The gaur, often called the Indian bison, lives in forests across much of India, but you will only see it in a few kinds of places: hilly forest with grass and water, mostly inside national parks and tiger reserves. Here is where it is found, and where you have the best chance of seeing one.
Where Is the Gaur Found in India?
India has most of the world’s wild gaur. They live in three main regions:
- Western Ghats (South and West India): the biggest and easiest-to-see herds. Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa.
- Central India: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, in tiger reserves such as Kanha, Pench, Tadoba and Satpura.
- East and Northeast India: Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, in smaller and shyer herds.
Gaur avoid open plains and deserts, so you will not find them in Rajasthan, Gujarat or most of the Indo-Gangetic plain.
Best National Parks to See Gaur
- Nagarhole and Bandipur (Karnataka): large herds, often seen near the roads and water.
- Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu): part of the same Nilgiri forest, with very good gaur sightings.
- Periyar (Kerala): gaur on the grassy hills around the lake.
- Kanha and Pench (Madhya Pradesh): regular sightings in the meadows and bamboo.
- Tadoba (Maharashtra): we have seen gaur here many times, especially near water in summer.
- Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh): gaur were brought back here from Kanha in 2011–12 and the herd has grown. Read our Bandhavgarh gaur notes.
- Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (Goa): the gaur is Goa’s state animal.
Which State Animal Is the Gaur?
The gaur is the state animal of Goa and of Bihar. In Goa it is locally called gava.
When and How to See Gaur
- Time of day: early morning and late evening, when they feed. At midday they rest in deep shade.
- Season: March to June in central India, when animals gather near water and the forest is open.
- What to look for: a huge dark animal with white “socks” on its lower legs. That one mark tells you it is a gaur.
- Stay in the jeep and keep a calm distance. Read Is the Indian gaur dangerous?
Is There Real Bison in India?
No. India has no true bison. The animal people call the “Indian bison” is the gaur, which is wild cattle. Read why the gaur is not a bison.
Questions People Ask
Where is the gaur found in India?
In forested hills of the Western Ghats, central India and the Northeast. The best places to see one are Nagarhole, Bandipur, Mudumalai, Kanha, Pench and Tadoba.
Which state has the most gaur?
The Western Ghats states, especially Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, hold the largest herds.
Is the gaur found in Goa?
Yes. It is Goa’s state animal and lives in the forests of the Goa Western Ghats, such as Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
Full facts: Indian Gaur (Bos gaurus): Size, Weight, Habitat and Where to See It