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There's a pretty comprehensive section on India's tigers in this months mag.

When I first saw the title of this thread, when you said which one, I thought you meant which tiger - there aren't too many left!

I'm quite happy seeing the tigers in Rotterdam Zoo, to be honest - that's all India's reserves are anyway, from what I understand - just a big zoo these days..

I have seen it....I love how i decide on going somewhere & the next issue of wanderlust has it in lol

would love a personal persprective though...as good as the information is it doesn't tell me what i specifically need to know.

basically i am trying to decide if going all the way to kanha national park is worth it lol

Hi, Ruth,
We visited Bandhavgarh tiger reserve a few years ago. It was absolutely brilliant and we had fantastic sightings of tigers. I know things can change, but it had no resemblance to any zoo whatsoever.

thanks will put that into the mix as well. lol

You sound just like my mother, Pluck - "Why do you want to go to India to see tigers?  You can see them on the TV".  (She lived in Bermuda so wasn't within shouting distance of a zoo.)

I would recommend Bandhavgarh - we had the best sightings of tigers there, and it's not at all like a zoo!  Nor was it particularly crowded when we were there, admittedly a few years ago now.  

Ranthambore is more crowded and you're probably going to be in a large cumbersome vehicle with probably a dozen or more people if my memory serves me right.  We did see a couple of tigers though.

Haven't been to Kanha so can't comment on that one.

I went to Ranthambore a couple of years ago and, like Rhoda said, it was very crowded and we had 16 in our vehicle! The noise of all those camera shutters alone was enough to scare off every tiger in a 50 mile radius! So, alas, we didn't see tigers but we did see a leopard. Well when I say we, I mean the 15 other people on the truck, I was looking the other way. Story of my life!

thanks peeps decision made we're going to Bandhavarah :-)

It's not til feb but I am already excited & have started doing some planning. Just need to pay for my flights before it's real lol

I had a positive result in Jim Corbett NP in Uttarakhand.

I also had excellent views of gharials if you're into other wildlife.

This is one reserve where you're not crammed in with 16 other people in bright clothing who have no ****ing clue how to see lots of wildlife.

An afternoon in the machan is recommended.

Note that the tiger density here is lower than in some reserves. Much of this is a tradeoff between popularity and tiger density. In some reserves there may be more tigers, but the humans are more likely to scare them off.

Advance booking is suggested, however. I had real trouble since Indians and goras tend to be segregated in the dormitories, and my companions were Indians.

I went to Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh and Kanha in one trip last year (Adventure Company - IW tour). And we packed in the tourist sites of Agra, Fatipur Sikri & Khajuraho. Lot's of travel by coach & train  but 5 full days in the Tiger reserves. 11 Tiger sightings in all. 

 Each National Park is different.  Kanha is a long way to go but of the three it's certainly my favourite. Ranthambore can be rather crowded (just 1 sighting) . 

Took the overnight sleeper train back to  Delhi to Jabalapur.  Indian railways need to be experienced.

Clive, sounds like a good trip.I haven't been to Kanha (yet!). What made it your favourite?