Valmiki Tiger Reserve opens doors for new season; tourists flock to safari on the first day

Although wildlife enthusiasts could visit tiger reserves across India for nearly 40 years, organized safaris in Indravati, located in Chhattisgarh, remained inaccessible. The reason was not the absence of wildlife, but the danger of traversing the forests.

Indravati, situated in Bijapur district of Bastar, was declared a tiger reserve in 1983. However, due to Maoist insurgent activities and armed conflicts in the region, travel through significant parts of the forest became risky. Even forest officials faced difficulties reaching certain areas for patrolling and wildlife monitoring.

As safety was the primary concern, organized tourism was suspended for almost four decades. The situation is beginning to change as security conditions improve. The Chhattisgarh Forest Department plans to welcome tourists again, setting a target date for resumption on November 1, 2026.

For visitors, this could mean a chance to explore a forest that has long been outside India's tourist routes. Indravati covers an area of 2799 sq km and is one of the largest tiger reserves in Central India. Its forests are a sanctuary for tigers, leopards, sloth bears, gaur, wild dogs, and deer. Furthermore, it is an important habitat for the endangered wild aquatic buffalo, which is the state animal of Chhattisgarh.

According to the Forest Department data, there are six tigers in the reserve, although a new population assessment is currently underway. With improved security, forest staff can now patrol and study territories that were previously hard to access. Recent studies have revealed something noteworthy.

In 2025, researchers studying the Indravati River, which flows along the reserve's border with Maharashtra, discovered an animal mentioned by local residents. They called it 'neer billi,' meaning 'water cat.' After receiving information from local communities, researchers inspected sections of the river. One morning in February, they spotted ten smooth-coated otters feeding on fish.

When the animals noticed the researchers, one of them sounded an alarm, and the group quickly retreated into the water. This discovery provided the first photographic evidence of these otters in the reserve in about 25 years. Smooth-coated otters are classified as a vulnerable species, and their presence offers encouraging signs for the river ecosystem. Nevertheless, researchers also found signs of hunting and traps, highlighting the need to protect these animals and their habitat.

Since tourism is now being planned, protecting this wildlife becomes even more crucial. The Forest Department is proceeding cautiously: instead of opening the entire reserve, officials are preparing two or three designated safari spots. The process of procuring vehicles and assessing proposed routes from a wildlife and safety perspective is ongoing. The number of permitted tourists and vehicles will be limited depending on how much impact the forest can safely withstand. Some areas may remain closed to visitors.

The resumption of tourism could also open up new opportunities for families living around Indravati. Officials are exploring ways to involve the local population as guides, drivers, and hospitality service providers, and are also considering options for staying in local homes and selling local produce. For communities that have lived near these forests for generations, tourism could become an additional source of income, provided these plans materialize into real opportunities on the ground.

After almost 40 years, Indravati is preparing to welcome a new type of visitor. While spotting a tiger or a rare otter can be exciting, the true success of this revival will lie in something greater: ensuring that local families benefit while the animals continue to have a safe home, even long after the first safari vehicles arrive.