From Maoist stronghold to wildlife destination: Indravati prepares to open Its forests

For years, Maoists used the dense forests of Bastar’s Indravati Tiger Reserve (ITR) as a base, keeping large parts of the remote wilderness beyond the reach of the administration and tourists. Now, with Bijapur emerging from decades of Maoist violence, the Chhattisgarh government is preparing to turn the once-inaccessible forest into a wildlife tourism destination.

The forest department is working to open Indravati to tourists by the end of this year or the beginning of the New Year, although officials say the exact timeline will depend on preparations on the ground. The first phase of the safari plan will be limited, with selected routes and destinations being developed before visitors are allowed into the forest.

“Initially, we are planning a 30-km safari route for the first phase, and the possible gate would be at Ullur near Bhopalpatnam. During our survey, we have also chosen a second gate near a place called Mattimarika, close to the Indravati River. The place looks like a beach, where tourists can stop and enjoy the landscape,” said Uttam Kumar Gupta, field director of Indravati Tiger Reserve.

“Eco-huts will also be part of our proposal. The higher authorities will take the final call on it,” Gupta said.

The tourism infrastructure is being planned alongside basic requirements for safari operations, such as preparing routes, procuring vehicles, and training local guides and drivers.

“Primarily, we are preparing routes. We need to train guides and drivers, purchase vehicles for safari and have locker rooms for keeping digital devices belonging to tourists before they enter the forest,” said Sumedh Surwade, deputy director of Indravati Tiger Reserve.

The proposed tourism circuit could also become part of the government’s wider effort to create livelihood opportunities for communities around the reserve. Gupta said the socio-economic integration of local people would be an important component, including the possibility of employing surrendered insurgents as guides or drivers under government rehabilitation policies, subject to the required skills, training and eligibility.

The prospect is significant in a landscape where armed insurgency shaped everyday life for years. Employment linked to tourism could provide an alternative livelihood while creating a local stake in the conservation economy.

According to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) data, Indravati Tiger Reserve extends over 2,799.07 sq km in Bijapur district. Of this, 1,258.37 sq km is the critical tiger habitat, while 1,540.70 sq km constitutes the buffer area.

Declared under Project Tiger in 1983, the reserve derives its name from the Indravati River, a major tributary of the Godavari. Its rugged landscape encompasses tropical moist and dry deciduous forests, plateaus, hills and riverine habitats.

Indravati's importance extends beyond the tiger. The reserve is also embedded in the cultural landscape of Bastar, a region known for the Gond, Muria and Maria communities.

Opening the forest to tourists, however, will require a careful balance between development and conservation. The department will have to ensure that safari routes, visitor numbers and tourism infrastructure remain compatible with the ecological sensitivity of the reserve.

“In accordance with NTCA guidelines for safari as well as the guidelines given by the Honourable Supreme Court, we are working on it very closely,” Surwade said.

Gupta said the department ultimately hopes to launch the first phase around the New Year, subject to the completion of preparations and necessary approvals. The initial circuit will therefore serve as a controlled beginning rather than an opening of the entire reserve to tourism.

“We are hopeful to make it possible at least by the end of this year,” Surwade said.

The first safari vehicles entering Indravati Tiger Reserve will mark a significant transformation for a forest that remained inaccessible to mainstream tourism for many years. The challenge will now be to ensure that the return of visitors strengthens conservation and creates sustainable opportunities for local communities without disturbing the wilderness that has survived decades of isolation.