India’s varied topography inhabits a wide variety of wildlife which is as diverse as our cultures and traditions. There are 107 existing National Parks in India covering about 1.35% of the geographical area of the country. National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are protected areas declared by Government with the primary objective to preserve wildlife, save flora & fauna, restore the natural ecological balance and also offer scope of tourism. India’s rich and diverse wildlife is preserved in the wild sanctuaries and National Parks which are home to Royal Bengal tigers, Asiatic Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, Wild Dogs, various species of Deer including Chital, Hangul, Barasingha; the Indian Elephant, the Great Indian Rhinoceros, Peacock and many bird species. With immense variations among the wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks in India, tourists from across the world flock in the country to witness these magnificent creatures.
List of top National Parks in India is as follows:
Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Initially named Hailey National Park, it was officially established on August 8, 1936, becoming the first national park in mainland Asia. In 1957 it was renamed to honour the legendary hunter Jim Corbett. Set amidst the foothills of the Himalayas, the Corbett National Park lies in the state of Uttarakhand. It is the first sanctuary to come under Project Tiger in 1973. The interplay of rivers, chaurs (grasslands) and sal forest encourages a vast variety of insects, bird and animal to thrive. One of the India’s most popular wildlife destinations Corbett has something for everyone. Its wide open spaces actually dwarf the largest land animal-elephants. Sightings of the gharial and mugger draw as much interest as the tiger. In the exquisite tiger land, birdwatchers can seek out almost 600 species of birds.
- Location: Nainital District, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 125-126 km away from Pantnagar airport.
- Nearest Railway Station- It is approximately 20 kms away Ramanagar Railway Station
- Famous for: Sambar deer, Indian hog deer,Tiger, Asian Elephant
- When to go- The best time to visit is between mid -November and March. December to February can be very cold with temperatures going down to 5 ° Celsius
Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
Nestled in Sawai Madhopur district Rajasthan lies the wildlife sanctuary known for its Bengal tigers, the Ranthambore National Park. Ranthambore National Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974 it gained the protection of the Government of India’s Project Tiger conservation programme.
Densely populated by the national animal of the country, its rich fauna means that hyenas, nilgais, langurs, and the Indian leopards also find home in this vast territory. Deriving its name from the monumental Ranthambore fortress that sits deep within, this wildlife destination is home to a diverse range of birds, reptiles, and tress.
- Location: Sawai Madhopur District, Rajasthan
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 195 km away from Jaipur airport.
- Nearest Railway Station- It is approximately 15 kms away Sawai Madhopur Railway Station
- Famous for: Famous for its tiger sightings against the 10th-century historical ruins. Jackals, Tiger
- When to go- November to February is the best time to visit .March, April and May are oppressively hot but on the upside, the dry summer months allow fantastic sightings.
Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Located in Assam, Kaziranga National Park was declared a World Heritage Site back in 1985, nine years after it was declared a national park. The Indian one-horned rhinoceros call this park their home. The park is known for its conservation efforts and one can spot elephants, wild buffalos, and swamp deer here. Kaziranga National Park has always been a must-visit for wildlife lovers.
- Location: Golaghat, Nagaon and Sontipur districts, Assam
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 115 km from Jorhat airport and 193 km away from Guwahati airport.
- Nearest Railway Station- It is approximately 80 kms away Furkating Railway Station
- Famous for: Indian rhinoceros, Elephants and wild buffaloes
- When to go- November –April. Best sightings are from end of March to early April
Gir National Park, Gujarat
The Gir forest stretching over an expanse of 1412 sq km in the western state of Gujarat, is one of the largest tracts of dry deciduous forest in the world. Known for the population of the Asiatic lions, the jungles make for an adventurous safari where you can spot this animal royalty lazing around. Apart from them, look out for sloth bears, leopards, snakes, blackbucks, and crocodiles.
- Location: Saurashtra region, Gujarat (near Junagadh and Veraval).
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 105 km from Diu Airport and 160 km away from the Rajkot airport
- Nearest Railway Station: It is approximately 40 km from Veraval Railway Station
- Famous for: Sambar, Four-Horned antelope and Asiatic Lions
- When to go- The Park is open from 16 October -15 June. The summer months are scorching hot, with temperatures hitting 43° Celsius. The best time to visit is definitely late November to early March.
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Rajasthan
Keoladeo Ghana National Park in eastern Rajasthan, formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is a gem in India’s ecological crown despite being one of the smallest parks in the country. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1985, this national park is a paradise for birdwatchers.
- Location: Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 60 km from Agra Airport
- Nearest Railway Station: It is approximately 42 km from Bharatpur Railway Station
- Famous for: Cranes, Pelicans, Hyenas.
- When to go: November to February is best; it is also the season for migratory birds. The park is open all year. August-October are the peak months for breeding, and October to late February for wintering migrants
Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Panna National Park spread over 543 sq km, was carved out of the hunting reserves of the erstwhile Panna, Chattarpur and Bijawar states. Situated at the junction of the Gangetic plains and the Deccan peninsula, the Panna hills provide the catchment area for the Ken River, which is the lifeline of the park. It is predominantly an open forest, offering great opportunity to see the tiger and other mammals. It also supports closed canopy forests, open forest with short grass and undergrowth, open Savannah woodlands which reflect sub-Saharan habitats, tall grasslands, and degraded scrub.
- Location: Panna and Chhatarpur districts, Madhya Pradesh
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 30 km from Khajuraho Airport
- Nearest Railway Station: It is approximately 27 km from Khajuraho Railway Station
- Famous for – Tiger, leopard, chital, chinkara, nilgai, sambar deer, sloth bear, wolves, etc.
- When to go- October –March is the best time to visit.
Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National Park, located in Madhya Pradesh, is a much-desired destination among nature lovers for its scenic landscape, inherent historical significance, and wildlife. Accommodates more than 250 species of birds, around 80 species of butterflies, 37 species of mammals, and other reptiles. It has gained worldwide recognition for its profuse tiger sightings.
- Location: Umaria, Tala, Madhya Pradesh
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 195 km from Jabalpur Airport
- Nearest Railway Station: It is approximately 34 km from Umaria Railway Station,101 km from Katni Railway Station
- Famous for – Tigers, Barking Deer, Sloth Bear
- When to go- October –March is the best time to visit. April and May are oppressively hot, but on the upside, the dry summer months allow fantastic sightings
Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Nestled in the Maikal range amidst the sylvan settings is located the largest park of Central India, Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Kanha Tiger Reserve’s spectacular Sal and Bamboo forest, rolling grasslands, and meandering streams stretch over 1945 sq. km. in the heart of the central highlands. This is the original Kipling country so fondly written about in The Jungle Book. The park is the only home to the rare Hard Ground Barasingha found in its large grasslands. Kanha is also home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Deer, Ungulates, Lesser Cats, and close to 300 bird species.
- Location: Mandla & Balaghat Districts, Madhya Pradesh
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 175 km from Jabalpur Airport
- Nearest Railway Station: It is approximately 175 km from Jabalpur Railway Station
- Famous for – Tigers, Indian leopards, barasinghas and Indian wild dogs
- When to go- November -March is the best time to visit. April and May are oppressively hot, but on the upside, the dry summer months allow fantastic sightings
Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Pench National Park, established in 1975, harbors one of the highest densities of prey animals, chased by an estimated 65 Tigers. The landscapes of scrublands, deciduous forests of teak, and many lakes, streams, and the Pench River can be instantly associated with the incidents and wild mentions of the animal life in the Jungle Book of Sir Rudyard Kipling. Pench is popular for tigers, wild dogs, Indian Gaur, Jackal & Leopard besides many other mammals & birds.
- Location: Seoni District, Madhya Pradesh
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 92 kms from Nagpur Airport
- Nearest Railway Station: It is approximately 95 km from Nagpur Railway Station
- Famous for – Tiger, Wild Dog, Indian Gaur, Jackal & Leopard
- When to go- October-March is the best time to visit.
Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Satpura National Park is spread over 1427 sq km and was formed in 1981 after joining Satpura, Pachmari and Bori sanctuaries, and is a unique habitat ranging from about 200 feet to 4000 feet. The terrain of the national park is extremely rugged and consists of fascinating deep valleys, sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, rivulets, waterfalls, and a thickly dense green forest of Sal and other medicinal herbs; it also has large tracts of Teak forests. Its common fauna comprises Spotted Deer, Indian Bison (Gaur), Tiger, Leopard, Wild Boar, Wild Dog (locally called Dhole), Sloth Bear, Black Buck, Sambhar, Four Horned Antelope (Chowsingha), Marsh Crocodile, Indian Giant Squirrel & Langur Monkey. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded here, and it offers excellent birding opportunities due to its unique terrain and many water bodies, including the Tawa reservoir. Satpura also offers a unique boating safari on the Denwa River, which hosts a wide variety of birds during winter.
- Location: Hoshangabad District, Madhya Pradesh
- Nearest Airport: It is approximately 180 kms from Bhopal Airport
- Nearest Railway Station: It is approximately 60km from Itarsi Railway Station
- Famous for – Spotted Deer, Indian Bison (Gaur), Tigers, Leopards and Sloth Bear
- When to go- October -March is the best time to visit.
Tadoba National Park – Tadoba, Maharashtra
Tadoba National Park covers 116.55 square kilometers and was established in 1955, while Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary covers 508.85 square kilometers and was established in 1986. Finally, in 1995, Maharashtra’s forest department united the two areas to form the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, which covers a total area of 625.40 sq km. This massive reserve, covering 1727 square kilometers, is made up of the Protected Forest and Reserve Forest, as well as other areas. Today, it is one of the 51 Project Tiger Reserves and is one of the most well-known.
Tadoba Tiger Reserve is divided into three separate forest ranges, i.e., Tadoba North Range, Kolsa South Range, and Moharli Range. Every year, Tadoba attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world. According to the latest reports, there are 115 tigers in Tadoba National Park, making it the most populous in the country. It is home to a variety of wild species other than tigers. It includes Leopard, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Jackal, Barking Deer, Indian Bison, etc. Tadoba is a haven for the best native woodland bird species of Central India & there’s an incredible variety of birds you get to spot— including aquatic birds, birds of prey, and fruit-eating birds.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many National Parks are there in India?
2. Which is the largest national park in India?
3. Which is the smallest national park in India?
4. Which state has the highest number of national park in India?
Harpreet has been an integral part of the Pugdundee team for almost 8 years. Starting his journey as a Naturalist, he has grown into the role of Lodge Manager. A passionate wildlife enthusiast and talented photographer, he enjoys capturing the wildlife and wilderness around the lodge whenever he gets the opportunity.
