MP Wildlife Parks Reopen on October 1, But Will Pay More This Year

On October 1, Madhya Pradesh's national parks and tiger reserves will reopen following the annual three-month monsoon break. But this year, tourists will pay more to enter. The state government has announced a 10 percent hike in entry fees. Indian visitors will see a moderate increase. Foreign tourists will pay double.

The parks remain closed from July to September due to heavy rains that make forest tracks unsafe. This is both a safety and a conservation measure. Heavy rains flood streams and damage forest tracks, making safaris risky. Many species also restrict human presence during this breeding season.

Entry Fees Rise for All Tourists

Once the gates open on October 1, visitors will see a change in the ticket prices. The state government has increased the existing entry fee by 10 per cent. For Indian tourists, the change means paying ₹240 more on weekdays and ₹300 more on weekends. The current rate is ₹2,400 for six people from Monday to Friday, and ₹3,000 on Saturday and Sunday.

These rates exclude gypsy charges, which range from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 depending on the park. Foreign tourists will pay double the entry fee. All bookings are done online through the MP Online portal.

The price hike follows a 2024 government notification. In that order, the state revised entry fees for Mukundpur White Tiger Safari, Van Vihar National Park, and Ralamandal Sanctuary. It also outlined a broader policy: entry fees across all protected areas would increase by 10 per cent every three years. That policy now begins with the 2025–26 season.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Umaria district continues to attract a steady flow of visitors. It remains one of the top wildlife destinations in Madhya Pradesh, drawing interest from both Indian and international tourists.

Bandhavgarh Sees Rising Tourist Flow

Over the past five years, the number of Indian visitors has remained consistent. In 2020–21, the park recorded 120,800 Indian tourists. The figure rose to 169,738 in 2021–22 and remained close at 164,559 in 2022–23. Despite a dip to 123,032 in 2023–24, the numbers rebounded to 160,500 by May in the current year, 2024–25.

Foreign tourist interest in Bandhavgarh has grown significantly since the pandemic. Only 109 foreign tourists visited in 2020–21. But the following years saw a sharp rise: 5,945 in 2021–22, 21,266 in 2022–23, and 25,894 in 2023–24. In the first five months of 2024–25 alone, 32,528 foreign tourists visited the reserve.

In total, Bandhavgarh has received over 8.2 lakh tourists in five years. Of these, more than 85,000 were foreign nationals.

Rising tourist numbers have brought in major revenue for Madhya Pradesh’s forest department. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve alone earned ₹61.22 crore over the last five years, showing how wildlife tourism continues to grow across the state.

Wildlife Parks See Steady Rise

Madhya Pradesh recorded over 13.41 crore tourist visits in 2024, a 50 percent jump from the pre-pandemic year of 2019. While religious sites like Ujjain, Chitrakoot, and Omkareshwar led the surge, wildlife parks remain an important part of the tourism mix.

Foreign interest in Madhya Pradesh’s national parks has grown steadily. In 2024, Bandhavgarh alone received around 29,000 foreign tourists. Kanha followed with over 19,000. Parks like Panna and Pench also saw strong numbers, as international visitors included safaris in their travel plans.

Tourism officials say the rising footfall reflects better infrastructure, stronger promotion, and growing global awareness of the state’s rich biodiversity. The steady inflow of both domestic and international tourists supports the push for more investment in park facilities, staff, and conservation work.

Officials see this upward trend as a sign of strong public interest in wildlife tourism.

They say the additional funds from the upcoming ticket price hike will help improve park infrastructure, boost conservation efforts, and support staff working inside the protected areas.

The goal, they add, is to maintain tourist interest while also ensuring better care for the forests and wildlife.

Parks Shut During Monsoon Season

Officials say the parks remain closed between July and September for two key reasons. First, monsoon rains make roads and tracks inside the forest unsafe. Second, this period is the breeding season for wildlife, making it important to limit human interference.

There are 11 national parks in Madhya Pradesh, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, and Kuno. The state also houses several tiger reserves, such as Sanjay-Dubri, Ratapani, and the newer Durgavati reserve in Damoh-Sagar.

Online booking for safaris continues through MP Online. With demand expected to spike in October, tour operators and forest guides are preparing for a busy season, despite the higher prices.

The fee hike may affect budget travellers, but forest officials believe the move is justified. They point to increased maintenance costs, the need for better facilities, and rising interest from both domestic and international tourists.

Support usto keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.

Keep Reading

Mahseer conservation halted: Will MP lose its state fish forever?

Fishermen lose their livelihood due to Omkareshwar Floating Solar

Impact of climate change on fishermen's livelihood in Budhni

As elites control the reservoirs, Sehore's fishermen remain impoverished 

Stay connected with Ground Report for underreported environmental stories.

Follow us onX,Instagram, andFacebook; share your thoughts at [email protected]; subscribe to our weekly newsletter for deep dives from the margins; join ourWhatsApp communityfor real-time updates; and catch our video reports on YouTube.

Your support amplifies voices too often overlooked—thank you for being part of the movement.