Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, located
in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra
is the oldest national park in the
state. Scenic with interesting wildlife
sightings are assured at Tadoba and
it is rightly called 'The Jewel of
Vidharba'.
The name 'Tadoba' is the name of
the God "Tadoba" or "Taru",
praised by the tribal people who live
in the dense forests of the Tadoba
and Andhari region, while the Andhari
River that meanders through the forest.
gives the 'Andhari' name.
Legend holds that Taru was a village
chief who was killed in a mythological
encounter with a tiger. A shrine dedicated
to the God Taru now exists beneath
a huge tree, on the banks of the Tadoba
Lake. The temple is frequented by
adivasis, especially during the fair
held every year in the Hindu month
of Pausha, between December and January.
The Gond kings once ruled these forests
in the vicinity of the Chimur hills.
Hunting was completely banned in 1935.
Two decades later, in 1955, 116.54
km (45.00 sq mi) was declared a National
Park. Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was
created on the adjacent forests in
1986, and in 1995, both the park and
the sanctuary were merged to establish
the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
Tadoba life with animals like the
tiger, leopard, sloth bear, hyaena,
wild dog, blue bull, wild cat, and
sambar inhabit the reserve.