Additional charges to carry camera in National Parks

[misskrystal1982]

Wow! I had never heard of such a thing. I agree with others that I would think I would be easier to just increase the admission. After all, it's not as though taking a picture harms the environment in any way. What are their views on camera phones? After all, there are plenty of phones that have great quality pictures now. Would they charge the fee just to carry your phone?
I would call and ask anywhere you are going what the rules are with this, and maybe even ask why.

 

[pwarbi]

I also wouldn't be surprised if the rules are open to a little manipulation as well if they're not set in stone anywhere or in the terms and conditions of visiting the park.

A park might not say anything about taking pictures but the guides might try and charge you, making a bit of extra money as and when they can.

 

[Zhen25]

It's the first I'm hearing about paying to have your cameras in parks. I won't say I'm again it though. It just goes to show how much they value there history. Some people take pictures of these places and sell them online. So if individuals can benefit financially from the beautiful scenery then why can't the government do so too.

 

[Gabydi]

Well, this is completely new to me. I wasn't aware of this and it's good to have this forum to learn all this stuff. I don't really like the fact that tourists should pay a fee to take videos or pictures, but if the money goes to the animals and to take better care of the park then it's fair. Besides, in dollars is nothing really, so it's completely worth it.

 

[LydiaJJ]

I'm in two minds about this kind of fee. Fifty US is too much though, regardless. I can understand the arguments about people selling their photographs later, but nobody would want to pay for my badly taken shots! I also wouldn't want to leave a camera or phone with strangers if it was a choice between do that or pay.

 

[Aja]

I had never heard anything like that before. I suppose people make money off their pictures. If
I had to pay that kind of money to carry my camera, I would definitely be trying to sell them.

 

[RBean]

That's totally my thoughts too. I like taking pictures when I'm in beautiful nature places because I like having those memories. I wouldn't even have had selling the pictures on my radar of thoughts. But if you tell me "hey, we're gonna charge you extra to bring your camera", then I'm probably going to find somewhere else to go that doesn't impose those kind of restrictions/extra fees.

I agree amelia88. If someone tells me they charge a fee for a camera, which I'm sure adds up to a lot since most tourist will bring a camera or camcorder wherever the visit, I will go somewhere else. It costs enough to travel and visit places that I really don't need the extra cost for each place I visit. This is not the way to bring in visitors.

 

[adrklkol]

Just got to know from one of the website that there is an additional charge to carry a camera in national parks, is that true? The fee for Camcorder (video camera) is mentioned as $100 per camcorder and $50 for a digital camera for foreigners, which sounds too much to me. My friend and I are planning to visit some national parks soon, but if they are charging so much then we will prefer not to carry our cameras. Does anyone here know the facts and any way around?

First, which National Park are you visiting, you have not mentioned. We had recently been to Manas National Park in the state of Assam, all of us fellow Indians and it cost us INR 100 per camera. The evening we checked in, we requested the authority at the gate not to charge us. Even if we tell them, we have two digicams or camcorders instead of actual numbers, it hardly makes an difference. Yes, obviously for foreigners, the charges are much more. Thats for every tourist destination in India.

 

[Admin]

Carrying a camera inside India's national parks often comes with additional charges, which vary depending on the park and the type of camera (DSLR, professional video cameras, drones, etc.). Here’s a detailed breakdown of camera charges for major national parks in India (2025 updated):

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Camera Charges in Popular National Parks of India (2025 Updated)​

National Park / Sanctuary	State	Still Camera Fee (₹)	Video Camera Fee (₹)	Drone Fee (₹)
Jim Corbett National Park	Uttarakhand	Free	₹500	₹5,000 (permit required)
Ranthambore National Park	Rajasthan	₹100	₹800	₹10,000 (special permission)
Kaziranga National Park	Assam	₹100	₹1,000	₹10,000 (prior approval)
Sundarbans National Park	West Bengal	₹200	₹500	Prohibited
Kanha National Park	Madhya Pradesh	₹250	₹2,000	₹5,000 (with permit)
Bandhavgarh National Park	Madhya Pradesh	₹250	₹2,000	₹5,000 (permit required)
Tadoba National Park	Maharashtra	₹200	₹1,500	₹8,000 (special permission)
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary	Kerala	₹50	₹500	Not Allowed
Gir National Park	Gujarat	₹200	₹1,500	₹7,500 (with prior approval)
Bannerghatta National Park	Karnataka	₹50	₹500	Not Allowed
Pench National Park	Madhya Pradesh	₹250	₹2,000	₹5,000 (permit required)
Manas National Park	Assam	₹50	₹500	₹10,000 (prior approval)
Nagarhole National Park	Karnataka	₹100	₹1,000	Not Allowed
Mudumalai National Park	Tamil Nadu	₹100	₹750	Prohibited
Dudhwa National Park	Uttar Pradesh	₹200	₹1,000	₹8,000 (prior approval)
Rajaji National Park	Uttarakhand	₹200	₹1,000	Not Allowed
Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary)	Rajasthan	₹100	₹600	Not Allowed

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Important Notes on Camera Charges & Permissions:​

Professional camera equipment & lenses above 400mm may require special permits.
Tripods are allowed in some parks, but require an additional charge in others.
Drones are strictly regulated and require prior permission from forest authorities.
Some national parks have different fees for Indian and foreign tourists.
Pro Tip: Always check the latest guidelines from the official website of the national park before visiting, as charges and rules can change.
Hope this helps! If you’ve been to any national park recently, share your experience below!