Operated exclusively by the government and forest authorities, the national parks are a haven for vulnerable species like snow leopards, lions, and one-horned rhinos, and for tourists, a safari can be a great way to see each of them in their natural habitat. Plan your visit to India around these top national parks.
Named contentiously after the British hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett, this is the oldest national park in India. Established in 1936, it spreads over 520.8 sq km of dense, deciduous forests in the Himalayas foothills and delights pantheists with its rolling hills, ridges and ravines, and vast expanses of savannah, open grasslands, swamps, and marshes.
The deciduous forests, towering sal trees, grasslands, and bamboo groves of this 940-sq-km national park were the inspiration behind The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling and Shere Khan, the Bengal tiger in the novel, is definitely the headliner here.
These erstwhile royal hunting grounds are now part of a national park, covering an area of 716 sq km of mixed deciduous forests and grasslands. Over 300 species of birds and 80 species of butterflies flit and fly about, while mammals, including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Indian wolf, caracals, gaurs, langurs, and a variety of deer and antelope species can be spotted here.
Forts are integral to Rajasthan's landscape and a crumbling bastion forms the very nucleus of this national park. Covering some 1334 sq km of deciduous forests and grasslands, the park was the former hunting grounds of the Jaipur Maharaja, who built Sawai Madhopur, the park's main entrance town. The royal hunting lodge is now a premium hotel.
National parks in India are IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature) category II protected areas. India's first national park was established in 1936, now known as Jim Corbett National Park, in Uttarakhand. In 1970, India had only five national parks. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger in 1973 to safeguard the habitats of conservation reliant species and currently there are 106 national parks in India. Further legislation strengthening protection for wildlife was introduced in the 1980s.
There are 106 existing national parks in India covering an area of 44,402.95 km2 which is 1.35% of the geographical area of the country ( _national_parks, Nov. 2023). In addition to the above, 75 other National Parks covering an area of 16,608 km2 (6,412 sq mi) are proposed in the Protected Area Network Report. The network of parks will go up 176 after full implementation of the above report.
According to the Indian Ministry of Environment & Forests, a national park is an area, whether within a sanctuary or not, [that] can be notified by the state government to be constituted as a National Park, by reason of its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, or zoological association or importance, needed to for the purpose of protecting & propagating or developing wildlife there in or its environment. No human activity is permitted inside the national park except for the ones permitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state under the conditions given in CHAPTER IV, WPA 1972".[1]
The fragile "Terai Eco-System" constitutes a part of this reserveBuxa, serves as an international corridor for Asian elephant migration between India and BhutanRajabhatkhawa Vulture Breeding Centre was established by Bombay Natural History Society to emulate the success of Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore
On the edge of your seats, with bated breath, you wait for the king of the jungle to show up! National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves of India can claim to offer enthusiastic travelers a tryst with the wild, as well as the excitement of coming face to face with wild animals, and that too in their natural habitat. The list of national parks in India has about 400 such avenues in it, and each one of them has something unique to offer, be it the tiger or lion sightings, rhino or elephant spotting, or any of the other predators and prey animals!
Since the enormous forest cover of India is spread unevenly across the country, it is sometimes difficult to distribute these national parks in India state-wise. But we have tried to list one from every major state. Take a look at this list of the best national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India before you decide to go on a wildlife-watching spree.
UNESCO declared it to be a World Heritage Site, due to it residing in an Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, making it one of the most diverse national parks of India. Tourists can opt to enjoy jeep safari in the early morning or afternoon; elephant safaris in the early morning are also available.
When it was started, there were a mere 12 lions here, and the number has now grown to reach nearly 600. Other animals that one might spot here include sambar, chinkara, chital, porcupine, wild boar, black buck and others. Tourists can enjoy jeep safaris here, towards early mornings, afternoons and early evenings. This is one of the most famous national parks in India that you cannot miss out on!
Located in West Bengal, the Sundarban National Park is a Tiger and Biosphere Reserve on the Ganges Delta. Its signature mangrove forest, is a particularly popular attraction here, making it one of the most visited national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India.
The only way to travel around and across the park is by boat; there are no jeep safari or walking tours available. Another unique aspect of this national park is that the tigers have developed the ability to swim in the saline waters here. With ease, one can spot tigers sunbathing on the river banks during November to February. It is surely among the best tiger national parks in India .
Spread across an area of 97 sq km, Eravikulam National Park in Munnar offers protection to the endangered Nilgiri Thar. One of the most scenic national parks in south India, it is also home to elephants, deer, jackals, leopards, tiger, otters, mongoose, and a huge variety of birds and butterflies. The national park is also home to Anamudi Peak, the highest peak in South India.
A unique aspect of this national park is the blooming of the Neelakurinji, a plant that blooms once every 12 years, and turns the entire forest a deep shade of blue. Tourists can enjoy the beauty of the rolling hills and wildlife on safari buses. Tourists can also enjoy early morning and evening treks.
Sprawled across more than 1,945 sq km, Kanha National Park is one of the first national park in India for tiger reserves to work for Project Tiger. Considered one of the national parks of India, it is also a refuge for the Barasingha and is known to be one of the most well maintained National Parks of Asia. It has been divided into two separate parts, Banjar and Hallon, named after the rivers that flow across it. There are separate zones here, including Kisli, Sarhi, Mukki and Kanha Zone.
One of the largest national parks in North India, Ranthambore National Park covers an area of 392 sq km. It is a part of Project Tiger and has been a refuge of Royal Bengal Tigers since 1974. The national park also houses a fortress within the park premises, which is a popular attraction for visitors.
Located on the borders of Karnataka, the lush green Bandipur National Park is the gem of the Nilgiris and was established as a protected reserve in 1974. With a verdant canopy of deciduous forests that give shelter to a wide variety of wildlife and flora, this place has recently gained tremendous popularity on the national parks in India map. The park has taken several measures to ensure the safety of the animals here as well as to ensure that the park remains clean and thriving. Replete with teak and sandalwood trees, this happens to be the first ever Biosphere Reserve of India. Also called the Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu, the park is home to a large number of endangered species.
Located near Bandipur National Park, this enchanting national park in the Mysore district of Karnataka has rich wildlife including both flora and fauna. It is home to almost 250 varieties of birds as well as a variety of animals such as Elephant, Tiger, Jackal, Gaur, Panther, Sambar, Mongoose, Spotted deer, Sloth Bear, Civet cat and Hyena. The place offers lush green forests, shallow valleys and gentle slopes making it truly a heaven for all nature lovers and those seeking peace.
Spread over 257 square miles, the Periyar National Park in Thekkady, Kerala is the best-protected reserve area in India. You can find various species in the gorgeous park including the majestic elephants and royal tigers, apart from other fishes, reptiles and birds. The park is well-known for its stillness and greenery and is an amazing blend of adventure with beauty. It is probably the biggest national park in India.
Located in Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh, Great Himalayan National Park is home to diverse wildlife species. At present, it houses more than 375 species of fauna, 31 species of mammals and 181 species of birds. It acquired the status of a national park in 1999. Some fairs are organized in this beautiful park in April, May, August, and September. The park offers an amazing place to relax to the tourists from the hustle-bustle of the city and is also a delight for the nature lovers.
Spread across an area of 89 square kilometres, the Silent Valley National Park offers beautiful views of the rich flora and fauna to its visitors from all across the globe. Though smaller in size, a visit to this national park holds significance for visitors as this site is the last remaining characteristic of tropical evergreen forests in India. The park is home to many endangered species residing peacefully and the ones most commonly found here are lion-tailed macaque, wild pig, panther, elephant, tiger and gaur.
Located in Panna and Chhatarpur districts, Pana National Park is well-known for its plentiful wildlife and avifauna. Covering an area of around 542.67 km square, this properly maintained national park of India by the Ministry of Tourism of India received Award of Excellence in the year 2007. The park is home to more than 200 species of birds and is famous for its attractions like wild cats, including tigers as well as antelope and deer. Sometime you might get to spot unique animals like black buck, spotted deer or chital and the Indian gazelle or panthers.
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