India is a crazy place with so much diversity, culture and wildlife. The country has over 500 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks where you can see some of the coolest and rarest animals and birds on the planet. Whether you are a nature freak, an adventure junkie or a wildlife lover, you will find tons of options to explore the wild side of India. Here are 10 awesome wildlife safaris in India that will blow your mind.
- Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
Also Read:
Ranthambore National Park is one of the most popular and biggest wildlife reserves in India, covering 1,334 square kilometers. It is famous for its badass Bengal tigers, which you can spot easily during the jeep or canter safaris. The park also has a lot of other animals, such as sloth bears, wild boars, sambar deer, leopards, crocodiles and more than 300 species of birds. The park also has a historical vibe, as it was once the hunting ground of the kings of Jaipur and has many ancient ruins and forts inside it.
- Hemis National Park, Ladakh
Hemis National Park is the largest and highest national park in India, covering 4,400 square kilometers at an altitude of 3,000 to 6,000 meters above sea level. It is the best place to see the mysterious and endangered snow leopards, which are around 100 in number in this park. Apart from snow leopards, the park also has other amazing animals, such as Tibetan argali sheep, ibex, blue sheep, chukhar, golden eagles and more. The park also offers stunning views of the Himalayan landscape and is a paradise for trekkers and photographers.
- Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest and one of the most famous national parks in India, established in 1936. It is named after the legendary hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett, who was awesome in saving the tigers from extinction in this region. The park covers an area of 520 square kilometers and has a diverse terrain of hills, rivers, grasslands and forests. It is home to more than 200 tigers and many other animals, such as elephants, leopards, deer, monkeys, jackals, otters and more than 600 species of birds. The park also offers various activities for visitors, such as jeep safaris, elephant rides, fishing, camping and nature walks.
- Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National Park is another hotspot for tiger lovers in India, as it has one of the highest densities of tigers in the world. The park covers an area of 448 square kilometers and has a core area of 105 square kilometers where tigers roam freely. The park also has a rich history and culture, as it was once the hunting ground of the royal family of Rewa and has many ancient temples and caves within its boundaries. Apart from tigers, the park also shelters other animals such as leopards, bears, wolves, hyenas, jackals, foxes, wild dogs, langurs, wild boars, bison, deer and more than 250 species of birds.
- Sasan-Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
Sasan-Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is the only place in the world where you can see the Asiatic lions, which are a subspecies of lions that are native to India. The sanctuary covers an area of 1,412 square kilometers and has around 500 lions living in their natural habitat. The sanctuary also hosts other animals such as leopards, hyenas, jackals, foxes, crocodiles, antelopes, monkeys and more than 300 species of birds. The sanctuary also offers jeep safaris, lion shows, nature trails and cultural programs for visitors.
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most scenic and biodiverse wildlife reserves in India, located in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The sanctuary covers an area of 925 square kilometers and has a large artificial lake that was created by damming the Periyar River. The lake attracts many animals such as elephants, bison, sambar deer, wild boars, otters, turtles and more. The sanctuary is also famous for its tigers and leopards, which are elusive but can be spotted occasionally. The sanctuary also offers boat safaris, elephant rides, bamboo rafting, trekking and spice plantation tours for visitors.
- Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in India for conserving the endangered one-horned rhinoceroses. The park covers an area of 430 square kilometers and has more than 2, 400 rhinos living in its grasslands and wetlands. The park also has a significant population of tigers, elephants, buffaloes, swamp deer, wild boars, dolphins and more than 400 species of birds. The park also offers jeep safaris, elephant safaris, boat rides and watch towers for visitors .
- Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
Sundarbans National Park is a unique and spectacular wildlife reserve that lies at the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. The park covers an area of 1, 330 square kilometers and consists of mangrove forests, islands, creeks and rivers. The park is home to the largest number of royal Bengal tigers in the world, which are adapted to the saline environment and swim across the water channels. The park also harbors other animals such as crocodiles, monitor lizards, snakes, otters, dolphins, deer, monkeys and more than 260 species of birds. The park also offers boat safaris, watch towers, nature camps and village tours for visitors.
- Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Kanha National Park is one of the largest and most beautiful national parks in India, spread over an area of 940 square kilometers. It is famous for its population of barasingha or swamp deer, which are endemic to this region and were saved from extinction by conservation efforts. The park also has a good number of tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, hyenas, jackals, foxes, wild dogs, langurs, wild boars, bison, deer and more than 300 species of birds. The park also offers jeep safaris, elephant safaris, nature walks and tribal village visits for visitors .
- Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan
Keoladeo National Park is a paradise for bird lovers, as it hosts more than 370 species of resident and migratory birds. The park covers an area of 29 square kilometers and was originally a duck-hunting reserve for the maharajas of Bharatpur. The park has a man-made wetland that attracts thousands of waterfowl such as geese, ducks, pelicans, storks, herons, egrets, cranes, flamingos and more. The park also has other animals such as nilgai, sambar deer, jackals, hyenas, foxes, mongooses and pythons. The park also offers cycle rickshaw rides, boat rides, birdwatching tours and nature walks for visitors