Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve sits in the Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, with access from three directions: Nagpur airport from the north, Chandrapur railway station from the south, and the Samruddhi Mahamarg (Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway) from the west.
The single most important thing to know before booking transport is which safari gate you plan to use, because the Nagpur-to-Tadoba drive ranges from 120 km (Kolara, 2.5 hours) to 190 km (Zari, 4 hours). Booking a Moharli lodge and landing at Nagpur means a 3.5-hour drive before your first safari. Booking a Kolara lodge cuts that to 2.5 hours. Plan transport around your gate, not the other way around.
Gate-wise Distances
This is the table that should drive every transport decision. Distances are approximate and vary by route choice.
| Safari Gate | Zone | From Nagpur Airport | Drive Time | From Chandrapur Station | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolara | Kolara | ~120 km | ~2.5 hrs | ~100 km | ~2 hrs |
| Navegaon | Navegaon | ~130 km | ~3 hrs | ~80 km | ~1.5 hrs |
| Khutwanda | Moharli | ~140 km | ~3 hrs | ~55 km | ~1 hr |
| Pangdi | Pangdi-Zari | ~160 km | ~3.5 hrs | ~70 km | ~1.5 hrs |
| Moharli | Moharli | ~180 km | ~3.5 hrs | ~45 km | ~1 hr |
| Zari | Pangdi-Zari | ~190 km | ~4 hrs | ~50 km | ~1 hr |
| Junona (buffer) | Moharli | ~175 km | ~3.5 hrs | ~45 km | ~1 hr |
| Agarzari (buffer) | Moharli | ~170 km | ~3.5 hrs | ~50 km | ~1 hr |
By Air
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur, is the only commercial airport serving Tadoba. Daily flights connect Nagpur to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad.
From the airport, the options are prepaid taxis at the arrival terminal, pre-booked private cabs (recommended for fixed rates), self-drive rentals, or hotel/resort transfers. Most premium lodges near Moharli and Kolara arrange airport pickups on prior request. If your lodge offers a transfer, take it; the driver will know the forest roads, which GPS often misroutes after dark.
The route from Nagpur to the Kolara zone runs via the Umred-Chimur highway (~120 km, 2.5 hours). The route to Moharli runs via Umred-Bhisi-Chimur or via Chandrapur (~180 km, 3.5 hours). Confirm your route with the driver before departure because the two gates are on opposite sides of the reserve.
By Train
Chandrapur is the closest station for most visitors and is well connected by long-distance trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Key trains include the Rajdhani Express (stopping at Nagpur), Sevagram Express, Navjeevan Express, and Dakshin Express.
Warora Railway Station is the overlooked alternative for Kolara zone visitors. At 50 km from Kolara Gate in Tadoba, it saves over an hour compared to travelling from Nagpur. Trains from Mumbai and Nagpur stop here.
| Station | Distance to Nearest Gate | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Chandrapur | ~45 km to Moharli; ~50 km to Zari | Southern gates: Moharli, Khutwanda, Zari, Junona, Agarzari |
| Warora | ~50 km to Kolara | Kolara zone visitors (often overlooked; closer than Nagpur for Kolara) |
| Nagpur Junction | ~120-190 km depending on gate | Northern gates: Kolara, Navegaon; also for visitors connecting via air |
| Wardha | ~120 km to Moharli | Visitors arriving via western or Samruddhi Mahamarg routes |
By Road
From Nagpur (120-190 km, 2.5 to 4 hours)
There are two main routes from Nagpur to Tadoba.
Roads are in good condition. GPS tends to misroute near the forest edges, so download offline maps before departure.
Via Samruddhi Mahamarg (from Mumbai, Pune, or western Maharashtra)
The Samruddhi Mahamarg (Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway) has cut the Mumbai-Tadoba drive to approximately 700 km and 11 hours. Take the Nagpur-Butibori exit (Arvi-Wardha interchange) and proceed to Tadoba via Wardha. For the Kolara zone, route through Samudrapur-Bhisi-Chimur. For the Moharli zone, route through Jamb-Tembhurda-Shegaon Bk-Moharli. From Pune, enter the expressway via Sangamner-Shirdi. This route is newer and significantly faster than the older NH44 corridor that most Tadoba travel pages still reference.
Tadoba distance from other cities
| City | Distance | Approximate Drive Time | Route Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandrapur | ~45 km | ~1 hr | Direct to Moharli; shortest access to southern gates |
| Nagpur | 120-190 km | 2.5-4 hrs | Depends on gate; Kolara closest, Zari farthest |
| Wardha | ~120 km | ~2.5 hrs | Access via Samruddhi Mahamarg exit |
| Raipur | ~330 km | ~6.5 hrs | Via NH53 through Rajnandgaon and Nagpur |
| Hyderabad | ~450 km | ~8.5 hrs | Via NH44 through Adilabad and Chandrapur |
| Mumbai | ~700 km | ~11 hrs | Via Samruddhi Mahamarg (not 850 km via old route) |
| Pune | ~650 km | ~10 hrs | Via Samruddhi Mahamarg entry from Sangamner |
| Bhopal | ~500 km | ~9.5 hrs | Via NH46 through Seoni and Nagpur |
MSRTC buses (Shivshahi and Parivartan) run regularly between Nagpur, Wardha, and Chandrapur. From Chandrapur bus stand, local buses to Moharli village run throughout the day.
Practical Notes
Duration : 06Night & 07Days
Location : Nagpur - Tadoba - Nagzira - Pench - Nagpur
Duration : 15Night & 16Days
Location : Delhi - Agra - Umaria - Bandhavgarh - Kanha - Pench - Tadoba - Delhi
Duration : 12Night & 13Days
Location : Delhi - Agra - Umaria - Bandhavgarh - Kanha - Pench - Tadoba - Delhi
The distance of Tadoba from Nagpur varies by gate :
There is no single "Nagpur to Tadoba" distance because the reserve has 23 gates spread across 1,727 sq km.
For Kolara zone, route through Samudrapur-Bhisi-Chimur. For Moharli zone, route through Jamb-Tembhurda-Moharli. Alternatively, fly Mumbai to Nagpur (1.5 hours) and drive from the airport.
