling Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Maharashtra side of the park is included in the IRCTC Vandarshan packages. It offers a classic Central Indian wildlife experience, with a healthy tiger population, leopards, and diverse birdlife. The Pench River, which flows through the park, is a lifeline for its inhabitants and a scenic highlight for visitors. These packages make visiting the less-crowded Maharashtra section of Pench more accessible.
3. Bor Tiger Reserve
As Maharashtra's smallest tiger reserve, Bor offers a quieter, more intimate safari experience. Located conveniently near Nagpur and Wardha, it serves as a crucial wildlife corridor connecting the Pench and Tadoba reserves. Despite its size, Bor has a notable presence of tigers, leopards, and other fauna. The IRCTC package is a great opportunity for those looking to explore a less-commercialised park without the stress of coordinating permits and travel from major hubs.
4. Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR)
Formed by combining two wildlife sanctuaries, NNTR is a vast expanse of green located in the Gondia and Bhandara districts. It is celebrated for its rich biodiversity, including tigers, leopards, wild dogs, and over 300 species of birds. The landscape features serene lakes like Navegaon and picturesque forests. The rail-based packages offer excellent connectivity to this reserve via Gondia station, potentially giving it a much-deserved spotlight and making it easier for tourists to explore its pristine environment.
The Other Two Wildlife Sanctuaries
While the headline mentions six tiger reserves, the current Vandarshan packages cover four of Maharashtra's six designated tiger reserves. The other two destinations included in the initiative are Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary and Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Both are rising stars in Maharashtra's wildlife circuit, known for promising tiger sightings and offering a rugged, off-the-beaten-path experience. The two tiger reserves not currently included, Melghat and Sahyadri, are geographically distant from the Vidarbha rail corridor that these packages are built around.
