It is better to love national parks than to love zoos. And why is it so? One of the main reasons why most people love national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India and such parks is that animals enjoy their freedom. Wildlife sanctuaries are places where animals are brought so that they can live a protected life away from preying predators that include human beings too!
In this article, let us find out the national parks in India that are mostly frequented and attract most tourists from all over the world.
Explore the top 10 National Parks in India
The fact that India has varied topography makes it possible for a wide variety of wildlife to inhabit vast expanses of land. For instance, right at the top of the map, you will find the Himalayan ranges that serve as home to snow leopards, musk deer, ibex, Himalayan brown bear, and blue sheep.
You will find animals like sambar, barking deer, cheetal, Royal Bengal tiger, wild boar, and many other animals at a lower altitude.
Jungle and national park safari is the main attraction why travelers from across the breadth and length of the country flock to these tourist destinations. These parks and sanctuaries usually remain closed during the monsoon season. So, if you are planning to organize one such trip, do so when it is the best time to visit these parks.
Let us delve right into the list of national parks in India with a brief description of each.
1. Dudhwa National Park
- The location of the park is along the Indo-Nepal border, in the district of Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh.
- It is home to more than 450 species of migratory as well as local birds.
- The marshlands are home to swamp deer, Bengal florican, and crocodiles to name a few.
- The vast grasslands are a haven for tigers and rhinoceros.
The best time to visit
You can plan a trip to Dudhwa National Park between the months of November and May.
2. Tadoba National Park
- This park is regarded as the largest and oldest national park in the state of Maharashtra.
- It covers an area of 625 sq km.
- Few animals that you will be able to catch a glimpse of include cheetal, sambar, wild boars, peacocks, kingfisher, and of course a tiger.
- It is said that this national park harbours the highest tiger population in the country.
The best time to visit
You can make a plan for a trip to the park between the months of October and June.
3. Bandhavgarh National Park
- The national park is situated on rocky terrains dotted with forests and swampland interspersed in between.
- The location is along the Vindhya Range of Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh.
- It is spread across an area of 437 sq. km.
- The four prominent zones of the park include Panpatta, Khitauli, Magadhi, and tala.
- Some ridges drop dead down, dense forests, and meadows.
The best time to visit
The park is open to visitors between October and June
4. Corbett National Park
- The park has everything you will love, ranging from marshlands, grasslands, rivers, hills, and forests.
- It is located across an area of 520.8 sq km.
- The location is Nainital district, Uttarakhand
- It is one of the oldest national parks in India
- You will find cheetal, sloth bear, barking deer, leopard, royal Bengal tiger, jungle cat, hog deer, otter, Indian pangolin, langur, and Himalayan goral just to name a few.
The best time to visit
November through June is the best time to visit the park.
5. Kanha National Park
- It is magical around here with grasslands, meadows, ravines, and bamboo forests covering the terrain of the park.
- As far as animals are concerned, you can catch a glimpse of barking deer, wild dog, royal Bengal tiger, barasingha, sloth bear, leopard, cheetal, gaur, wild dog, and many more animals.
- The Kanha National Park, which is one of the top 10 national parks in India is spread over an area of 940 sq km.
- It is located in Satpuras, the districts of Balaghat and Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
The best time to visit
You can plan a trip between October and June
6. Desert National Park
- As the name suggests, you will get to see broken rock formations, sand, and varying flora and fauna that can be found in the national park.
- It is spread across an area of 3162 sq.km.
- Indian bustard is one of the main species that you will be able to see here at the park. It is regarded as an endangered species.
- The ecosystem at the national park is said to be “fragile”
- Be ready to spot harriers, buzzards, falcons, and eagles
Best time to visit
Plan a trip to the national park between October and February
7. Simlipal National Park
- There are wild elephants, gaur, barking deer, wild boar, jungle cat, leopard, tiger, chausinga, and many other species of animals.
- One of the main attractions is the variety of birds that you will come across that includes grey hornbill, hill mynah, Indian pied hornbill, parakeet, serpent eagle, Indian trogon, and Malabar pied hornbill. There are more than 200 species of birds that you will get to see if you are lucky enough.
- The park is spread across an area of 2750 sq. km
- It is located in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha
The best time to visit
The period between October and June is regarded as the best time you can plan a trip to this national park in India.
8. Great Himalayan National Park
- If you are fond of trekking and camping, a trip to this national park is perhaps the best place you can be.
- The park is situated in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
- It is spread across an area of 1171 sq km.
- Established in the year 1984, regarded as one of the top 10 national parks in India, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the year June 2014.
- It has a wide variety of flora and fauna
- Marmot, musk deer, Himalayan brown bear, snow leopard, and blue sheep are some of the species that you will come across when you visit the park.
Best time to visit
The ideal period to travel to the park is between September and November.
9. Ranthambore National Park
- It is located in Sawai Madhopur district, Rajasthan.
- It covers an area of 392 sq.km
- It has grass meadows and deciduous forests
- It is bordered by the Banas River on the north and the Chambal River on the south
- It also has the historical Ranthambhore fortress from where you can get a view of the entire national park.
Best time to visit
Plan a trip between the months of October and April
10. Pin Valley National Park
- It is spread across an area of 9700 sq.km
- It is situated at Pin Valley, Spiti
- It got recognition of a national park in the year 1987
- It is a haven for very rare species of birds like chukar partridge, Himalayan snowcock, and snow partridge.
- Animals like Siberian Ibex, Tibetan gazelle, and snow leopard are also found here in the park.
Best time to visit
The ideal time to visit the national park is between July and October.
Let us find out few well-known national parks in India in the extreme locations of our country, namely, Assam and Karnataka.
National parks in Assam
- Nameri National Park
- Orang National Park
- Dibru- Saikhowa National Park
- Manas National Park
- Kaziranga National Park
National Parks in Karnataka
- Anshi National Park
- Nagarhole National Park
- Bandipur National Park
- Bannerghatta National Park
- Kudremukh National Park
Wild-Life Sanctuaries of Karnataka
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
- Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
- Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
- Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
- Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary
Statistical data reveals that there are as many as 104 existing national parks in India. Taken together they cover an area of 43,716 sq km, which accounts for 1.33% of the total geographical area of our country. This data has been provided as per National Wildlife Database, December 2020.
