Tigers are undoubtedly the creature that captivates most travellers to India, however the nation has extra to see than Shere Khan, the well-known Bengal tiger in The Jungle E book. Sloth bears, rhinos, crocodiles, peacocks, leopards, and sambar deer all name India’s forests dwelling, as does the mighty Asian elephant, which might weigh as much as 5,400kg (11,900 lbs). With so many iconic Indian animals and greater than 100 nationwide parks wherein to see them, it may be laborious to know the place to go to provide your self the very best probability of discovering Baloo, Bagheera, Kaa, and co. This helpful information to the nationwide parks of India ought to get you heading in the right direction.
Ranthambore Nationwide Park
Famed for its inhabitants of tigers, which is believed to quantity round 80, Ranthambore is certainly one of India’s most visited nationwide parks, and you’ll see why; this former looking reserve of the Maharajas can be one of many best nationwide parks within the nation to succeed in. Positioned simply 130km (80 mi) from the “Pink Metropolis” of Jaipur, Ranthambore makes a possible day journey, and provided that this is without doubt one of the greatest locations in the entire nation to see a tiger, it’s value a go to. After all, there’s extra to this park than simply tigers. Leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, mugger crocodiles, and sloth bears all name the park dwelling, and the UNESCO-listed Ranthambore Fort throughout the park boundaries dates from the tenth century.
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Jim Corbett Nationwide Park
Named after the naturalist and “hunter of man-eaters” Jim Corbett, who performed a serious function in its institution as a protected space, this nationwide park was the nation’s first. Unfold throughout 520 sq km (201 sq mi) of open grasslands, rolling hills, marshes, and forested ravines, Jim Corbett Nationwide Park is legendary for its herds of elephants, which are sometimes seen hanging out within the grasslands by the Ramganga River. Whereas tiger sightings are uncommon, you stand a very good probability of seeing jackals, langur monkeys, sambar deer, and critically endangered gharial (fish-eating crocodiles), in addition to 600-plus species of birds.
Gir Nationwide Park
There are lions in India? Sure, however Gir Nationwide Park in Gujarat is the one place you will discover them. As soon as the personal looking lodge of the Nawab of Junagadh within the days of the British Raj, Gir Nationwide Park was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1965 to guard the Asiatic lion, whose inhabitants was nearly solely worn out. It’s been a major success story, and this mighty large cat now numbers round 650 people. Other than lions, you may additionally spot four-horned antelopes, golden jackals, Bengal foxes, wild boars, nilgai, and mongoose. Should you’re right here at daybreak or nightfall, maintain your eyes peeled for porcupines, striped hyenas, and honey badgers.
Bandhavgarh Nationwide Park
Billed as the very best place in India to see a tiger, Bandhavgarh has reached nearly legendary standing amongst wildlife watchers and naturalists. A household of tigers residing right here was featured within the 2018 BBC documentary Dynasties, and the park is legendary for having the best density of tigers anyplace on the earth. Should you’re trying to come nose to nose with certainly one of these legendary beasts, Bandhavgarh is the place to go. After all, the park is dwelling to extra than simply tigers. Loads of leopards roam, in addition to sloth bears, nilgai antelope, barking deer, caracals, and Indian wolves.
Kanha Nationwide Park
Hearsay has it that British writer Rudyard Kipling used Kanha as inspiration for his 1894 novel The Jungle E book. This huge wilderness is certainly one of India’s largest nationwide parks, and it encompasses a whopping 940 sq km (360 sq mi) of sal forests, grassy meadows, and bamboo groves the place every kind of creatures reside. The star of the present is arguably Shere Khan the tiger, however with luck, you might also spot Baloo the sloth bear and Bagheera the panther. Add in packs of dhole (wild canine), chital deer, and the barasingha swamp deer, which was introduced again from the brink of extinction on this very place, and you’ll see why Kanha is taken into account certainly one of India’s greatest nationwide parks.
Nagarhole Nationwide Park
A part of the sprawling Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the most important protected forest in India, Nagarhole interprets to “snake river,” which is precisely what the Kabini River does all through the park. It’s one other of India’s tiger reserves, and Nagarhole has a reasonably secure inhabitants residing in its lush, forested valleys and hills. Different species you would possibly spot right here embody gaur, elephants, sambar, dhole, sloth bears, and Indian big flying squirrels. The true jewel in Nagarhole’s crown is its well-known melanistic leopard or “black panther.” Often known as Saya, this magnificent animal is a sight to behold. Discover him within the Kabini space of the park.
Periyar Nationwide Park
Kerala is well-known for its waterways, and also you’ll definitely discover loads of H₂0 in Periyar Nationwide Park. Primarily based across the sprawling synthetic Periyar Lake, this huge reserve is thought for its boat safaris, which ferry guests up and down the shoreline in early morning and night stints. It’s an extremely scenic place, and you’ve got a very good probability of recognizing wildlife heading to the water to drink, significantly through the hottest months of the yr. Species resident right here embody elephants, dhole, lion-tailed macaques, wild boars, and gaur, and chances are you’ll spot smooth-coated otters dipping and diving via the lake, too.
High tip: Go for a bamboo raft safari as an alternative of a ship as a result of the noise of the boat engines typically scares away wildlife.
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Kaziranga Nationwide Park
Dwelling to two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinos, UNESCO-listed Kaziranga is definitely worth the considerably arduous journey to Assam. Greater than 2,500 people are discovered right here, so that you’re virtually assured to see one grazing within the swampy grasslands for which the park is so well-known. Different species discovered right here embody herds of elephants, wild water buffalo, gaur, and barasingha swamp deer, that are all typically noticed by the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River. Hen-watchers will probably be more than pleased, too. Wreathed hornbills, fish eagles, and Blyth’s kingfishers are sometimes seen, and in the event you’re fortunate, you would possibly witness India’s solely ape, the hoolock gibbon, swinging within the cover.
Pench Nationwide Park
One other the most effective locations in India to identify tigers, Pench Nationwide Park was additionally used as inspiration for Kipling’s legendary e book. It’s much less well-liked than close by Kanha or Bandhavgarh, which signifies that you’ll typically really feel such as you’ve received the park to your self. It predominantly consists of dry deciduous forests, so maintain your eyes peeled for sloth bears, nilgai, leopards, wild boars, sambars, jackals, peacocks and a plethora of different hen species, and that black-and-orange-striped star.
Hemis Nationwide Park
Excessive within the mighty Himalaya, Hemis Nationwide Park is a stupendous spot and the most effective locations on Earth to see a snow leopard, the so-called “ghost of the mountain.” These shy but majestic felines are notoriously laborious to identify, but this nationwide park — India’s largest — has earned the title of getting probably the most snow leopards of anyplace on the earth. To get even the slightest probability of recognizing one, you must go to in winter (November via March), once they descend from their excessive summer season retreats to hunt Asian ibex, bharal (blue sheep), and argali (mountain sheep). Though chances are you’ll not spot a snow leopard, you stand a very good probability of recognizing golden eagles and griffon vultures as they soar previous the towering peaks of the Himalayas on thermoclines. Don’t miss the chance to tackle the Markha Valley Trek, one of the crucial scenic trails on the planet.
Valley of Flowers Nationwide Park
Nestled excessive within the western Himalayas lies this distant and tiny nationwide park, which measures simply 87 sq km (34 sq mi). As you may in all probability inform by the identify, this UNESCO-listed pocket of Uttarakhand is legendary for its wildflowers, which bloom in bugyals (high-altitude meadows) in July, August, and September. The entire place is reworked into a vibrant carpet, and it’s value a go to to see the 300 completely different species of flowers, to not point out the unimaginable panoramic views of the Himalayas. When it comes to wildlife, you would possibly catch a glimpse of a musk deer, lammergeier, Himalayan vultures, and Asian black bears.
Sundarbans Nationwide Park
Sunderbans Nationwide Park comprises the world’s largest mangrove forest, which is criss-crossed by a labyrinthine community of canals, creeks, mudflats, and tidal rivers. Journeys into this expansive, protected space are completed by boat, and in the event you’re fortunate, you would possibly have the ability to glimpse a Bengal tiger swimming from island to island. Whereas sightings are uncommon, they’re not fully out of the query. Different fortunate sightings embody the critically endangered Ganges river dolphin. The nationwide park is a extremely essential space for quite a few species of migratory birds, in addition to saltwater crocodiles, otters, fishing cats, pythons, terrapins, and king cobras — the world’s largest venomous snake.
