Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary Guide 2026 — Richhi Khoh, Daulatpur & Nandadai Gates

Kheoni is one of Madhya Pradesh's lesser-known wildlife sanctuaries — a stretch of dry deciduous Malwa forest that sees a fraction of the visitor traffic of Kanha or Bandhavgarh, while still offering genuine chances of tiger, leopard and a wide range of central Indian wildlife. For travellers who have already done the popular reserves and want something quieter, or for those based in Bhopal or Indore looking for a closer alternative, Kheoni is worth serious consideration.

Because it remains relatively undiscovered, planning a Kheoni safari booking online requires a bit more groundwork than the well-trodden reserves — this guide covers all three entry gates and how far each sits from the region's major cities.

Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary has three entry gates, spread across different approaches to the sanctuary. Unlike Bandhavgarh's single-counter system, each Kheoni gate is a genuinely separate access point with its own distance profile from Bhopal and Indore.

• Travelling from Bhopal: Daulatpur Gate is by far the most convenient at just 79 km — roughly half the distance of the other two gates from the city.
• Travelling from Indore: All three gates sit at a broadly similar distance (124–149 km), so Richhi Khoh or Nandadai are reasonable choices depending on your exact route.
• Combining with an Ashta stopover: Nandadai Gate's 45 km distance from Ashta makes it the natural choice if that's part of your travel plan.
• Want the quietest possible Kheoni experience: Given how lightly visited the sanctuary already is, any of the three gates will feel considerably less crowded than a core zone at Kanha or Bandhavgarh — Nandadai in particular sees the least through-traffic.

• Morning safari: 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Evening safari: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

As with other MP sanctuaries, exact gate timings can shift seasonally — confirm current slots when your Kheoni safari permit booking is confirmed.

Like most central Indian reserves, Kheoni is best visited from October through June, with the monsoon months (July–September) typically unsuitable for safari activity.

• October–February: Pleasant temperatures, good visibility through the dry deciduous forest.
• March–June: As water sources reduce, wildlife sightings around remaining waterholes tend to improve, consistent with the pattern seen across MP's reserves.

Kheoni won't match Bandhavgarh's tiger density or Kanha's established infrastructure, but it offers something increasingly hard to find at India's popular reserves — genuine quiet. Fewer vehicles, fewer other travellers, and a more exploratory feel to each safari. It also sits closer to Bhopal than several of MP's better-known reserves, making it a practical option for a shorter trip.

• Nearest major cities: Bhopal (79–134 km depending on gate) and Indore (124–149 km depending on gate)
• By road: All three gates are road-accessible from Bhopal and Indore; Daulatpur offers the shortest drive from Bhopal, while Nandadai is reached via Ashta.

Accommodation options near Kheoni are more limited than at MP's major reserves, reflecting its lower visitor numbers. TheForestStay can advise on the best available stay option matched to your chosen gate, or arrange a day-trip structure from Bhopal or Indore if an overnight stay isn't part of your plan.