The Short Answer
Karhandla Gate is 50 km from Nagpur — roughly a 1.5-hour drive via the Nagpur–Umred highway. It is the closest and most popular of the three gates.
Gothangaon Gate is ~55 km via the Bhiwapur route. Pauni Gate is ~60 km via the Nagpur–Bhandara highway, and only 20 km from Bhandara town.
Nearest airport: Nagpur (68 km). Nearest railhead: Nagpur Railway Station. Driving or a private taxi is strongly recommended for morning safaris.
Distances
Distance to Each Safari Gate
Umred Pauni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary spreads across Pauni Tahsil in Bhandara district and the Umred, Kuhi and Bhiwapur talukas of Nagpur district, along the Wainganga River. Because the sanctuary is large and its three gates sit on different sides of it, your route depends entirely on which gate you have booked.
| Gate | From Nagpur | Drive Time | Main Route | Nearest Town | Closed On |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karhandla Gate | ~50 km | ~1.5 hours | Nagpur–Umred highway | Umred | Mondays |
| Gothangaon Gate | ~55 km | ~1.5 hours | Nagpur–Bhiwapur route | Bhiwapur | Mondays |
| Pauni Gate | ~60 km | ~1.5–2 hours | Nagpur–Bhandara highway | Pauni (20 km from Bhandara) | Tuesdays |
Confirm your gate before you set off. The three gates are not close to one another and there is no internal road connecting them. Arriving at the wrong gate means a long detour and almost certainly a missed slot — your booking confirmation names the gate you are permitted to enter.
Travel Options
Getting to the Sanctuary
By Flight
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur is the nearest airport, approximately 68 km from the sanctuary. It has direct connections from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad. Prepaid taxis, app cabs and private car hire are all available at the terminal.
By Train
Nagpur Railway Station is the closest major railhead, about a 1.5-hour drive from the gates. As one of the busiest junctions on the Indian Railways network, it has direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Bhandara Road station is a useful alternative if you are heading to Pauni Gate.
By Bus
Maharashtra State Transport buses run every 30 minutes from Bhandara Bus Stand between 5 AM and 8 PM. Buses also operate from Nagpur towards Umred and Bhiwapur through the day. From whichever town you reach, a local auto-rickshaw or shared jeep covers the final stretch to the gate.
By Road (Recommended)
Driving is the most practical option, and the only reliable one for a morning safari. Roads from Nagpur to all three gates are well surfaced, and each gate has a small parking area beside the forest department reception desk. Private taxis from Nagpur can be booked for a round trip including waiting time.
Driving Directions
Route to Each Gate from Nagpur
Nagpur → Karhandla Gate (~50 km, 1.5 hrs)
- Leave Nagpur city heading southeast on the Nagpur–Umred highway.
- Continue through to Umred town, roughly 40 km from the city centre.
- At Umred, take the right turn towards the sanctuary, following signs for Karhandla.
- Continue about 10 km to reach the Karhandla Gate forest department check-post, where permits and IDs are verified.
- Park in the marked area beside the reception desk and report to the counter at least 30 minutes before your slot.
Nagpur → Gothangaon Gate (~55 km, 1.5 hrs)
- Head southeast from Nagpur on the Bhiwapur route.
- Continue to Bhiwapur town, from where shared jeeps and private taxis are also available if you are not driving.
- Follow the sanctuary road towards Gothangaon, in Bhiwapur Taluka.
- Arrive at the clearly marked forest department check-post — permits must be obtained and verified before entry.
Nagpur → Pauni Gate (~60 km, 1.5–2 hrs)
- Take the Nagpur–Bhandara highway heading east out of the city.
- Continue towards Pauni town, in Pauni Tahsil of Bhandara district.
- At Pauni, turn south towards the sanctuary and the Wainganga riverside zone.
- Reach Pauni Gate, approximately 20 km west of Bhandara town.
- If arriving by bus, State Transport services run from Bhandara Bus Stand to Pauni, with local auto-rickshaws covering the last leg to the gate.
Nearby Wildlife Destinations
UPKWS sits within a well-connected central India wildlife circuit, which makes it easy to combine with other reserves on a longer trip. The sanctuary is ecologically linked to Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, and tigers move between the two through connecting forest corridors.
| Destination | Distance from UPKWS | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve | ~40 km | South |
| Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary | ~50 km | Northeast |
| Nagpur City | ~50 km | Northwest |
| Bhandara Town | ~60 km | East |
Planning Your Arrival Around Safari Timings
The morning safari begins at 5:30 AM and gates require you to report by 5:00 AM for ID and permit verification. Working backwards from a 50 km drive, that means leaving Nagpur by around 3:30 AM — before the first buses of the day. Guests booked on a morning slot should drive themselves, arrange a private taxi the night before, or stay overnight in Umred or near the gate.
The evening safari, running 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM with reporting by 3:00 PM, is far more forgiving. A comfortable late-morning departure from Nagpur gets you to any of the three gates with time to spare, which makes the evening slot the natural choice for anyone travelling in on the same day by train or flight.
Fuel Up in Town
Fill your tank in Nagpur, Umred, Bhiwapur or Bhandara. There are no fuel stations near the gates themselves.
Download Offline Maps
Mobile signal thins out on the approach roads and inside the sanctuary. Save your route offline before leaving the city.
Evening Slot for Same-Day Travel
Arriving by train or flight on the day of your safari? Book the evening slot — the 5:00 AM morning reporting time is unrealistic.
Carry Original IDs
Every guest needs the original government photo ID used at booking. It is checked at the gate against the permit.
Allow More Time in the Rains
Safaris run year-round, but monsoon approach roads are slower and slipperier. Add extra buffer time from July to September.
Allow Buffer Time
Add 30 minutes to any estimate. Village traffic, cattle crossings and unmarked turns all slow the final stretch.