India is studded with national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that make for beautiful destinations for vacations. These national parks are special reserves of natural, semi-natural, or mixed forests, fauna, and flora. The wildlife sanctuaries are protected areas on land and sea where wildlife can be both wildlife and marine animals.
India has a total of 106 national parks, spread across 29 states, featuring famous attractions like Bengal tigers in Bandhavgarh, wild elephants of Dampa, and sand dunes of the Great Rann of Kutch.
In this blog post, I’m listing the Best National Parks in India that you should visit. According to Conservation India, India has the largest number of protected areas in Asia, which is about 7.5% of its total geographical area. Every year millions of nature lovers visit these national parks of India to enjoy their holidays. If you are also one of them and planning to visit a national park near to your city, then you must read this article till the end.
10 National Parks in India
1. Ranthambore National Park
2. Kaziranga National Park
3. Bandipur National Park
4. Kanha National Park
5. Corbett Tiger Reserve
6. Sariska Tiger Reserve
7. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Gir Forest National Park
9.Bandhavgarh National Park
10. Simlipal National Park
1. Ranthambore National Park
The Ranthambore National Park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, India. It is situated near the city of Sawai Madhopur and can be reached by road or rail. The nearest airport is at Jaipur, which is approximately 150 kilometers away from Ranthambore. It has an area of 1,412 square kilometers (545 sq mi).
It was established in 1985 and has been declared a wildlife sanctuary. The park is known for its magnificent wildlife, flora, and fauna. The Ranthambore National Park is home to over 40 mammal species, 237 bird species, and over 100 reptile species.
This is one of the most popular national parks in India. It attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world every year. The Ranthambore Fort and the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary are located within the parking area.
The best time to visit Ranthambore National Park is between November and March as this time period has pleasant weather conditions and fewer visitors.
2. Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park is located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it is home to the world’s largest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceros. It covers an area of 430 square kilometers, which includes two wildlife sanctuaries and it has been declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006.
The park has been named after the Kaziranga village, which was established by the British in 1883. The village was named after the Kazir clan, who lived here before migrating to Bangladesh during the great exodus in 1947.
The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 prohibited hunting and poaching inside protected areas such as Kaziranga National Park. In 1983, a large portion of Kaziranga has been declared an elephant reserve under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Another area was added to this protected space to form Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve (KARE) In 1986. In 1992, KARE was merged with Kaziranga National Park to form one large protected area called Kaziranga – Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve (KKAR).
3. Bandipur National Park
Bandipur National Park is a 2,600-square-kilometre protected area located in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the largest national park in Karnataka and one of the most important protected areas in South India. The park lies within the Eastern Ghats mountain range, which stretches from Tamil Nadu to Orissa.
Bandipur National Park was established in 1973 by the Government of Karnataka to protect its rich biodiversity. The park supports an estimated population of approximately 450 Bengal tigers and 450 Indian elephants, making it one of the most important tiger reserves in India. In addition, the park is home to about 100 leopards, 300 sloth bears, and more than 200 nilgai (Indian antelope).
The Bandipur National Park has a varied terrain with natural vegetation consisting of tropical dry deciduous forests, thorny scrub forests, and some grasslands.
The terrain is undulating with elevations ranging from 243 m to 1,066 m above sea level. The park has a typically tropical climate with high humidity and rainfall distributed throughout the year.
The climate of Bandipur varies from hot to cool depending on the time of the year. The summer season lasts from March to May when temperatures range between 20°C and 40°C. The monsoon season lasts from June to October when there are about 70 rainy days followed by dry weather for the most part of the year. The average temperature during winter ranges between 10 °C – 20 °C (January).
4. Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park is one of the most popular national parks in India. It is located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, India and covers an area of 1,240 km2 (478 sq mi). The park derives its name from the Kanha river which flows through it. The park is home to about 100 tigers, along with many other species like leopards, bears, sloth bears, and wild boars.
Kanha National Park is also famous for its collection of wildlife species. There are many rare species of flora and fauna found here which are not found anywhere else in India or even outside India.
The park was declared a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1973. The Government of Madhya Pradesh declared it as a national park in 1979 with an area of 845 km2 (325 sq mi). In 2005, the total area was increased to 1,240 km2 (478 sq mi) when some forest land was added to it from adjoining areas such as Bandhavgarh National Park and Bori Sanctuary, increasing the number of species found here by over 25%.
Kanha has been long recognized as a ‘protected area’ by local people, who have lived here for generations. When the park was created, it was done so with their cooperation, ensuring that the wildlife and their habitat are protected from development pressures.
Kanha National Park is home to a variety of wildlife. It is one of the best places to spot tigers and other large mammals such as leopards and bears. The park has been particularly successful in breeding tigers: there are more than 400 tigers here today! There are also around 100 leopards living here, making this one of the best places in India to see these beautiful creatures up close. Other animals include deer, sambar deer, wild boar, jackal, nilgai (blue bull), and sloth bear.
The park has some impressive trees too – some of which are over 300 years old!
5. Corbett Tiger Reserve
The Corbett National Park is located in Uttarakhand, India, and was established in 1936. It is located at an altitude ranging from 600 to 2,100 meters above sea level and is one of the oldest national parks in India. It is spread over an area of 1,492 sq km and it is located in the Kumaon Hills of Nainital district, Uttarakhand state. The park was established by Jim Corbett who was a British hunter and conservationist. He mainly focused on saving tigers from extinction.
.There are many other species like leopards, elephants, and monkeys that are found here as well. This park has got great biodiversity and is an important tourist destination for people from all over the world. You can enjoy seeing tigers roaming freely around this area, which makes it worth visiting!
There are over 2,500 tigers here, which makes it one of the largest populations of tigers in the world. The reserve has a diverse wildlife population, including more than 400 species of birds, 35 species of mammals, and 25 species of reptiles. There are plenty of activities for visitors including jungle safaris by jeep or elephant rides for an up-close view of wildlife.
The wildlife sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 1973. It is home to more than 70 tigers, apart from other mammals such as leopards, spotted deer (barasinghas), elephants, wild boars, etc. The park is also home to birds like peacocks, parakeets, etc. The best time to visit this park is between November and June because during monsoon season it gets very muddy and it becomes difficult for visitors to walk through waterlogged areas of the park.
6. Sariska Tiger Reserve
Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. It is a beautiful national park in India and one of the best national parks in India. It was created as a sanctuary in 1955 and has been developed into a tiger reserve since 1973. Sariska National Park is located about 70 km west of New Delhi, along the border between the states of Rajasthan and Haryana. The park covers an area of 739 km² (184 sq mi).
Sariska Tiger Reserve was created as a sanctuary in 1955 and has been developed into a tiger reserve since 1973. It was declared a Project Tiger site in 1978.
The park consists of five blocks: Kailashpuri, Bijawara, Surajgarh, Pahadgarh, and Nadbai (the last two were added later). The total area under the jurisdiction of the park is 739 km² (184 sq mi).
The major attractions are white tigers, black bucks, and chinkaras.
The reserve is home to a wide range of animals like tigers, leopards, hyenas, sloth bears, and many more. The forest area here contains several water bodies including artificial lakes and ponds which are the main source of water for wildlife.
The best time to visit Sariska National Park is during winters as it receives very less rainfall during this time compared to other seasons. However, one must take note that during winters there are chances of dense foggy weather which may obstruct your view. Also during this time, there are fewer visitors so you will get a chance to see more wild animals without any disturbance from other tourists.
The best way to explore this park would be by staying at one of the resorts within its premises or at hotels near Sariska National Park. You can also go for a jungle safari or an elephant ride if you want an exciting experience while you are here!
7. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the oldest sanctuaries in India. It is located on the Western Ghats in Kerala, with an area of 8092 sq km. It is part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, which was declared a national park in 1974.
The sanctuary covers an area of about 1,100 sq km, which makes it one of the biggest wildlife sanctuaries in India.
The sanctuary is famous for its wildlife, especially elephants. There are around 400 elephant calves in this park and they are cared for by mahouts. Other animals, found here include tiger, leopard, gaur (Indian Bison), sambar deer, barking deer, and wild boar. The park also has many other mammals and reptiles like crocodiles, monitor lizards, etc.
The sanctuary has many waterfalls like Chalakudy River, Periyar Lake, Mullaperiyar Dam, etc. The most famous waterfalls are Athirappilly Falls and Vazhachal Falls which are close to each other at Athirappilly-Vazhachal road near Chalakudy town at Thrissur
It is a World Heritage Site as well as a tiger reserve; it also has a large population of wild water buffalo and swamp deer. Kaziranga has been declared a Tiger Reserve under the Project Tiger initiative by the Government of India. The park has been included in the list of tentative sites for UNESCO inclusion under the World Heritage Sites category through the Cultural Landscape category.
8. Gir Forest National Park
The Gir Forest National Park is a protected area and home to the last population of the Asiatic lion. The park is located in the western part of India, in the state of Gujarat.
The Asiatic Lion is an endangered species and its habitat is limited only to Gir Forest National Park. The number of lions in this park has increased over the years due to efforts made by the government and several organizations. Now there are about 450 lions living here, which is a big achievement for conservation efforts in India. You can visit this national park to see these majestic creatures up close.
Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the most popular national parks in India and a major tourist attraction. The park is home to some rare wild animals, including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and gaur (Indian bison), among others. The park also has a wide variety of birds and butterflies that can be seen from time to time.
9. Bandhavgarh National Park
This park was established in 1960 to protect the wild animals in its vicinity.
This park is famous for its tigers which are easily visible during all seasons of the year. The park is also home to other important species like panthers and sloth bears, apart from other mammals like deer and sambhar (a species of deer found in India).
The park comprises a natural lake known as Bandhavgarh Tal or Bandha Talao near the entrance gate which attracts several migratory birds during the winter season. The lake attracts many visitors who come here just to see these birds flying over their heads through this lake.
10. Simlipal National Park
Simlipal National Park is a national park and tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha state in eastern India. It is located in the Similipal Biosphere Reserve, which has been designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve since 2002.
Simlipal is one of the most famous natural habitats for wild elephants and other wildlife in India. It has been established as a national park in 1955 when it was declared as such by the then Chief Conservator of Forests S.A. Khan under section 38 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended) (1972).
The area had been declared as reserved forest under section 4 of the Forest Act 1927 (Amended 1988) during British rule. It was notified by the Indian Government as a sanctuary in 1960 with an area of 679 km². Similipal National Park forms part of an important elephant corridor between the eastern states of Orissa and Bihar. It also includes the nearby Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary and Manas Tiger Reserve.
Takeaway
These ten national parks in India provide excellent opportunities for visitors to explore the country’s rich history and diverse cultures. With so much to see and do within each park, you may be tempted to meander through an entire park before trying out another one. However, your trip will not be complete without at least visiting one of these national parks in India, so don’t wait too long in doing so.
Did we inspire you to pack up and explore these beautiful national parks of India? Did we miss mentioning your favorite one? Let us know in the comments below.
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Disclaimer: The information and advice contained in our articles are intended for general informational purposes only. The content on our site does not provide any medical advice or established facts, and only reflects the opinion of writers.
Author: India Chakra
India chakra