IRCTC Vandarshan: rail wildlife tours to Maharashtra tiger reserves from Nov 19

IRCTC, the tourism and catering arm of Indian Railways, has opened a set of rail-based wildlife tour packages in Maharashtra under the name Vandarshan, with the first tours starting on Thursday, November 19, 2026. The packages, announced by IRCTC's West Zone together with the Maharashtra Forest Department in mid-October, bundle train travel from Mumbai with hotel stays, local transport and jungle safaris in the state's best-known tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries in Vidarbha.

A do-it-yourself wildlife trip means several separate bookings: a train, a road transfer to the reserve, a place to stay and a safari slot. Vandarshan puts all of these into one booking. For families and first-time visitors, the confirmed safari is likely to be the biggest draw.

The timing matters too. Starting the tours in late November lets IRCTC catch the winter holiday season, when many families plan trips.

The choice of destinations spreads visitors beyond Tadoba, the best-known name on the list and the anchor of four of the five itineraries. Pairing it with smaller sanctuaries such as Bor, Navegaon-Nagzira, Umred-Paoni-Karhandla and Tipeshwar sends some tourism income to places that see fewer visitors. The forest department has an interest in this, since local guides, drivers and homestays around the smaller parks depend on a steady flow of guests.

There are limits. With only twelve berths per departure across two AC classes, Vandarshan is a small, curated product rather than a mass-tourism scheme, and IRCTC has not published a fare in the reports reviewed. Officials have also reminded travellers that safaris remain subject to forest department rules, which can change with park closures or wildlife movement.

Short-term: Travellers from Mumbai and stations along the Vidarbha Express route can now book an all-in wildlife holiday for the coming winter season, with the first group leaving on November 19. Seats are few, so early booking matters.

Long-term: If the trains fill up, IRCTC and the forest department are likely to add departures, boarding stations or reserves. A working model in Maharashtra could also be copied in other states with large wildlife parks close to rail lines.

Who is affected: Domestic tourists who want a wildlife trip without arranging every piece themselves, tour operators who sell similar packages, and the guides, drivers and small hotels around the reserves.

Questions and Answers