Loosen your pockets more to spot tigers from October 2013

With the holiday season approaching, the tourists contemplating a holiday in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) and protected regions coming under the Pench Tiger Reserve will have to pay more as the guide and entry fee has been increased.

From October 1, 2013, the visitors and wildlife enthusiasts will have to loosen their pockets bit more to watch the tigers and species of animals in Tadoba and Pench National Park. The decision of hiking the fees was taken at the meeting of governing council of Tiger Conservation Foundations (TCFs). The meeting was called upon the forest minister Patangrao Kadam who administers the TCFs of four tiger reserves - Tadoba-Andhari, Melghat, Pench and Sahyadri.

What are the New Revised Fees in Tadoba and Pench?

Earlier, the tourists (in a group of six), for a one-time entry in a gypsy at the Tadoba National Park had to pay Rs 750 on the weekdays and Rs 1000 on the weekends and public holidays. Visitors and wildlife buffs will now have to pay Rs 1050 on weekdays and Rs 1300 on holidays.

The elephant safari or ride has also been hiked from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per person. For foreigners, a ride on the elephant means they have to shell out Rs 600 per person; earlier it was Rs 100. On the holidays, it will cost Rs 300 from Rs 150. Similarly, the foreigners will have to Rs 1800 for an elephant ride on the weekends and public holidays. The park will charge Rs 500 from the tourists who want to take the Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) camera with 250mm lens and above. If an agency wants to produce a film on the tigers, then Rs 30, 000 per day will be charged for them.

In Pench National Park, a group of six individuals will now be charged Rs 1100 from Rs 900 per trip, which includes Rs 400 towards vehicle or gypsies, Rs 75 per adult and Rs 25 for kids up to the age of 12 years.

The Big Question: Will the Hike in the Fees Encourage or Discourage Tiger Tourism?

There is a mixed opinion among the people with regard to the increase in entry and guide fees. Some believe that it will go on to discourage the tiger tourism in the state, while there are many who have a perception that the increase in the fees will help the park authorities and officials to provide better facilities to the tourists and most importantly prevent the tiger poaching.

However, there is also some good news for the visitors as it was also decided to open both the parks partially during the rainy season. That is not all as the visitors will soon book the gate entry tickets in advance through online. For this purpose, a meeting will be called upon very soon and if online bookings are approved, the process will be first tested on the experimental basis in the Tadoba and Pench National Park of Madhya Pradesh.

Therefore, there is no need to lose the heart because of the increase in the entry and guide fees. By shelling out a little extra amount of money, the tourists can reap rich rewards in the form of exceptional facilities while enjoying the unforgettable tiger tourism.

Author is a traveler, writer and wildlife lover. He has traveled many renowned wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in India. In the above article he is sharing information about some renowned resorts in kanha national park in Assam.