Palamau Tiger Reserve is the lone tiger reserve (where Tigers have been spotted recently) in Jharkhand. It is one of the nine original tiger reserves in India. This Tiger reserve is part of the Palamau Wildlife Sanctuary.

This Tiger Park is spread over 1,129.93 square kilometers (436 square miles) in Latehar and Garhwa Districts. It was declared as a Tiger reserve in 1974. The core area of the Tiger Reserve is spread over 414.93 square kilometers. The buffer area is spread over an area of around 650 square kilometers. This Tiger Reserve is part of the famous Betla National Park. It is also a Project Tiger reserve for the conservation of Bengali tigers. It is the long tiger reserve in Jharkhand state.

Apart from Tigers, this Tiger Reserve has Elephants, Leopards, Sambars, Gaurs, and Wild Dogs, to name a few other wild animals.

One male Tiger and five female Tigers are in the Tiger Reserve, as per the 2012 counting (undertaken using DNA to prevent over-counting). As per the 1974 count, there were 50 Tigers in this Tiger Reserve. As per the 2007 count, there were 17 Tigers. The Forest Department says that the core area of the Tiger Reserve is inaccessible due to rugged terrain and Naxalite presence. Hence, an accurate count of Tigers is not possible.

North Koel River, a sub-tributary of the Ganga River, runs through this Tiger Reserve. Over 140 species of birds are sighted in Palamau Reserve Forests. Two white vultures were spotted in the Tiger Reserve at Palamau in 2013, after a gap of nearly ten years.

How Do I Go to Palamau Tiger Reserve?

Palamau Reserve for Bengali Tigers can be reached by taking National Highway 39.

The main try point is at Betla. Betla is at a distance of 25 kilometers from Daltonganj (via Dubiakhanr) on NH-75.

Latehar is another major town at 65 kilometers away. It takes around one and a half hours to travel from Latehar to the tiger reserve by road.

Ranchi City, the capital of the state of Jharkhand, is 170 kilometers away. NH-75 connects Ranchi to the wildlife park.

Patna, the capital of Bihar is at a distance of 260 kilometers, traveling through NH 98 and then NH-75.

Daltonganj railway station is 25 kilometers away, and Barwadih railway station is 12 kilometers away. These two railway stations are connected to Ranchi, Patna, Kanpur, Lucknow, Delhi, etc.

Birsa Munda Airport at Ranchi is the nearest airport, 170 kilometers away. Gaya Airport is another nearby airport at 190 kilometers away.

3 Moths Closure of the Palamau Sanctuary

This Tiger reserve will be closed for three months. i.e., in July, August and September months. It is open from October to June.