Tala Jeep Safari, Bandhavgarh National Park - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 1 km from Tala Bus Stop, Tala Zone is the oldest safari zone of Bandhavgarh and thus often considered as synonymous to Bandhavgarh National Park. The entry gate of the zone is Tala Gate located near Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge at Tala village.

The zone got its name from the local village Tala where the entry gate is located. Tala is the most famous zone among day tourists as the chances of spotting the wild predators in their natural habitats is high in this zone compared to other zones. It is known for its abundant natural beauty and open grasslands. The density of tiger population in this zone is high. Famous Bandhavgarh Fort, Shesh Shaiya statue, the origin of Charanganga River and Three Cave Point is also located in Tala zone.

The best way to explore the flora and fauna of the national park is to travel through jeep safari. Jeep Safaris operate in two shifts, one in the early morning and another one in the evening. The Jeep Safari is done only with vehicles registered with the park administration as private vehicles are not allowed inside the park. The number of vehicles allowed to enter into this zone of Bandhavgarh is 20 in the morning and 20 in the evening. Each jeep can take up to 6 travelers other than a driver and one naturalist. The safari entry and exit timings change according to the change of seasons. Afternoon shift is typically closed on Wednesdays and on Holi.

If you are interested in Tala zone safari then you need to do online safari ticket booking at www.mponline.gov.in. It is strongly recommended to book safari almost 120 days before your trip as it is the most popular safari zone thus all the black marketing agencies, tries to grab its ticket on priority. Sometimes, its safari tickets get sold out in first 2-3 minutes so expecting guarantee for Tala zone safari ticket is not justified, due to stiff competition, especially during holidays, festivals, weekends, etc. For safari ticket booking, just arrange all the visitors' details in advance like Name, Father's/Husband Name, Age, Gender, ID Type, ID number, safari schedule, etc. and quickly do the booking by making an online payment when safari tickets get open for sale. Else, one can book safari tickets through hotels or travel agents.

All the visitors are required to carry their original identity document during safari drives as it is verified at the entrance gate. Safari tickets are non-transferable. During safari drive, guide service is compulsory on each safari vehicle.

Safari Timings: 6.30 AM - 11 AM & 2.30 PM - 5.30 PM from Oct - Feb and 6 AM -- 10 AM & 3 PM - 6 PM from Mar - June, Closed on every Wednesday evening, on Holi & during monsoon months.

Safari Permit Fee: Rs. 250 for Single Seat in Jeep, Rs. 1500 per Whole Jeep (max 6 Persons). Jeep hiring cost & guide cost extra (around 2500 per jeep and 480 per guide).

Note: Safari cost changes frequently