Bandhavgarh National Park — Tala Gateway

Bandhavgarh National Park's Tala Gateway is the principal entry to one of India's most renowned tiger reserves in Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh, within the Vindhya Range. Notified as a national park in 1968 and later a tiger reserve, it covers dense sal forests, grasslands and hills centered on the historic Bandhavgarh Fort. The Tala Zone is noted for high Bengal tiger density, diverse wildlife, and rich birdlife, making it the core tourism zone of the reserve.

Visitors entering via Tala Gateway access the core Tala Zone, the most popular safari circuit with dense sal and bamboo forest, grassy meadows, and rocky hills around Bandhavgarh Fort. Expect open-jeep safaris on designated forest tracks with a licensed guide, opportunities to see Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, deer, and over 250 bird species. The gateway area has a ticket counter, interpretation centre, parking and jeep assembly point. Safaris operate in morning and afternoon shifts.