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National Parks & Wildlife in India
Searching for the famous Bengal Tiger is one of the most memorable experiences to have on your tour to India. With over 80 national parks in the country, and each one providing something unique, it’s hard to narrow down the list. From abandoned castles, temples in ruins, labyrinths of canals and conservation projects unique to the area. Here are some of the most popular places to seek out wildlife and wait for the king of the jungle to make his appearance.
1. Jim Corbett National Park - Uttarakhand
Dense forests, depleted savannahs, rocky rivers and glistening watering holes make up India’s first ever National Park. Established in 1936, the Jim Corbett National Park has since become one of the best places to spot the majestic, Royal Bengal Tigers roam the land. Spanning an area of 1300 sq km, they are able to house around 200 tigers and 300 elephants. If you’re lucky, you can also spot sloth bears skulking around the forests, monkeys playing in the trees and gharials basking in the sun. Other animals you might see are: jackals, deer, red foxes, leopards, macaques, peacocks and otters.
Best time to visit: November - May
2. Kaziranga - Assam
Dubbed ‘the home of the Big Five’, Kaziranga is a great location for wildlife lovers. It’s most famous resident is the one-horned rhinoceros who stalks the 378 square kilometers of this biodiversity hotspot. Much of the park consists of swamps and grasslands which is the ideal landscape for housing the highest population of rhinoceros in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is also has the highest density of tigers in India, over 2000 elephants, deer, leopards, bears, water buffalo and a range of bird species.
Best time to visit: November - April
Did you know?
India has a spa just for elephants! These friendly giants receive baths, massages and delicious food. Punnathoor Cotta Elephant Yard Rejuvenation Centre in Kerala.
3. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve - Madhya Pradesh
Once the largest tiger hunting ground in India, this dense forest land is world known as one of the best national parks to spot the majestic, striped beauties. You can also see Asiatic jackals, sloth bears, foxes, gray mongoose, ratels, jungle cats, deer, wild boar, chinkara, nilgai, hyenas and leopards. Bandhavgarh National Park is the original home of the white tiger - however no sightings have been reported in the last 50 years. You can also spot an array of resident and migratory birds hiding in the canopy of the trees.
Best time to visit: October - May
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4. Kanha National Park - Madhya Pradesh
One of the most famous National Parks in Central India and the original setting of ‘The Jungle Book’ offers a vast landscape to explore, venturing deep into the jungle. Situated on a high plateau, this is one of the best places to go if you are after an exciting safari experience. Streaking past natural streams, bamboo forests, lakes and open grasslands, this is one of the best places in India to appreciate the authenticity of the Indian Jungle. Kanha is well regarded for its extensive research and conservation programs, saving many endangered species over the years. This is also the only place in the world where you can spot the southern swamp deer. Also keep your eyes peeled for: wild dogs, tigers, dholes, jackals, sloth bears, leopards and jungle cats.
Best time to visit: November - May
5. Ranthambore National Park - Rajasthan
Highly regarded as one of the best (and biggest) national parks in the country, Ranthambore offers up something unique. The beautiful relics of Ranthambore Fort, tower above the park offering a great view of the landscape to reflect back on your safari. The park itself is bountiful in tigers with their cubs, leopards, fishing cats, caracals, jungle cats, sloth bears, crocodiles, mongoose, pythons, desert fox, palm civet and various species from the deer family, as well as a large range of resident and migratory birds. One of the biggest draws for attracting people to this park is that the tigers do not fear humans and so continue to hunt even with onlookers.
Best time to visit: October - May
6. Sundarban National Park - West Bengal
Sundarban, meaning ‘beautiful forest’, is a one-of-a-kind UNESCO World Heritage Site encapsulating over 100 islands with just under half inhabited. This unique park can only be reached by drifting along the weaving web of the largest mangrove jungle in the world. No jeep safaris run here, making the boat safari unique to only Sundarban. Look out for the bengal tiger, rhesus monkeys, saltwater crocodile, fox, leopard, turtles, river dolphins and wild boars, among one of the most untouched and natural places in India.
Best time to visit: September - March
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7. Pench National Park - Madhya Pradesh
Drifting along the majestic Pench river, probing through the rich jungle and woody forests, and searching amongst the rocking terrains in Pench National Park, will be a highlight of your tour to India. This is a great one to visit if you’re really into your flora. Over 1300 species of medicinal plants have roots here, most of which are now endangered. As for wildlife, you can spot tigers, spotted deer, chinkaras, leopards, langurs, elephants and sloth bears. The park also boasts a huge selection of birds, with owl breeding also being practiced.
Best time to visit: December - March
8. Sariska National Park - Rajasthan
Sariska National Park is one of the most diverse parks in India. Encompassing lush grasslands, deciduous forests, jagged cliffs and rocky terrain. Lying at the foothills of the Aravali hills, makes it one of the most beautiful parks in the country. Amongst the forests, cliffs and grasslands, you can spot wild dogs, jungle cats, sambars, eagles, hyenas, wild boars, leopards and of course Bengal Tigers. As well as attracting wildlife buffs, it is also a big draw for those interested in history. Medieval temple ruins are dotted all over the landscape as well as castle remains dating back to the 15th century.
Best time to visit: October - May
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