The dense forests of the Tadoba National Park host a plethora of wildlife, that include Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Asiatic jackals, gaurs, sambar deer, barking deer and more. Situated in the state of Maharashtra and fondly known as the ‘jewel of Vidarbha’, Tadoba is a treasure trove for history buffs too!
From legends and myths to being the hunting grounds of the royals and subsequently being declared a protected area, this blog traces the history of Tadoba National Park from the days of yore to modern times!
Tadoba National Park - How it got its name
Tadoba is the oldest and largest national park in Maharashtra. It is also known as the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. The park derives its name from an ancient village chief called Taru. Tribal legend has it that Taru was killed by a tiger in this area and a shrine under a huge tree located near the lake of Tadoba was built in his honour.
Taru was and still is worshipped by the tribes who live in the forest regions of Tadoba and Andhari, so ‘Tadoba’ has been derived from Taru van - meaning the woods of Taru.
Andhari refers to the river passing through the forest of Tadoba. It is called ‘Andhari’ because the real source of the river can never be found. Local folklore believes the river’s source is somewhere in the Pandharpaoni region of Tadoba.
Hence this National Park is also referred to as Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
Which kings ruled these forests?
The Gond kings once ruled these forests in the vicinity of the Chimur hills. Raja Khandkhya Ballal Shah, the 10th ruler of the Gond dynasty, made Chandrapur his capital. Along with his contemporaries ruling the other parts of the Gond Kingdom, Ballal Shah developed excellent irrigation systems and the first well-defined revenue system among the Gond kingdoms!
This area was held by powerful rulers of the Gond dynasty between the 14th and 18th centuries. They ruled as independent chieftains or served as tributaries to the superior Mughal Empire. The Gond dynasty finally succumbed to the Marathas and most of their kingdom was incorporated into the dominions of the Bhonsle kings of Nagpur or the Nizams of Hyderabad.
Subsequently, in the first half of the 19th century, large chunks of the kingdom were passed to the British empire and the Gond kings only ruled a minor portion of what was once their kingdom until India achieved Independence in 1947.
Gond pillars in Tadoba
When one enters the pristine Moharli range leading to the Tadoba Lake, one comes across Gond heritage in the form of rock pillars on the edge of the road. These pillars are a reminder of a bygone era and are believed to serve the purpose of communication. In fact, they are believed to be the oldest organised long-distance communication system in India.
Almost 9 feet tall, with tapering tops, these pillars were used to communicate the arrival of his royal highness to the two temples located within the reserve. The top of the pillars had a ring fitted, through which passed a rope that linked to the temple bell!
Religious places inside the Tadoba National Park
The peripheries of the Tadoba National Park are rich in coal. But, they are also adorned with historical or mythological sites. Legend has it that during his 14 year exile, Lord Ram spent time in Ramdegi - a small hamlet in the vicinity of the Tadoba National Park.
A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva stands there as well. Although this popular site is frequented by pilgrims, tigers and other animals have been reported to walk here under the cover of the night!
There are also some venerated Buddhist spots close to Ramdegi. A revered historical site is the Buddha Vihar. It is a spot around an old banyan tree.
Ramdegi is also known for sloth bears and the priests have several anecdotes to share.
When did Tadoba become a protected area?
Like other National Parks in India, Tadoba too was once a hunting ground. But, in 1935, hunting of all animals was banned in a radius of 45 square miles around the Tadoba lake. But, hunting was still permitted in the Karwa and Kolsa ranges.
Finally, in 1955, an area of about 115 square kilometres became a reserved forest and was declared as the Tadoba National Park. And in the subsequent decades, some of the villages were translocated outside the protected area.
In 1986, another 500 odd square kilometres was declared as the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary. And in 1995, the Park and the Sanctuary were merged and the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve was established.
Addition of buffer zones
In 2010, another 1000 plus square kilometres of forest land was added as a part of the buffer zones of the Tadoba National Park! As a result tiger numbers have soared and some iconic tigers and tigresses have made the buffer zones their full-time homes!
Today, the Tadoba National Park comprises about 625 square kilometres of core forest area and about 1100 square kilometres of buffer zones! The forest reserve is divided into 3 core zones, namely Tadoba, Moharli, Kolsa. There are six entry gates to these zones and additionally another 12 entry gates to access the six buffer zones of this pristine jungle!
Conclusion
The Tadoba National Park has truly had a coloured and eventful history. This place offers a great blend of myth, history and natural history, luring several thousands of tourists season after season.
Countless dynasties have ruled here and have been blown away by the timeless winds of change. Today, the reigns of this fabled abode are in the paws of mesmerising big cat families who have established their own dynasties!
The times have changed and will continue to change, yet Tadoba will always remain a timeless destination.
The perennial beauty of the Tadoba National Park, with its innumerable breathtaking landscapes, is a treasure trove of opportunities for wildlifers to experience something special and is home to some of the most marvellous species of natural history on the planet! It is a destination well worth putting at the very top of your holiday bucket list!
From history to wildlife, Tadoba has it all – join our next Tadoba Photo Tour and capture the essence of this incredible forest!
