Ratapani Tiger Reserve is located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh state in India. The Tiger Reserve is part of the wildlife sanctuary. In-principle approval was granted in 2013 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), to make this wildlife sanctuary a Tiger reserve.

The road inside the Ratapani Tiger Reserve.

This tiger reserve, spread over 823.84 square kilometers, is known for its finest teak trees (Tectona grandis). These forests are rich in flora and fauna.

UNESCO World Heritage Site Bhimbetka rock shelters are within this Tiger Reserve. Tiger, panther, jackal, wild dogs, hyena, fox, sambhar, chital, blue bull, four-horned antelope, rhesus monkey, langur, wild boar, etc, are some of the animals found in these reserved forests. 150 bird species are found in this wildlife sanctuary. Many species of snakes, lizards, and chameleons are among those reptiles found here.

Ratapani Dam is a major tourist attraction on the periphery of the Ratapani reserve forests. It attracts a lot of migratory birds. The reservoir inside the sanctuary attracts many wading birds like the painted stork, sarus crane, black-necked stork, and white-necked stork. Ratapani Reserve forests are home to Oriental white-backed vultures, red-headed vultures, and long-billed vultures.

How Do I Go to Ratapani Tiger Reserve?

This tiger reserve is situated less than 50 kilometers away from Bhopal, the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh.