WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES AND NATIONAL PARKS IN INDIA 
BANDIPUR WILDLIFE SANTUARY KARNATAKA
Bandidipur National Park : Part of the lushly-forested Deccan Plateau, Bandipur, in Karnataka, offers a rich and varied wildlife habitat. It is a part of a larger national park, which also includes the neighbouring wildlife sanctuaries, of Mudumalai Tamil Nadu and Wynad in Kerala. This sanctuary is one of the 15 sanctuaries selected across India for Project Tiger, a scheme launched in 1973, by the World Wide Fund for Nature
General Information:
Best time of visit: Throughout the year
Nearest Town : Gundulpet (20 km)
How to get there : Rail :- Mysore (80 km); Air :- Bangalore (200 km);
BANDAVGARH NATIONAL PARK MADHYA PRADESH
Bandhavgarh used to be the hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa, though its history goes back two millennia. In caves you can still see paintings by the ancients. It is a retreat where history and nature meet. Covering about 450 sq km, about half the park comprises sal forests, while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches of the hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands extend to the north. The main viewing area is still in the core of the Park with its 32 picturesque, wooded hills. An ancient fort up on a precipice, 800 metres high, dominates the Park.
This is where the famous white tigers of Rewa were discovered. Also to be seen here are nilgai, chousingha, chital, chinkara, wild boar, foxes, jackals, the jungle cat, ratel, hyena, porcupine, the rhesus macaque and the black-faced langur. About 150 species of birds are also found here and include the migratory birds that arrive in winter like the steppe eagle and various water-birds.
General Information:
Best time of visit: - November-June (Park closes in July for the monsoons)
Nearest Town : - Umaria (30 km)
How to get there : - Rail-Umaria (30 km); Air-Khajuraho (210 km),
BETLA NATIONAL PARK JHARKHAND
Palamu shot to fame as early as 1932 for its tiger census - the first of its kind in the world. In 1974 it became one of the country?s earliest tiger reserves. Endowed with thick tropical forests and a rich variety of fauna, the core area of the sanctuary has been declared as Betla National park (232 sq. kms.). This park is a great attraction to tourists. The Park, at an average elevation of 1,000 ft. is open throughout the year although February to April are the best months. It is 140 kms from Ranchi .
Fauna: Large herds of Gaur and Chital are commonly seen. Elephants are present mostly after the monsoons up to the time when water holes begin to dry up in March. Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild Bear, Sambhar, Nilgai, Kakar, Mouse Deer are also permanent residents. Large families of langurs are an ever-present attraction. Palamu is now one of the nine Tiger Reserves in India under Project Tiger. It has waterfalls and hot springs too. The forest department has made arrangements for providing jeeps for viewing the wildlife here.
BHITARKANIKA SANTUARY ORISSA
Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary is a paradise for adventure lovers. It is also a breeding ground for the Olive Ridley turtles. This is the largest forest of the country. It was declared as a sanctuary in 1975, just to protect the estuarine crocodile and turtles in their rare mangrove habitat.
Fauna: Reptiles are the dominant species here. The area is equally rich in mammals, birds, amphibians and fishes besides insects and other micro fauna. This has the largest concentration of estuarine crocodiles with as large as 22feet. The Gahirmatha beach in this sanctuary is also the largest rookery of "Olive Ridley" turtles in the world.
CORBETT NATIONAL PARK UTTARANCHAL
Nestling in the foothils of the Himalayas , the tiger reserve extends over an area of 1200 sq. km. The Ramganga River flows through the park and little forest streams tumble through the ravines. While dense stands of sal cloak the higher ridges, mixed deciduous forests are found throughout the park.
"Project Tiger" was launched here in 1973. In addition to tigers, leopards and elephants, four species of deer - hog deer, sambar, chital and barking deer - are found here. Besides these, Corbett is a haven for 50 mammals, 580 kinds of birds and 25 reptile species. Basking along the banks of the Ramganga are the fish-eating gharial and the mugger or marsh crocodile. The river is rich in the golden mahaseer - although angling is not permitted inside the National Park.
General Information:
Best time of visit: November - June
How to get there : Rail :- Delhi to Ramnagar; Air :- Delhi (7 hours drive);
DUDHWA NATIONAL PARK UTTAR PRADESH
Further east along the Terai, the Dudhwa National Park , which is also a Tiger Reserve, is localted in the district of Lakhimpur - Kheri, very close to the Nepal border. The 498.29 sq.km. Park has fine sal forests and extensive grasslands. Tall coarse grass, sometimes-forming impenetrable thickets, swampy depressions and lakes characterise the wetlands of the Park. These are the habitat of large numbers of barasingha, the magnificent swamp deer, noted for their multi-tined antlers (bara-12 singha-horn). These in turn support the predators-the tiger and leopard. Though the PARK has a fair population of tigers, they are rarely seen owing to the nature of the forest cover.
The grasslands are also ideal terrain for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. In an exciting project undertaken in 1984, a number of rhinos were trans located here from Assam and Nepal , in an attempt to extend their habitats and to exclude the possibility of wiping out entire populations through diseas and epidemics. Presently, 13 rhinos can be seen in Dhudwa.
General Information:
Best time of visit : November to May
How to get there : Rail :- Bareilli ; Air :- Lucknow (250 km) ; Road :- Delhi (8 hours);
GARUMARA NATIONAL PARK - WEST BENGAL
Gorumara National park is located in the Dooars region of Jalpaiguri di strict. Situated on the bank of Murti River the National Park has a large variety of flora and fauna. The grassland of Garumara is famous for Asiatic one-horned rhino. The watchtower beside the Forest Rest House gives a panoramic view of the entire park and the Murti Valley . The tower is the best place to observe wild animals especially rhino, elephant, bison and deer, as they regularly come to the salt reservoir just below the tower. In the year 1949, Gorumara Forest was declared as wildlife sanctuary when it was a small forest. Later in the year 1992, it was declared as a National Park, comprising of 89 km of diverse forest.
How to get there : Rail :-New Jalpaiguri ; Air :-Bagdogra
GIR NATIONAL PARK GUJRAT
Located in the south-west fringes of the Saurashtra Peninsula, The Gir National Park is a haven to about 300 Asiatic Lions which is their last surviving population.This area flanked with three unique and unusual reserves, the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary; the Rann of Kutch and the Flamingo Islands which is home to the flamingo, make it a very interesting tourist spot. The 1412.13 sq km park has a rugged terrain and the steep rocky hillsides are covered with mixed deciduous forests. Apart from the lion other prominent fauna of the area includes leopards, wild ass, numerous chital, nilgai, chinkara, four horned antelope, wild boar, numerous birds like paradise flycatcher, Bonneli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, woodpeckers flamingo etc.
General Information:
Best time to visit : November - Mid June
Nearest town : Junagadh (42 km)
How to get there : Rail :- Train to Sasan Gir (1 km); Air :- airport - Keshod (150 km)
JALDAPARA WILD LIFE SANTUARY WEST BENGAL
Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary situated at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas in Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal was constituted in the year of 1943 for the protection of wild life, particularly single horned Rhinos. River Torsha runs through this riverain forest sanctuary which is mostly covered with tall grasses. The wild life, in addition to the famous single horned rhinos, consists of Royal Bengal Tigers, wild elephants, deer, swamp deer, hog deer, wild pigs, bison and a number of birds, pea-fowl etc. A thrilling elephant safari is organized in the early morning from Hollong to offer the exquisite beauty of the vast grassland of Jaldapara. The elephant ride is the best possible way to explore the sanctuary with the rare sight of Indian rhinos and Asiatic elephants. The jeep safari inside the sanctuary is another main attraction.
General Information:
Best time to visit : October to May.
How To Get There Air : Bagdogra 145kms Rail: NJP., Road: Jaldapara is connected by National Highway with Siliguri and can be reached by car within 3hrs
Entry fee : Rs. 25/head, Rs. 50 - Rs. 200/vehicle, Rs. 250/vedio camera
Elephant ride charge: Rs. 240/head
KANHA NATIONAL PARK BANDAVGARH
The Kanha National Park is located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh that covers nearly 2,000 sq. km. of undulating country. Elevations range from 450 to 900 metres. Kanha is the home to 'hard ground' barasingha (cervus duvauceli branderi) the only surviving population of this Central Indian sub-species. The animals at Kanha are best observed from elephant back & jeeps. Deer are seen along the maidans and gaur at Bamhnidadar or in the Bishanpura-Sondhar-Ghorella area of the Mukki range. This area is also ideal for spotting the dhole or wild dog. Langurs, wild boar, water fowl and birds are also commonly seen.
General Information:
Best time to visit : October to June
How to get there : Rail :- Jabalpur (220 km)
KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK ASSAM
Situated on the Brahmaputra River , the Kaziranga National Park covers an area of about 430 sq. km. Its swamps and grasslands with tall thickets of elephant grass and patches of evergreen forest, support the largest number of rhino in the subcontinent. It was an alarming depletion in their numbers, due to hunting and poaching that led to the conservation of this area in 1926. In 1940, Kaziranga was declared a sanctuary. Herds of barasingha and wild buffalo are to be seen in the marshes. Rhinos browse unconcernedly as the visitors pass by and an occasional herd of elephants or wild boar is also sighted. The grasslands are raptor country and the crested serpent eagle, the Pallas fishing eagle and greyheaded fishing eagle can be seen circling over the marshes. The water-bird variety includes swamp partridge, bar-headed goose, whistling teal, the Bengal florican, storks, herons and even pelicans.
General Information:
Best time to visit : November-April
How to get there : Air :- Jorhat (84 km); Rail :- Guwahat.
KEIBUL LAM JEO NATIONAL PARK MANIPUR
This unusual wilderness is the home of the Sangai or Manipur brow- antlered deer. Once hunting reserve for waterfowl, the tiny park is just 40 sq. km. in area. It was declared a sanctuary in 1954 when numbers of the highly localised Sangai became dangerously depleted. The graceful deer, noted for their curved antlers, live on the floating vegetation on the Logtak Lake , 32 km south of Imphal.
KEOLDEO GHANA BIRD SANTUARY BHARATPUR / RAJASTHAN
Keoladeo Ghana National Park , one of the most spectacular bird sanctuaries in India , nesting indigenous water- birds as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds. Sambar, chital, nilgai and boar also inhabit it. More than 300 species of birds are found in this small park of 29 sq. km. of which 11 sq. km. are marshes and the rest scrubland and grassland. Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which stands at the centre of the park. ' Ghana ' means dense, referring to the thick forest, which used to cover the area. The area was declared a national park on 10 March 1982 , and accepted as a World Heritage Site in December 1985.
Fauna: Over 350 species of birds find a refuge in the 29 sq km of shallow lakes and woodland, which makes up the park. A third of them are migrants, many of whom spend their winters in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds, as far away as Siberia and Central Asia .
MANAS NATIONAL PARK GUWAHATI / ASSAM
Manas is situated in Assam spread over an area of 391 sq km, earlier it was known as North Kamrup, declared as a sanctuary on December 01, 1928. It was accorded the status of World Heritage Site in 1985.
Fauna: Manas houses 19 of India 's most endangered animal populations. It has the largest population of tigers among Indian reserves. The main highlight of the park is the giant hornbill, two subspecies of which, the pied and grey varieties are to be found here.It extends into the foothills of Bhutan where it is called the Royal Manas National Park . Its wetlands are of international importance and essential for the survival of the fast-vanishing hispid hare and pygmy hog. November to March.Golden Langur, rhino, wild buffalos, elephants, gaur, swamp deer, capped langur and clouded leopard, giant hornbill.
Butterflies and reptiles are also found aplenty in Manas. In the river water, you can enjoy boating and fishing as well. Coloured pebbles of the Manas River are an added attraction not to be missed.
NAMDHAPA NATIONAL PARK ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Namdapha National Park is situated in Arunachal Pradesh and famous for the extremely elusive snow and the clouded leopard. This Namdapha park is also the tiger reserve under Project Tiger.
Flora And Fauna: The inhabitants of the park which could be listed over there are the gaur or mithun, elephant, Himalayan black bear, takin, the wild goat peculiar to the Patkoi range, musk deer, slow loris, binturong and the red panda. Several primate species like the Assamese macaque, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque and the hoolock gibbon can be found in the area. Three major rivers drain this area.
NAMERI NATIONAL PARK ASSAM
Situated at the foothills of eastern Himalayas , Nameri National Park covers an area of about 200-sq-kms. The hilly backdrop, deciduous and the river Jia Bhoroli have added a unique charm to it. It is about 35-km from Tezpur town, which is 181-km from Guwahati.
Fauna: The rich wildlife that this park includes are Tiger, elephant, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Indian Bison, Pangolin, Indian wild dog, Civet Cat, Capped Langur, Jackal etc. Various birds including the four species of Hornbill and reptiles are also found here.
ORCHID SANTUARY GANGTOK / SIKKIM
This institute is the only one of its kind in the world and was established to promote research on the language and traditions of Tibet as well as into the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. It has one of the world's largest collection of books and rare manuscripts on the subject of Mahayana Buddhism plus many religious works of art and incredibly finely executed silk embroidered thankas.
PALAMAU TIGER RESERVE JHARKHAND
Spread over an area of approximately 1026 sq. km., Palamau Tiger Reserve is located within the civil administrative district of Palamau in the South Chhotanagpur plateau of Bihar. The undulating terrain is set off by sal forests and thickets of bamboo. The circuitous Koel River and its tributaries meander through the park.
Fauna : Palamau has the distinction of being the forest where the world's first tiger census was conducted by way of pugmarks, in 1934. Large herds of Gaur & Chital are commonly seen. Elephants are present mostly after the monsoon upto the time when the water holes begin to dry up in March. Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild Bear, Sambar, Nilgai, Deer are also permanent residents.
Palamau National Park is now a part of one of nine tiger reserves in India , under "Project Tiger?. Man-animal conflicts, caused largely by elephants are a major problem and pose Project Tiger with one of its greatest challenges.
PERIYAR WILDLIFE SANTUARY THEKKADY / KERALA
Between Trivandrum and Munnar is Thekkady, the home of one of India 's oldest and best-known wildlife sancturies. The former princely state of Travancore began to develop the area as a sanctuary in 1934, using the artificial lake that had been formed by flooding in 1895 as its center. By 1950 the sanctuary had reached its present size of 780 square kilometers and was named the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
General Information:
Best time to visit : - October to April
Nearest Town : - Kumily (4 km)
How to get there :
Air :- Kottayam (114 km) ; Rail :- Cochin (200 km) or Madurai (TN) (140 km) ;
RAJAJI NATIONAL PARK - UTTAR PRADESH
The Rajaji National Park is rich in faunal wealth because of the varied types of ecological niches existing in the reserve. The main groups occur are birds, mammals & reptiles snakes and lizards, amphibians (frogs & toads) and fishes, and chiefly the invertebrate groups are, the scorpions, centipedes, Odonata (dragon & damselflies), hymenoptera (wasps, bees, etc.) Isoptera (termites) and lepidoptera, which comprises more than 60 species. Our National bird Peacock is found here in abundance.
RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK RAJASTHAN
Near the township of Sawai Madhopur , in the state of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is an outstanding example of Project Tiger's efforts at conservationin the country. The forests around the Ranthambore Fort were once, the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The desire to preserve the game in these forests for sport, was responsible for their conservation, and subsequent rescue by Project Tiger.
The Park sprawls over an estimated area of 400 sq kms. Steep crags embracea network of lakes and rivers, and a top one of these hills, is the impressive Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century. The terrain fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bushland. The forest is the typically dry deciduous type, with dhok, being the most prominent tree. The entry point to the Park, goes straight to the foot of the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The latter boasts of the second-largest banyan tree in India .
General Information:
Best time to visit : October to May
Nearest Town : Sawai Madhopur
How to get there :
Air :- Jaipur (145 km) ; Rail :- Sawai Madhopur (11 km) ;
SARISKA WILD LIFE SANTUARY RAJASTHAN
Sariska is located in the sharp cliffs of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravallis some 200 km from Delhi . The forests are dry and deciduous. Within the sanctuary there are the ruins of medieval buildings. There is a 17th century castle on a sharp hilltop at Kankwari, which provides a panoramic view of flying Egyptian vultures and eagles.
The sanctuary covers an area of 800 sq. km. It is a tiger reserve and you can see ungulates in large numbers and the birdlife is very good and varied.
General Information:
Best time to visit : October to June
How to Get There:
Rail :- Alwar (37 km) Road :- 200 km from Delhi and 107 km from Jaipur
SIMLIPAL TIGER RESERVE - ORISSA
Simplipal is located in the centre of Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. The Simlipal National Park , one of the earliest to come under Project Tiger. It has spread over an area of 2,750 sq kms. It was declared as one of the nine tiger project reserves in the country in 1973. It was declared a sanctuary in 1979
Simlipal National Park is a floral treasure as well. It has close to 501 species of plants belonging to 102 families. Eighty-two species of orchids have already been identified here along with the omnipresent sal trees. Innumerable medicinal and aromatic plants are found as well that are a source of earnings for the local tribal population.
The beauty of the park brings the person into the state of hypnotic sleep. It is a god gift to this sanctuary. It would take several days to go around the park. The waterfalls, tribal settlements and mountain peaks, increase the glory of the park.
SUNDERBAN NATIONAL PARK WEST BENGAL
Located in the Ganga delta in West Bengal , spanning the Hooghly in the west and Teulia river in the east, Sunderbans was declared a National Park in 1984. The park covers a vast stretch of mangrove swamp, lush forested islands and small rivers near the Bay of Bengal . Most of the region comprises estuarine mangrove forests and swamps which supports an ecosystem specially adapted to great salinity.
Fauna: Sunderbans is home to the magnificent Royal Bengal tiger, the park holding more tigers than any other tiger reserve. More than 400 tigers were recorded during the mid-1980s. Project tiger has also launched a programme to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles. Crocodiles and the gangetic dolphin are to be found aplenty in the Raimgangal river. The Sajnakhali sanctuary, famous for its rich avian population, is regarded as a part of the Sunderbans National Park .
General Information:
Best time to visit : - October to March
Nearest Town : Basanti
How to Get There:
Air Kolkata . Rail :- Canning , Road : Gosaba
VALLEY OF FLOWERS NATIONAL PARK - UTTARNCHAL
The famous Valley of Flowers with the largest concentration of various species of wild flowers is off the Rishikesh-Badrinath road, 16 km from Govindghat. A virtual treat to the eyes, this beautiful valley in the Himalayas was established in the year 1982.This park, the smallest national park in the Himalayas was created to protect the catchment area of the Pushpavati River .
This stream emerges from a glacier then tumbles downward to meet the Ganges . The park spans an area of 87.5 sq. km and is perched on the upper reaches of the Bhyundia Ganga of Chamoli district of Garhwal. The Pushpawati River flows by the valley while the awesome Rataban peak forms a spectacular backdrop.
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