Wildlife has been an integral part of our civilization since ancient times. To preserve the diverse flora and fauna of the deserts, the wildlife sanctuaries were set up. India is known for its exceptional wildlife sanctuaries where the rich bio-diversity of the nation is preserved. It is also an important venue for promoting eco-tourism. Here is the list of the top 10 biggest wildlife sanctuaries in India that never fails to take us on an adventurous and thrilling experience.
1. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand:
This is one of the oldest national parks in India and is very popular among people for having a very healthy population of elephants and tigers. People visit this sanctuary to enjoy the excellent elephant safaris. This national park is located on the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. Thus, without any doubt it features a varied and diverse landscape with grasslands, beautiful rivers and of course marshy lowlands. If one goes on a jeep safari in this park, they would be able to spot the magnificent Bengal Tiger enjoying its bliss in its natural environment. We could also get a glimpse of sloth bears, leopards and over 600 species of birds in this national park.
2. Rathambore National Park, Rajasthan:
This national park is also nick named as the tiger capital of our country. It is one of the best national parks that helps to get the best and the most majestic views of the big cats, in their natural wild environment. This national park is set in a vivid landscape of the Vindhya and the Aravalli ranges. This park also has a number of beautiful lakes, rivers and also dense forests. Safaris in this national park are available in the early mornings and in the late evenings for the public and we could easily spot a number of sloth bears, leopards, boars and hyenas relaxing and having their time out in their natural habitat. Yet another additional bonus for history enthusiasts in this national park is the 10th century Ranthambore Fort, located within the park.
3. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal:
If you want to enjoy an exceptional and an entirely unique wildlife adventure, then this is the ideal national park. The Sundarbans mangrove forests are home to some of the royal and majestic Bengal Tigers. Being a world heritage site, the park spans around thousands of islands. It is also set in the delta regions of the Brahmaputra River and the Ganges. If we cruise around the estuaries and the river channels in our safaris, we would be able to spot a number of fishing cats, crocodiles, chital deer and water monitors along with tigers. With some luck, you may also get to see a tiger swimming or channeling thorough a river bank.
4. Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad:
This wildlife sanctuary nestled in Wayanad is an abode for wild elephants. Wildlife enthusiasts consider this park to be a haven as it spans thick forests, and open grasslands. It is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. This sanctuary is home for numerous elephants, tigers, deer, leopards and countless species of birds. The sanctuary is known for its biodiversity and offers numerous nature trails and safari tours for its visitors.
5. Gir National Park, Gujarat:
Gir National Park is one of the unique places where we can find Asian lions in the wild. This national park is indeed a home for more than 500 of these big cats. This national park is a dry and deciduous forest. It has a landscape of grasslands and rocky hills. Apart from the lions, this park also serves as an habitat for chousingha, nilgai, leopards, crocodiles and a lot more species. A big cat feasting on a fresh kill or lounging under a tree is a common scene in this park, during safaris.
6. Periyar National Park, Kerala:
This national park is famous for its tiger and elephant reserve. This national park is located in the Cardamom hills of Kerala. The best feature of this park is its 26 sq.km artificial lake to serve the animals surrounded by evergreen tropical forests. By exploring this park, you can enjoy boating on the lake, while witnessing elephants coming down to drink and bathe.
7. Kaziranga national park, Assam:
This world heritage site lying on the floodplains of the Brahmaputra river is home for tall elephant grass and lush forests. Its wet marshlands are home for the largest population of one-horned rhinoceros in the world. Through jeep and elephant safaris, we can watch these giants in action, along with other fauna such as wild water buffalo, swamp deer, tigers etc.
8. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh:
This is one of the very well managed and maintained national parks in India. This national park boasts the highest density of tigers within our country. It is set against the landscape of the Vindhya Hills. It comprises of both open grasslands and dense forests. Apart from tigers, we would also be able to spot gaur, leopards, nilgai, chital and over 250 other species of birds in this national park.
9. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh:
This national park offers the most memorable jungle experiences for its visitors. It is home for Sal and bamboo forests. It also possesses ravines, grassy meadows and thick jungle, which is perfect for spotting a range of barasinghas, leopards, sloth bears, swamp deer and a host of other animals. The species of Barasingha is not found anywhere else in the country except in the Kanha National Park.
10. Bandipur National Park, Karnataka:
This national park is located in Karnataka and covers over 874 sq km of land. This was established as tiger reserve in the 1974 by the Government of India. But it was once a hunting ground for the Mysore Maharaja. This park is now the home for a variety of endangered species in the country. It shares its borders with three different wild life areas and is the habitat for wild elephants in South Asia.
We can say that with the establishment of these wild life sanctuaries, a number of species that were considered to be engendered are thriving. It also serves a perfect spot to explore wildlife in their natural habitat for humans.
