India with an area of over 121,000 km2 collects 120+ national parks and 500+ wildlife sanctuaries. In 1973s\qf the Indian government launched the Tiger Project to save threatened tiger species in the country. According to April 2016 data, the tigers population in the entire country has reached 2.226 which represents 70% of the world’s tigers. Instead the state of Gujarat, is the home of over 550 Asian lions. Sasan Gir is the only Natural Park outside Africa where lions can be seen in their natural habitat in the park. And again, leopards, monkeys, the unicorn rhinoceros. It is the region where the territory of the lion borders on that of the tiger, if you will. An area of unspoiled beauty.
- Ranthambore National Park
Between the Thair desert and the Aravalli Mountains lies the Ranthambore National Park, one of the most famous in the country. Once the exclusive hunting area of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today Ranthambore is one of the most famous parks in the country and is part of the “Tiger Project” born over forty years ago in order to protect the Indian tiger and ensure its reproduction. In the territory of the park it is easy to spot tigers as they move around in the beautiful nature in search of food for their young ones or while they placidly walk along the paths at the edge of the bush.
Within its more than 1330 square kilometers, the park is home to many different species of animals, including leopards, hyenas, wild boars, crocodiles and reptiles of various types as well as numerous colonies of birds with at least 250 different species. Also inside are some temples, such as those of Mansingh and Kaila Devi and the temple of Ganesh, considered one of the most beautiful in the state of Rajasthan.
The Park is 150 km from Jaipur, can be reached by private car or by train along the Delhi / Mumbai line to Sawai Mandhopur station, just 11 km away. Closed from July to mid-October.
2. Kanha National Park
In the district of Balagath and Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, in a lush natural environment rich in lakes, streams, valleys and intertwining bamboo forests, one experiences the thrill of finding oneself in the places where Kipling set the story of the famous “Book of the jungle “.
The Kanha Park is one of the largest in India, with over 940 km² and three entrances (the two main ones, at opposite ends of the park, are 4 hours away from each other) and it is another important sighting site of the Indian tiger, of which it has been a reserve since 1974. In addition to the more than 150 tigers, there are barasingha deer, antelopes and leopards, porcupines, mongooses, wild dogs, bears, birds of different species. The park can be reached by flying to Jabalpur (Kisli entrance) or Nagpur (Mukki or Serai entrance). Closed from July to mid-October, the best time to visit is between February and June, while December, January and March are the months of maximum crowding as in addition to foreign tourists, many local tourists visit the parks during these holiday periods.
3. Panna National Park
In the heart of Madhya Pradesh, just 60 km from the beautiful Khajuraho lies Panna National Park, a protected reserve for the Indian tiger. Rather popular because of its proximity to the famous temples, it covers an area of about 540 km² and in addition to the famous tigers is home to large deer, Indian antelopes and gazelles, reptiles and birds of different species including the vulture. The climate of the park, typically tropical, is particularly pleasant and this is one of the parks that can be visited during the summer, season in which numerous animals can be spotted. The area of Panna is famous for its diamond mines and the whole area is rich in industries that work there.
4. Jim Corbett National Park
Situated between the two districts of Nainital and Pauri, in the Uttaranchal, this park of northern India was the first ever to be established as a protected reserve in 1936. It is important for the vast area covered, the beautiful landscape, the richness of the wildlife.
The park covers 521 km² which, associated with the neighboring reserves of Sonanadies and the “Forests”, constitutes the Tigre Corbertt Reserve covering an area of 1288 km². Particularly striking is the variety of landscapes and natural habitats: mountainous areas, verdant plains, dry places and alternating forests host many species of plants and animals representative of the sub-Himalayan belt.
The most famous guests of the reserve are undoubtedly the Asian elephant and the Bengal tiger in addition to the 600 different species of avian fauna. This beautiful park, situated at an altitude varying between 385 and 1100 meters above sea level, has a variable climate whose averages range from 4 ° C in winter to 42 ° C in summer. it is open from November 15th to June 15th and closed due to monsoons in other periods.
5. Keoladeo Ghana National Park
The reserve Keoladeo Ghana, also called “the birds of Bharatpur”, is located in Rajasthan and is a national park since 1982 and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. At about 180 km from Delhi and just 50 from Agra, is considered one of the most important waterfowl reserves in the world housed in an area of 29 km² characterized by swamps and low lakes where over 50 species of fish live and a very rich aquatic flora and fauna.
Over 400 species of birds, which here have found their ideal environment for reproduction, make it a true paradise and a must-see destination for ornithologists who can only spot the splendid Siberian crane here. The best time to visit is from August to November for resident birds, while the migratory ones are sighted from October to February.
6. Bandhavgarh National Park
In Madhya Pradesh, in the district of Umaria, there is this park which, after having been a royal hunting reserve, was established as a protected reserve in 1968 and then extended in 1986. The park is smaller in area than other protected reserves, with only 540 km , but it is one of the privileged areas for the sighting of the Indian tiger and also the white tiger. Other animals in the park include gazelles, blue antelopes, wild boars and foxes, different types of deer and many birds. Between March and April it is easy to spot `rthe Indian bison. Closed from June to October, it is advisable to plan visits after mid-October, however, to avoid the almost certain monsoon tails.
In the park area there are interesting archaeological finds, quarries with graffiti, small temples and a beautiful fort over 2500 years old.
7. Sariska National Park
Located in the north-eastern part of Rajasthan, it is part of the Tigre Project and is a protected nature reserve since 1955. The wildlife is rich and, although there are only a few tigers (about forty), there are leopards, panthers, gazelles, hyenas, gaur (the Indian bison), lots of birds including eagles. The ruins of Hindu temples dating back to medieval times are immersed in the thick vegetation, including the 10th century Garh-Raahjor temple, dedicated to Shiva. The 500 km² park is 170 km from Delhi and can also be reached rom Jaipur in about 3 hours
