There is so much more of India than just the Taj Mahal. The national parks in this South Asian country are just as entertaining and are aplenty. The establishment of national parks in the world’s second-most populous country, was slow going at first. The first national park, Jim Corbett National Park, was established in 1936. In 1970, India only had five national parks.
Two years later, India decided to do something about the protection of their natural resources—and the country has a lot considering its large land area: 3,287,263 square kilometers (812,300,377.6 acres), the seventh-largest in the world. India passed the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to protect its natural resources especially its wildlife.
Currently, India has 104 national parks. Here are some of the country’s best national parks.
1. Bandhavgarh National Park
Named after one of the hills of the area, this park is located in the Umaria district, in Madhya Pradesh. The park is noted for its large biodiversity, which is home to some 1,336 species of endemic plants. Like most parks in India, there is a large population of tigers in this park—one with the highest density of tiger population in the whole of India. The park is also a favorite breeding ground for leopards.
Before it became a national park, the Bandhavgarh was a hunting ground for the maharajah and his guests. The hunting was stopped when the area became a national park in 1968. There are 37 species of mammals in the park, with the tiger noted to be at the top of the food chain. This means that the others are fair game. One of the noted tigers that live in the park became a celebrity. The charger was among the most photographed tigers in the world, and once appeared as the cover animal of the National Geographic. He got his name because he was often found charging on elephants and tourists—but no tourist has ever been harmed. He died in 2000 and was buried at Charger Point.
Other common residents of the park are the sambar and barking deer. There are also dozens of species of birds in the area including brahminy starling, cattle egret, common kingfisher, house crow, lesser spotted eagle, paddy field bush cat, pied bush cat, and a plum-headed parakeet.
2. Desert National Park
One of the largest national parks in the country, the area covers 3,162 square kilometers (781,347 acres). Since it is a desert, a large part of it is dunes, which is also a favorite attraction in the park. But despite the intermedial areas and fixed dunes, as well as an arid climate, which are all common in a desert, the park is rich in birdlife. Among the most common sightings in the area are those of buzzards, eagles, falcons, harriers, kestrels, and vultures.
Then there is the endangered great Indian bustard. This bird is endemic to India. The park is just one of the few areas where the Indian bustard can still be spotted. This is why birders from all over the world are drawn to the Desert National Park.
Birds are aplenty in this park and they are known to live and breed on trees. The park has sparse vegetation but among the trees that thrive in the park are ber, dhok, palm, and ronj. Among the mammals found in the park are the Bengal foxes, chinkaras, desert cats, desert foxes, hedgehogs, and wolves. These birds are also fond of staying at the Gadsisar Sagar Tank, which has become a favorite picnic area among tourists.
3. Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
India might have a close relationship with the tigers, but the lions hold a special place in its heart, so much so, that this park was created to preserve the country’s lion population. But it wasn’t always that way. During the 19th century, the leader of the area was fond of leading private hunting expeditions, targeting Asiatic lions. By the end of the century, only about a dozen Asiatic lions survived in India. All of them were in the Gir Forest. A sanctuary was then established to preserve the population of the endangered species. During the last Asiatic Lion Census in 2015, it was learned that there are now around 523 Asiatic lions.
Aside from the Asiatic lions, there are more than 2,000 species of wildlife in the park. Among the other residents are the chital, golden jackals, honey badgers, Indian gray mongooses, Indian leopards, jungle cats, and striped hyenas.
In the forest part of the park, more than 500 plant species thrive. The park also supplies over 123,000 metric tons of firewood every year.
4. Kali Tiger Reserve
With the success of the 2018 move “Black Panther,” people might have been interested in the actual animal. Unfortunately for a lot of people, this animal is endemic in Asia. The Kali Tiger Reserve in Uttara Kannada in Karnataka, India, is one of the very few places where black panthers can be spotted. But of course, as the name suggests, the tiger is the centerpiece in this park. But elephants are more frequently seen.
The Kali River flows through the preserved area and gives life to the rich forest ecosystem. The forest area became a protected natural resource as early as 1956 when it was declared as the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. It was renamed as the Kali Tiger Reserve in 2015.
There are several activities tourists can do at the park including camping, hiking or nature walks, and even river rafting the Kali River. Some do bird watching because the park is home to some 200 species of birds. Frequently spotted in the area are the adjutant stork, black-crusted bulbul, crested serpent eagle, Malabar pied hornbill, and yellow-footed green pigeon. Among the rarer birds spotted in the park are the Asian fairy bluebird, Ceylon frogmouth and Indian gray hornbill.
But of course, the most popular activity is wildlife watching. Only some are lucky enough to spot the tigers and black panthers, though, since they mostly shy away from people. Elephants are regularly seen. Other residents of the park are flying squirrels, jackals, jungle cats, Indian gray mongooses, leopard cats, porcupines, small Indian civets, and wild dogs.
5. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
While a lot of the parks in India are meant to preserve tigers and other mammals, this park is aimed at protecting marine resources including corals and sea turtles. There are two groups of islands in the park: Labyrinth Islands and Twin Islands. The park is composed of at least 17 islands that have tropical forests.
The park is a favorite among divers and snorkelers because of the beautiful sights underwater. Aside from the sea turtles, marine lives found in the park are the colorful fishes, mollusks, shells, and starfishes. Other favorites in the park are the birds including Andaman teals, herons, parakeets, terns, swifts, waders, and white-bellied sea eagles. There are around 270 species of birds in the park.
On land, animals are Andaman wild pigs, civets, fruit bats and spotted deer.
6. Nokrek National Park
This is the centerpiece of the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve as designed by UNESCO. The last remaining red pandas are located in this park, which is why authorities have instilled some strict guidelines when it comes to exploring the place.
Aside from the red pandas, the park is also home to other unique flora and fauna. Among the plants endemic in the park is the Memang Narang. As for the wildlife, other residents are Asian elephants, capped langur, clouded leopards, golden cats, leopards cats, pangolins, tigers and wild buffaloes.
7. Phawngpui National Park
One of the reasons why this park is largely unexplored is because management also restricts visits. The park is open to ecotourism for only six months: from November to April. The reason for this is because the government wants the area to naturally develop. It is still quite a young park, after all. It was only established in 1992.
Located in the Lawngtlai district, the park is also known as the Blue Mountain park because it is oftentimes covered by a stretch of clouds, which makes it seem to take on the color of the blue from a certain distance. The mountain imposes over the Chhimtuipui river, which flows toward Burma. The mountain is a popular hiking destination. However, more seasoned hikers might be more inclined to take on the challenge, especially with the steep edges that the mountain is known for. However, the view from up above is simply amazing. One popular viewpoint shows a semi-circular cliff called the Thlazuang Kham.
But like most of the Indian parks, sightseeing is also highly favored in the park because of its rich flora and fauna. Among the animals, residents are the Asiatic black bears, capped langurs, gorals, leopard cats, leopards, mountain goats, serows, slow lorises, tigers, and stump-tailed macaques. Birders will also appreciate the park for the following: Blythe’s tragopans, dark-rumped swifts, falcons, Mrs. Hume’s pheasants, and sunbirds. Among the rare bird species documented in the area are the black eagles, mountain bamboo partridges, oriental pied hornbills, purple clothes and striped laughing thrushes.
8. Saddle Peak National Park
Located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which comprises over 500 islands, the park is forest land that is blanketed with green grasses and shrubs and with imposing trees popular in rainforests. Among the more popular residents of the park are the Andaman hill mynas, Andaman imperial pigeons, Andaman wild pigs, dolphins, saltwater crocodiles, water monitors, and whales. As for its fauna, the park also has the endemic Cleistahnthus robust and Scolopia pusilla. These are not even found in the mainland of India.
Tourists usually enjoy hiking and trekking Saddle Peak. The peak has a viewpoint, so those successful hikers can stay for a while and bask in the wonderful natural view. There is also a freshwater pool in the park, as well as 10 regular streams. There are also over 130 seasonal streams. Tourists can also see traces of lost temples in ruins in the park.
9. Sirohi National Park
This park is the smallest forest reserve in India, but it makes up for it in serenity. The area is only 41 square kilometers (10,131 acres). It doesn’t have a lot of attractions but it is a perfect place for tourists who just want to get away from the stress of life. The area is like a sea of green—just carpets of green grasses and shrubs perfectly peppered with trees. The foothills are also lined with trees.
The hilltop view is about 2,835 meters above sea level. The view from the top is just so tranquil. And while the area is small with small biodiversity, it still has a smattering of tigers, as is common in most national parks. There are also antelopes, deer, leopards, and wild boars. Among the birds spotted in the park are the Blyth’s tragopans, eagles, Mrs. Hume’s bar-backed pheasants, owls, vultures, and warblers.
10. Vansda National Park
The park provides a different landscape with different natural colors, mostly because of the deciduous forest that it is known for. No tree was cut down since the 1950s, and a lot of these trees are already 120 feet tall. The park is also known to be the receiving end of many rainfalls every year. This is the reason why the area’s vegetation is rich. It is logical, then, that the park’s most popular attraction has something to do with plants: the botanical garden.
But the park is also home to the stunning Gira Falls. The Kilad also has a campground to accommodate ecotourism activities. Visitors, though, have to make reservations to go to the park. This is to ensure that the park will not be overwhelmed by tourists.
Among the resident animals in the park are the common palm civets, four-horned antelopes, Hanuman langurs, Indian leopards, rhesus macaques, wild boars. There are also venomous snakes in the park-like Cobras, kraits and Russell’s vipers. The endangered species Indian giant squirrel was also spotted in the park. With so many trees in the park, it is also a popular home for birds. Some 155 species of birds have been documented in the area.