Indravati Tiger Reserve opens to tourists after four decades

Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region is set to open to tourists from Sunday, November 1, 2026, for the first time in about four decades, on the date targeted by the state forest department. Chhattisgarh's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Arun Pandey, has said the department aimed for November 1 as the opening date and that preparations, including buying safari vehicles and planning routes, were under way. Tourism will begin on a limited scale, with two or three safari routes and daily vehicle numbers capped according to carrying-capacity assessments under National Tiger Conservation Authority guidelines. The reserve was largely closed to visitors, and even to forest staff in much of its area, because of long-running left-wing extremism.

For most travellers, Bastar has long been a name associated with conflict rather than wildlife. The reopening of Indravati changes that. It offers access to a large forest landscape that very few tourists have been able to see, and it signals the state's confidence that security has improved enough to welcome visitors.

Tourism can bring real benefits to the area. Safaris, guides, drivers, homestays and local food create jobs for people living around the reserve, and income from visitors can give local communities a stake in protecting the forest and its animals. Officials have said safari routes are being planned under the reserve's Tiger Conservation Plan, which is meant to ensure that tourism does not disturb core wildlife areas.

The low tiger count is a reminder of what decades without proper monitoring and protection can do. With only six tigers recorded, Indravati has far fewer than better-protected reserves; officials compared it with 18 in Chhattisgarh's Achanakmar reserve. Opening the reserve also brings forest staff back into areas they could not patrol, which could help with protection, counting and habitat management. Responsible tourism, with strict limits on vehicles and timings, will be important so that visitors support recovery rather than add pressure.

For travellers, the practical message is to start small: only a few routes will be open, numbers will be limited, and facilities are still being built. Visitors should check the Chhattisgarh forest department's official channels for booking details, timings and rules before planning a trip.

Short-term: A small number of visitors will be able to take safaris on the first routes, and the forest department will test arrangements for bookings, guides and safety. Local residents may see the first tourism jobs and income.

Long-term: If security holds and tourism is well managed, Indravati could become a new wildlife destination in central India, with benefits for local livelihoods and stronger protection for its forests and tigers. Poor management, on the other hand, could add pressure on a fragile ecosystem.

Who is affected: Local communities in Bastar; the Chhattisgarh forest department and reserve staff; wildlife tourists and tour operators; and the reserve's tigers and other wildlife.

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