Where is Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve?

Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve lies along the Mukundra hill range near Kota in south-eastern Rajasthan, spread across parts of the Kota, Bundi, Chittorgarh and Jhalawar districts. The safari areas are roughly an hour's drive from Kota city.

Are there tigers in Mukundra?

Yes. Mukundra was notified as Rajasthan's third tiger reserve in 2013, and a small tiger population has been re-established through relocations from Ranthambore. Sightings are never guaranteed — Mukundra is an emerging reserve, and its leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer and birdlife are a big part of the experience.

How do I book a Mukundra safari?

Safari formats, zones and permits at Mukundra depend on the season and current forest department arrangements. The simplest way is to WhatsApp our local Kota team on +91 79766 78497 with your dates — we confirm what is currently open and arrange your visit end to end.

What else is there to do around Kota?

Kota pairs naturally with a Mukundra visit: the Chambal boat safari through the crocodile-rich Jawahar Sagar gorge, Garadia Mahadev viewpoint above the Chambal, the Kota Riverfront, City Palace and Seven Wonders Park.

Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve · Kota, Rajasthan

Mukundra Safari — Rajasthan's next great tiger story, an hour from Kota

A 760 km² sweep of forested hills, gorges and the Chambal's emerald waters, where tigers are being re-established and the crowds of Ranthambore feel a world away. We're a local Kota team: tell us your dates, and we'll arrange your safari honestly.

Local Kota team
No fake tiger promises
Safari + Chambal boat in one plan

What makes Mukundra different

Bengal tiger in Indian forest — Mukundra is Rajasthan's newest tiger landscape — An emerging tiger reserve
Notified in 2013 after Ranthambore and Sariska, Mukundra is where Rajasthan's next tiger population is being rebuilt — wild, quiet and largely undiscovered.

Emerald Chambal river gorge near Garadia Mahadev, Kota — Hills, gorges & the Chambal
The Mukundra ridge folds into valleys and river gorges — the Chambal's cliffs and green water are scenery most of Rajasthan has never seen.

Indian leopard climbing down a rock — leopards thrive across the Mukundra hills — Leopard & sloth bear country
Leopards, sloth bears, striped hyenas, chital, sambar and chinkara share the forest, with superb birdlife in the cooler months.

Open jeep on a forest safari track in an Indian tiger reserve — No crowds, no circus
Mukundra sees a fraction of Ranthambore's visitors. A drive here still feels like a forest, not a queue of jeeps around one sighting.

Gharial crocodile basking on the Chambal river — River life of the Chambal
Marsh crocodiles and gharial bask along the reserve's river country — pair a forest drive with our Chambal boat safari.

Chital deer herd in a misty Indian forest morning — Kota on your doorstep
Kota Junction sits on the Delhi–Mumbai main rail line; the safari side of the reserve is about an hour from the city's hotels.

See what’s open on your datesMessage us your dates and group size. We reply with current safari options and honest costs.

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How booking works

Mukundra is an emerging reserve: safari formats, zones and permits change with the seasons and forest department arrangements. Rather than promise you a stale timetable from the internet, we keep it simple and honest:

1 · Message us your dates

WhatsApp your travel dates and group size. We're in Kota — we know what's actually open right now.

2 · We confirm what's possible

Current safari options, timings and honest expectations — including what you're likely to see, and what we can't promise.

3 · We arrange it end to end

Safari, Chambal boat trip, Kota sightseeing, and stay recommendations if you want them. One local point of contact throughout.

Start on WhatsApp How booking works →

The Chambal river meandering through the gorge below Garadia Mahadev

The reserve at a glance

Status	Rajasthan's 3rd tiger reserve (notified 2013)
Area	~760 km² (core + buffer)
Landscape	Mukundra hill range, Darrah forests, Chambal river country
Districts	Kota · Bundi · Chittorgarh · Jhalawar
Key wildlife	Tiger (reintroduced), leopard, sloth bear, hyena, crocodile & gharial, deer species, 200+ birds

Honest expectations: tiger numbers are small and sightings are a bonus, not a promise. If an operator guarantees you a Mukundra tiger, be suspicious. The full story →

And when the jeep stops — the boat starts

Our team also runs the Chambal boat safari: a cruise through the Jawahar Sagar gorge below Garadia Mahadev, with marsh crocodiles on the banks, wild gharial in the shallows and sandstone cliffs overhead. Forest in the morning, river in the afternoon — the Kota wildlife double no other operator can offer.

Explore the boat safari →

Wild gharial on the Chambal river — seen on the Kota boat safari

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve?

Along the Mukundra hill range near Kota in south-eastern Rajasthan, spread across parts of Kota, Bundi, Chittorgarh and Jhalawar districts. The commonly visited forest areas around Darrah are roughly an hour's drive from Kota city on the national highway.

Are there really tigers?

Yes — a small population re-established through relocations from Ranthambore since 2018. Mukundra is an emerging reserve: treat a tiger sighting as a bonus on top of leopards, sloth bears, deer, crocodiles and superb birdlife.

When is the best time to visit?

October to March is the most comfortable window — cool mornings, active wildlife and migratory birds along the Chambal. Summer drives (April–June) are hotter but concentrate animals near water. Access in the monsoon varies with forest department rules.

How do I book a safari?

WhatsApp us on +91 79766 78497 with your dates and group size. We confirm the current safari options and arrange everything — we're based in Kota, so you get today's reality, not an outdated webpage.

Can I combine Mukundra with a Chambal boat safari?

Yes — it's the combination we recommend most. The Chambal boat safari through the Jawahar Sagar gorge (crocodiles, gharial, birdlife, Garadia Mahadev views) is run by our own team and pairs perfectly with a forest drive for a one-weekend wildlife double.

Still have a question? Ask us on WhatsApp or call +91 79766 78497.

Mukundra Safari — Rajasthan's next great tiger story, an hour from Kota

What makes Mukundra different

An emerging tiger reserve

Hills, gorges & the Chambal

Leopard & sloth bear country

No crowds, no circus

River life of the Chambal

Kota on your doorstep