RANTHAMBORE Zone 8: Balas
Zone 8, Balas, is hilly country next to zone 7 with views over the Aravalli ridges: Balas, Kherai and Neemli Dang on the route, thinner wildlife than the core and a calm, handsome drive.
Ranthambore Tiger books safari permits in your name — we are not the Rajasthan Forest Department and not the official park booking website.
Check availability for your date
Check my date on WhatsApp →Reply in 2 min · 7am–10pm · pay only after we confirm
Prefer to pay online now? Book & pay online →
Phone optional here · we reply by email, usually within the hour (7am–10pm)
In one line: Zone 8, Balas, is hilly country next to zone 7 with views over the Aravalli ridges: Balas, Kherai and Neemli Dang on the route, thinner wildlife than the core and a calm, handsome drive.
Zone 8 is one of the outer zones 6 to 10. all other zones are allotted by the Forest Department portal within their group, and we request yours where seats are open. Zones 1 to 5 do not run on Wednesdays, zones 6 to 10 on Tuesdays. Content checked 4 November 2026.
Where zone 8 is
Zone 8 lies on the outer rim beside zone 7. Balas, Kherai and Neemli Dang are the named points on the route.
Zone 8 lies outside this picture, on the outer edge of the reserve; the 3D map shows it in place.
Boundaries on our maps are drawn from public map data and our drivers’ knowledge of the routes; they are illustrative, not the Forest Department’s survey lines.
Landscape and water
Hills and ridges with wide views; dry forest in the folds and ravines (“dang”) with seasonal water.
Got a date in mind? Send it on WhatsApp. We check live seats and reply in minutes, 7am–10pm.
Check my date on WhatsAppLandmarks on the route
- Balas
- Kherai
- Neemli Dang
Wildlife our guides see in zone 8
Sambar, nilgai and chinkara on the slopes, raptors on the ridges, sloth bear on occasion. Tiger sightings are less frequent than in the core.
Tigers and zone 8
Tigers use zone 8 as part of the wider outer range. Sightings happen but are not regular; we say so plainly when you ask.
Sold out online? Ask us. We book from the daily current and tatkal quotas, and you pay only after we confirm availability, with a full refund if the permit can’t be issued.
Check my date on WhatsAppGetting zone 8: permits, closures and our prices
| Safari | Indian nationals | Foreign nationals | Quota and release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canter seat (20-seat open bus) | ₹2,200 | ₹4,500 | Current quota: released 10:00 am the day before |
| Gypsy seat (6-seat open jeep) | ₹5,500 | ₹8,000 | Premium quota: released 3 days before |
| Whole gypsy (tatkal, up to 6) | ₹36,000 | ₹50,000 | Tatkal: 11:00 am, 7 days before; non-refundable once issued |
All-in per seat or per vehicle: Forest Department permit, vehicle, guide and pickup. Festive weeks (Diwali, Christmas to New Year) run higher; advance-quota dates (after 31 January 2027) are priced lower and allotted by the portal. Full refund if the permit is not issued. Zone 8 does not run on Tuesdays.
Photography in zone 8
Landscape as much as wildlife: ridgelines at dawn, the park spread out below. Carry a wide lens.
Zone 8 questions
Is zone 8 worth it?
For scenery and quiet, yes; for a first tiger safari, we would put the lakes or zone 6 first. It is a good third drive.
Can I name zone 8?
Outer-zone permits are allotted among zones 6 to 10; we can request zone 8 through the choice option at the outer price when it has open seats.
Is zone 8 closed on any day?
Zones 6 to 10 do not run on Tuesdays.
The other zones
Zone 1: Singh Dwar and Sultanpur · Zone 2: Phuta Kot and the waterholes · Zone 3: Padam Talao and Rajbagh · Zone 4: Malik Talao and Lakarda · Zone 5: Kachida valley and Bakaula · Zone 6: Kundal · Zone 7: Chidikho · Zone 9: Kuwalji · Zone 10: Aantri
All ten zones compared → · Timings and zones → · Famous tigers →
Dated sightings archive
Verified entries for this zone from our sightings archive: dated, zone-level, sourced. Not a live position.
Loading the archive…
Sources and how we know
Zone descriptions, landmarks and route notes come from our own drivers and guides, who drive these zones every week; closures, quotas and fees are as published on the official portal and are re-checked when the Forest Department changes them (see the “Updated” date).
- Official Rajasthan Forest Department safari booking portal (FMDSS / Aaranyak): seat release, quotas, official permit fees
- Official Rajasthan Forest Department
- Official National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Government of India
- Research Status of Tigers in India 2022: summary report (NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India)
- Background Ranthambore National Park: Wikipedia (background reading, not our source for prices or rules)
Spotted an error? Tell us and we correct it: see our editorial and corrections policy.