Bhopal:  If you're planning to head to Madhya Pradesh's tiger reserves to celebrate the New Year, be sure to make your reservations in advance. Bookings at Madhya Pradesh's major tiger reserves are full from the last evening of 2025 until the first week of the new year. Entry through the main gate of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, which has the largest number of tigers, is already booked until January 10th. The situation is similar for resorts, hotels, and restaurants surrounding the tiger reserve. However, entry through some of the tiger reserve's gates is still open.

'Entry from Bandhavgarh's main gate is full, but options are available'

Every year, the highest number of tourists visit Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve during New Year's.  According to PCCF Wildlife Shubhranjan Cell  , "Typically, on New Year's, a large number of tourists visit the state's tiger reserves to see the tigers. This year too, a large number of tourists have made bookings. A large number of tourists have booked hotels and resorts adjacent to the forest. Around 1,000 tourists are arriving for safaris in the core and buffer zones of Bandhavgarh."

The situation is similar in other tiger reserves. In Bandhavgarh, most tourists prefer to take safaris from the Khitauli, Magadhi, and Tala gates. Safaris from these three gates are full until January 10th. However, tourists can still enjoy safaris from the three buffer zone gates: Dhamokar, Johila, and Panpatha. Booking options are still available from all three gates."

Safari in Kanha Tiger Reserve's core area is full, buffer area is empty

Both morning and evening safari bookings at the five main gates of Madhya Pradesh's Kanha Tiger Reserve are fully booked for the first week of the New Year. Bookings are full at Kanha's Kisli, Mukki, Sarhi Gate, and Sarhi Khatia. However, there are still plenty of available bookings for safaris at the buffer zone gates. From here, tourists can enjoy a New Year's stroll through the forest.

Bookings are full in Pench, Panna and Satpura Tiger Reserves.

Advance bookings have been completed for the core area of ​​Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve for the first week of the new year. However, bookings are still available for visiting the buffer zone. The Tiliya, Raukhad, and Khabasa buffer zones of the Pench Tiger Reserve are accessible for visiting.

In the Panna Tiger Reserve, bookings at all three gates of the core area have been fully booked in the first week of the new year. Bookings in the core area are full until January 7th. However, bookings are still available in the buffer area.

In the Satpura Tiger Reserve, advance bookings have been made for the core area until January 2nd. However, after this, the core area of ​​Satpura can be visited. Reservations can also be made for the buffer area for the New Year.

The number of tourists here is still low.

The state's Ratapani Tiger Reserve and Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve are still experiencing a lack of tourists. Safaris can be enjoyed here during the New Year. Jhiri and Delawadi in Ratapani, adjacent to the capital Bhopal, are accessible during the New Year. Tourists can easily find bookings here. The same situation applies to Nauradehi, or Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve. Bookings are also readily available here.

DJ will not be played, bonfires will also be banned.

In view of the New Year's celebrations, the Forest Department has instructed hotels, restaurants, and resorts adjacent to the Tiger Reserve to maintain a low-key New Year's Eve celebration. Hotel and resort operators will be able to organize special events for the New Year's Eve party, but DJs and sound systems will not be allowed. Bonfires are also prohibited. Meanwhile, mobile phones are already prohibited during safaris in the Tiger Reserve.