Places to visit in Tadoba

Also called the “mini Khajuraho” of Vidarbha, this beautiful and grand temple on the banks of the Wainganga river has some of the finest sculptures and carvings in stone. The Devasthan has 18 temples remaining of the original 24, which were built between the 8th and 9th centuries. Out of the 18, four temples are in excellent condition. It is believed that the main temple was struck by lightning and was destroyed. MarkandDevasthan is located about 114km from Tadoba, in Chamorshi. 

While on the safari, you may be able to spot some birds and rare animals, and study the natural flora and fauna of the forest. 

Tadoba is mostly covered with dense forests and the only major landmarks are the Tadoba Lake and the Telia Lake. Besides the lakes, the various gates which are used to enter the Reserve can be considered as landmarks. There are six gates, namely, the Kolara gate, the Pangadi gate, the Moharli gate, the Zari gate, the Khutwanda gate and the Navegaon gate. Out of these six, only two are actually used to access the Reserve, which are the Moharli gate and the Kolara gate.

Tadoba is situated in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra which is rich in culture and history. Marathi culture is predominant in Tadoba, however, you will also see marked influences from tribes of Chattisgarh, Telugus from Telangana, and Hindus from Madhya Pradesh. A huge chunk of the population is tribal, consisting mostly of Gonds, Andhs, Kolams and Korkus. Gonds are renowned for their paintings and handicrafts, especially objects made of bamboo and metal. People in Tadoba speak and understand Marathi and Hindi. English is also spoken and understood by a few. 

The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is full of wondrous sights and ethereal natural beauty. The two places where Mother Nature is at her beautiful best are the Tadoba Lake and the Telia Lake, both of which are located inside the Reserve. 

Chandrapur, approximately 47km from Tadoba, is one of the most prominent destinations nearby. You can head there for shopping and sightseeing. You can also visit the Junona Lake in the Chandrapur district, which is 58.9km away. It has a well-made garden, offers boat rides and also has a restaurant. You can also include the beautiful lake of Ghorazari in your itinerary which is 91.1km away. Bhadravati, which is famous for its Jain temple, is another frequented destination which is located 40.6 km from Tadoba. 

Another popular garden in Chandrapur is the Triangle Garden, situated less than 500 metres from the ChaitanyaVatika.

This unique private museum, opened to the public in 2010, is situated in Chandrapur and is owned by a renowned geologist in the area, Suresh Chopane. The museum has an exciting collection of fossils and rocks from several places. Some of the oldest rocks in his collection date back to over 2.5 billion years ago. He also has some rocks from other planets in his collection.

This prehistoric temple of Lord Ganesh in the town of Adasa, which is 165km from Tadoba, attracts several followers and believers each day. This temple has beautiful architecture and is about 4,000 years old. The temple has a 12-feet statue of AshtavinayakGanpati carved out of a single stone.

This Jain temple is situated in the small town of Bhadravati which is 40.6km from Tadoba. The temple is dedicated to the 23rd Jain TirthankarKesariyajiParshvanath. The temple is a fine example of architecture and houses some beautiful sculptures.

This temple is dedicated to goddess Kali and is located in Chandrapur. It is highly revered by those who live in and around Chandrapur. The temple has two idols of the goddess and three other small temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh and Lord Shani.

The abundance of wildlife in Tadoba can be an absolute treat for children. They can take an elephant safari to the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. This visit would be informative and entertaining as children can see the animals in their natural habitat. Apart from this, most hotels also have swings, slides and small gardens and play parks within their premises for children.         

This ancient monument was built in the memory of the Gond King Veershah by his wife Rani Hirai. The tomb was built between 1704 and 1719 AD. It is the biggest shrine of any king in the state of Maharashtra. The mausoleum is located in Chanda, which is 51.4km from Tadoba.

These ancient caves are situated on the outskirts of Chandrapur which is about 47km from Tadoba. There are nine man-made caves here which date back to the 8thcentury. These caves were built for the Buddhist monks for meditation and for their accommodation. The caves have lovely Tibetan sculptures and frescos on the walls.

The folklore amongst the tribal population in Tadoba says that a village chief named Taru was once killed in a fabled encounter with a tiger.  After this incident, a shrine was built in his honour on the banks of the Tadobalake. This shrine is revered by the tribes in Tadoba who come here frequently to pay their homage to the martyred village chief. They also hold a fair once a year in December or January at this location.