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Maharashtra

Chandoli National Park

Sahyadri tiger reserve around the vast Vasant Sagar reservoir

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Best time to visit Chandoli National Park

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March to May and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Chandoli National Park season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Nov-Feb is best: cool safari mornings, gaur, sambar and giant squirrels in the open; tigers need real luck, this is no Tadoba.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Mar-May climbs toward 38 C but wildlife pulls to the shrinking water; mornings stay workable and the park is at its emptiest.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Jun to Sep the core zone shuts while some 4000 mm of rain hammers the Warna valley; come back when the gates reopen in October.

Autumn October to November Prime time

From mid-Oct the park reopens lush and full of birds; November pairs green cover with drier tracks and comfortable weather.

What Chandoli National Park is actually like

Simple resorts near the Warna dam villages; serious birders and wildlife photographers, no tourist scene

Things to do in Chandoli National Park

The local places worth your time in and around Chandoli National Park, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Chandoli Dam

    Reservoir · 12 km out

    Earthfill dam on the Warna holding the Vasant Sagar backwater the reserve wraps around; the approach is from Kokrud

  • Kandhardoh Falls

    Waterfall · 10 km out

    A high drop off the plateau lip on the park's safari track; thin outside the rains, ask the range office if it is open

  • Zolambi Sada

    Viewpoint · 15 km out

    Flat basalt plateau inside the park that flowers after the rains, with a lookout west; reachable by park jeep only

  • Prachitgad Fort

    Fort · 20 km out

    Overgrown Shivaji era fort on the Konkan edge of the reserve; take a village guide and allow most of a day

Getting to Chandoli National Park

Karad railhead 60 km or Sangli 90 km, bus to Kokrud then taxi; safaris booked by phone with the reserve office

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
787 m
State
Maharashtra
Coordinates
17.1886, 73.7869

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Chandoli National Park?

November to February is peak season in Chandoli National Park. March to May and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. From mid-Oct the park reopens lush and full of birds; November pairs green cover with drier tracks and comfortable weather.

How many days do you need in Chandoli National Park?

2 days is the usual stay. Simple resorts near the Warna dam villages; serious birders and wildlife photographers, no tourist scene.

How do you get to Chandoli National Park?

Karad railhead 60 km or Sangli 90 km, bus to Kokrud then taxi; safaris booked by phone with the reserve office. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Chandoli National Park expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

What are the best things to do in Chandoli National Park?

Chandoli Dam, Kandhardoh Falls, Zolambi Sada and Prachitgad Fort. Earthfill dam on the Warna holding the Vasant Sagar backwater the reserve wraps around; the approach is from Kokrud.

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