Top 10 Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks of India

Along with rich culture and heritage, India is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. India has rich biodiversity that makes it a natural inhabitant for many wildlife species. Further, there are around 100 national parks in India that spread all over the country. So if you are looking for a wildlife tour in India along with adventure and thrill activities. Then here we prepared a list of best nationals parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India. All these wildlife reserves in India includes Tiger Reserve, Desert Sanctuary, Bird Sanctuary and Marine Park.

 (A) Best National Parks in India

1. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

Located close to Nainital in the state of Uttarakhand, Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India. Established in the year 1936 as a Hailey National Park, it is considered to be one of the best national parks in India. The park houses a wide range of flora and fauna including rare Bengal tigers. Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, it is home to around 50 species of trees, 580 bird species and 50 species of animals.

Further, the national park divided into five different zones namely Domunda, Sonanandi, Bijrani, Jhirna and Dhikala. With a perfect mix of riverine belts, hills, lakes, streams and grasslands, it is the best wildlife tourist destination in India for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. The park also offers many adventure activities such as Jeep, elephant, canter safari and trekking that recommended its best national park of India.

  • Best Time to Visit – October to March

2. Kaziranga National Park, Assam

Kaziranga National Park, Assam

Wildlife tour in India would be incomplete without watching Kaziranga National Park which is home to two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceros population. Located in the Golaghat district of Assam, it is one of the largest national parks in India and a great tourist spot for the wildlife enthusiast. Spread over an area of 378 sq km, it is home to several wildlife animals’ species such as Swamp deer, elephants, wild buffalos, Chinese pangolins, Bengal foxes, gibbons and Indian Tiger. Further, the park also declared as a World Heritage Site due to its sustained ecology and rich biodiversity. The park also attracts a large number of migratory birds, especially during the winter months. Apart from that, Jeep Safari and Elephant rides are the two most preferred activity and things to do at Kaziranga National Park.

  • Best Time to Visit – November to March

3. Gir National Park, Gujarat

Gir National Park, Gujarat

It is the only place in India where you can spot Asiatic lions – a few left in the country, it is consider one of the most famous wildlife destinations in Gujarat. Established in the year 1965 as a hunting place for the Nawabs of Junagadh and later converted into a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1990. According to an official count, there are about 600 lions at present. Besides that, the park also boasts several other species including 38 species of mammals, around 350 species of birds and 37 species of reptiles. Due to its rich diverse range of flora and fauna, we placed it in the list of best national parks in India. Jeep Safari facility also available at Gir National Park, so you can explore the whole area from the closet.

  • Best Time to Visit – December to April

4. RanthamboreNational Park, Rajasthan

Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

Spread an area of 392 sq km, it is one of the largest national parks in North India. Further, the national park considered to be the best tiger reserve in the entire country. Nestled in the foothills of Vindhya and Aravali Hills, the park established in the year 1974 with a motive to protect Royal Bengal Tiger. Surrounded by beautiful hills and valleys, it is very well-known for its richest flora and fauna that makes it perfect delight for the wildlife enthusiast.

Besides that, one can also spot several other animals here like Leopard, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Sambar, jackals, elephants, bison and hyena. The park also houses an old fort within the park premises known as Ranthambore Fort. Built around the 10th century by the Chauhan Dynasty, it is also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are also two famous lakes known as Padam Lake and Surwal Lake that attract a great number of residence as well as migratory birds.

  • Best Time to Visit – October to Mid April

5. Sundarban National Park, West Bengal

Sundarban National Park, West Bengal

Located in West Bengal, Sundarban National Park is a famous Tiger Reserve as well as a Biosphere reserve in India. The national park is also famous for its biggest mangrove forests in the world. Sharing its border with Bangladesh, it is an abode of Royal Bengal Tigers. Further, the park also enriches with avifauna, aqua fauna and reptiles species that makes it large heaven for the wildlife enthusiast. The only way to explore this park is by boat that will be going an amazing experience for you. Some other famous endangered species that you can spot here like Gangetic Dolphin, Mangrove Horseshoe Crab,  River Terrapin and Hawks Bill Turtle. Listed as a World Heritage Site, Sundarban is a perfect wildlife tourist destination in India that you should not miss at any cost.

  • Best Time to Visit – December to February

(B) Best Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

1. Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan

Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan

Nestled in the Aravali Hills of Alwar (Rajasthan), Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is a refuge for Royal Bengal Tigers. The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 866 sq km that contains grasslands, dry deciduous forests, cliffs and rocky landscape. Popularly known as Sariska Tiger Reserve, it was the hunting preserve for the Maharaja of Alwar and later declared as a Wildlife Reserve in the year 1955. Further, the wildlife reserve got a status of wildlife sanctuary after a tiger project established here in the year 1978.

Now it is considered as one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in India for having a diverse range of flora and fauna. Some other popular wildlife species that you can spot here such as leopards, striped hyenas, wild boars, jackals, serpent eagles, monkeys and Nilgai. Apart from that, it is also famous for historic ruins and medieval temples of Garh-Rajor. These historical monuments date back to the 10th and 11th century. So along with wildlife, it has numerous options for the history buffs.

  • Best Time to Visit – October to April

2. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Located in Kerala which is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world. Further, the beautiful state considered as the best wildlife protected area in entire India. The natural bounty and rich biodiversity of this region make it a natural inhabitant for many wildlife species. So among all these wildlife reserves in Kerala, Periyar National Park or wildlife sanctuary is the popular one. Located on the evergreen hills of the Western Ghats, the wildlife sanctuary is a famous Tiger Reserve Forest in India.

Blessed with scenic natural beauty, it is home to many wildlife animals species like elephants, gaur, sambar, wild pig, Travancore flying squirrel, jungle cat, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri langur. Further, the park has lots more to offers that makes it one of the most visited national parks in India. Apart from that, it is an ideal location for many eco-tourism activities like Jungle Patrol, Bamboo Rafting, Jungle camping and boating at Periyar Lake.

  • Best Time to Visit – September to April

3. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is another famous wildlife reserve in Kerala which is located amidst the hillocks of the Western Ghats. Situated at an altitude ranging from 400 m to 2450 m above sea level, the wildlife sanctuary is one of its kinds in India. Covered with rain forest, green grasslands and picturesque landscapes, it is one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries in India. The wildlife reserve is a perfect spot for wildlife photographers and nature lovers due to its mesmerizing beauty along with a diverse range of fauna.

There are around 34 species of mammals and about 240 species of exotic birds. Various species of mammals including Panthers, Spotted deer, Sambar Deer, Bonnet Macaque, Common langur, elephants, tigers and Nilgiri Tahr. It is also home to famous Thoovanam Waterfalls that make it a popular tourist destination in Kerala for trekking and camping.

  • Best Time to Visit – November to April

4. Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam

Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam

Assam is another popular wildlife tourist destination in India due to its rich biodiversity. The wildlife reserves in Assam offers you an amazing experience of the wildlife holiday vacation in India. So in the list of best national parks in India, Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary has an important place for boasting a rich collection of flora and fauna.

Surrounded by the Brahmaputra, Lohit and Dibru River, it covers an area of 350 sq km. Actually, it is a river island national park in India which is one of the 19 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Further, the park comprises a wide expanse of semi-evergreen forest and grasslands thus it offers many spectacular views of natural beauty. The wildlife reserve is home to several endangered species like White-winged Wood Duck, Bengal Florican, Lesser Adjutant Stork, River Dolphin, Slow Loris, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Swamp Partridge and Marsh Babbler etc. So still not explore this location yet then make a trip to visit this place and get an amazing experience of wildlife tour in India.

  • Best Time to Visit – October to March

5. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the highly visited wildlife sanctuaries in India. Situated on the bank of River Kali in the Indian state of Karnataka, the wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 855 sq km. Having a wide expanse of thick forests and lofty hills, it is considered to be the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. Further, it is home to many wildlife species like Black Panther, Bison, Sambar, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard and flying squirrel. Besides that, it is an ideal place for many adventure activities like river rafting, trekking, nature photography and bird watching.

  • Best Time to Visit – November to May

So that’s all about famous Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks in India which are mostly preferred by lots of tourists. India is home to a unique range of flora and fauna which makes it an ideal destination for the wildlife enthusiast.

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