All about our family road trip to Tadoba

Some trips stay in your mind for years before they finally happen.

For me, visiting Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve was one such dream. Ever since school days, when we had a lesson about the “ व्याघ्रदर्शन (first look at a tiger) by Sunitabai Deshpande,” I had imagined seeing one in the wild someday. But somehow, summer heat, children, bookings, and plain old planning laziness kept pushing the trip further away.

This year, I finally decided not to overthink.

I simply booked the available safaris for peak summer season, knowing very well that 40°C plus temperatures are normal in Tadoba, and also knowing that summer increases the chances of tiger sightings near water bodies. About one and a half months in advance, we booked our stay at Tadoba Jungle Camp Resort.

Meanwhile, my husband had another challenge in mind; completing the journey from Pune to Tadoba entirely by EV.

That made the trip even more adventurous.

Pune to Tadoba: With an EV and Two Kids

The road distance from Pune to Chandrapur via Tadoba is roughly 800+ kilometres depending on the route and safari gate location. We decided to split the journey with a halt at Aurangabad.

Since we had a full day in hand there, we explored some of the city’s most iconic places:

• Ellora Caves
• Daulatabad Fort
• Bibi Ka Maqbara
• Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

The day turned out beautifully balanced between history, spirituality, and architecture.

Ellora Caves : A Timeless Wonder

Among everything we visited, Ellora was truly unforgettable.

The caves are not just monuments; they are proof of what human imagination and craftsmanship can achieve centuries ago without modern technology. Spread across Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain cave complexes, the site reflects religious harmony and artistic brilliance.

The magnificent Kailasa Temple, carved out of a single rock, leaves you speechless. Walking through the caves feels like stepping into another era, with intricate sculptures, massive pillars, ancient stories, and silence that somehow speaks loudly about India’s cultural richness.

It is absolutely a must-visit for every traveller.

Grishneshwar Temple & Stories of the Jyotirlingas

The visit to Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple gave us a deeper understanding of the 12 Jyotirlingas and why devotees travel across India to visit them. Despite the rush, the management was smooth and disciplined.

Bibi Ka Maqbara: Maharashtra’s Mini Taj

Bibi Ka Maqbara is often called the “Taj Mahal of the Deccan,” and rightly so. Its white marble structure, symmetrical gardens, and Mughal-style architecture instantly remind visitors of Taj Mahal. Though smaller in scale, it carries its own charm and elegance, especially during sunset hours.

Samruddhi Mahamarg & The Detour to Lonar Lake

Our main focus was still the long drive to Tadoba, so we started early from Aurangabad the next morning.

Driving on Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg itself felt like an attraction. Smooth roads, long stretches, and changing landscapes made the journey enjoyable.

On the way, we decided to slightly tweak our route and visit Lonar Lake.

Lonar Lake is one of the world’s rare meteor-impact crater lakes formed thousands of years ago. Surrounded by forests and ancient temples, the lake has an almost mysterious beauty. The mix of geology, mythology, and peaceful surroundings makes it a unique stop for travellers crossing central Maharashtra.

And then began the real EV adventure.

Travelling long distance by EV is exciting, until charging anxiety enters the picture.

And honestly, it becomes even more real when:

• kids are travelling with you,
• outside temperatures are above 40°C,
• charging stations are crowded,
• apps stop working,
• charging guns malfunction,
• electricity supply fluctuates,
• or charging speeds suddenly drop because multiple vehicles are connected simultaneously.

We experienced almost everything possible.

Some people had already reserved charging stations before arriving. At a few places, chargers were functional but slow. Somewhere, the app refused to download properly. Somewhere else, there was simply no power supply.

Yet surprisingly, the overall charging availability was not bad.

The challenge with EVs is that charging is not the only concern. Unexpected situations add up quickly. We even had a puncture incident on a completely dark road in an unfamiliar area. Thankfully, roads from Wardha to Chandrapur were in good condition and fairly active even at night.

By the time we finally reached Tadoba, we were exhausted, reli excited, and already worried whether we would actually spot a tiger even before safari..

Mother’s Day at Tadoba

Apparently, our arrival weekend, 10th May, coincided with Mother’s Day.

Then I clicked a few photos with my cubs, and honestly, it became one of the most memorable Mother’s Days ever.

Before the safari, we visited the Tadoba Safari Information Centre near Moharli Gate. The centre is thoughtfully designed and surprisingly modern, much like interactive wildlife museums abroad. It includes visual exhibits, educational displays, a short VR safari experience, and a souvenir shop for visitors.

It beautifully introduces tourists to the ecosystem, wildlife behaviour, and conservation efforts of Tadoba.

Our Safaris — Devada & Junona Gates

We had booked two safaris:

• Afternoon safari at Devada Gate
• Morning safari at Junona Gate

Both belonged to Tadoba’s buffer zone.

At entry, Aadhaar verification was checked, and to our pleasant surprise, every visitor was handed chilled water bottles in reusable glass containers. In that scorching heat, it genuinely felt luxurious.

Our First Tiger Ever

Our first safari was from 3 PM to 7 PM.

And what happened next felt unreal.

Before spotting deer or birds or any other animal, we saw a tiger…

A young tigress.

She was around two-and-a-half years old and was introduced to us by the guide as the daughter of Madhu and Shambhu. Watching a wild tiger walk freely in front of us was difficult to describe in words. There was grace, confidence, beauty, and raw power all at once.

She had just come from a nearby water body and seemed to be in hunting mode. We watched her walk calmly, make territorial markings, observe the surroundings, and disappear into the forest.

The rest of the safari was equally magical.

We saw:

• herds of deer,
• barking deer,
• chital,
• sambar,
• monkeys,
• peacocks,
• gaurs (Indian bison),
• and countless birds.

Our very first wildlife safari already felt successful.

Conversations That Made the Experience Richer

Back at the resort, every visitor had a different tiger story.

Some had taken four safaris and still hadn’t seen a tiger. Some families were revisiting Tadoba after four years purely for another sighting. Others shared stories of cubs, hunting moments, and missed opportunities.

That made us realise how lucky we truly were.

More Than We Hoped For

The next morning safari began at 5:30 AM.

This time we spotted:

• a sloth bear,
• several birds,
• deer herds,
• and another tigress.

She was larger and older than the previous day’s tiger.

Her name was Kajri, around four years old, and according to our guide, she had recently given birth to cubs. She was likely out marking territory while the cubs remained hidden safely nearby.

For almost ten minutes, we watched her walk along the road, scratch trees, leave scent markings, and silently move through the jungle.

That alone would have made the safari unforgettable.

But Tadoba had one more surprise waiting.

Near a lake, after spotting multiple birds like:

• peacocks,
• crested serpent eagles,
• kingfishers,
• herons,
• egrets,
• and drongos,

we encountered yet another tigress, believed to be another daughter of Madhu.

We followed her until she calmly entered a pond to escape the intense summer heat.

At that moment, nobody in the jeep wanted the safari to end.

The Journey Back 😀 Charging Stations Again

With full hearts and unforgettable memories, we said goodbye to Tadoba and began our return journey.

Thankfully, we already knew a few charging stations from the onward trip, so the stress levels were lower this time. To make the journey comfortable for the kids, we again halted at Aurangabad before returning to Pune the next morning.

The trip was tiring, unpredictable, and sometimes stressful.

But it was absolutely worth it.

A Few Things This Journey Taught Us

• Mothers should genuinely do something they love on Mother’s Day.
• Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is truly a must-visit destination.
• EV infrastructure in Maharashtra has huge growth potential.
• Long EV road trips are possible, they instill value like patience in wives particularly 😀
• Nothing compares to seeing a tiger in the wild for the very first time.