Beyond the bounds of the hustling cities, the milieu of monuments and the vibrant colorscape of its people, India offers an imposing jamboree of wildlife with over 89,451 wildlife species. We bring you top 5 national parks in India where you cross paths with India’s amazing wildlife. Listen to the roar of the majestic Royal Bengal tigers in the sanctuaries of Corbett, Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh. Explore the wild trail where lions tread in the Sasan Gir forest in the state of Gujarat. Experience the happenstance as you watch the famous one-horned rhinoceros stroll in the grasslands of the Manas and Kaziranga National Park. The Indian wildlife destinations are  just like India, they are varied, colorful, exotic and welcoming. So, whenever you are planning a trip to the subcontinent, these top 5 wildlife destinations of India are a must-visit.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Witness the iconic Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, cheetah and the lions in the wild in sanctuaries like Sasan Gir, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench, Kaziranga, Manas, Jim Corbett and Ranthambore.
• Enjoy the antics of the agile musk deer, black buck, spotted deer, Indian gazelle, blue bull, wild boar, wolf, hyena, jackal and jungle cats.
• Go on a date with Asiatic elephants and the unique one-horned rhinoceros that are preserved in India’s dense forests.

Bandhavgarh National Park

Among the top 5 wildlife destinations in India, Bandhavgarh is a very popular national park in the heartland of India with a density of one tiger every 4.77 square kilometers. It is also home to as many as 34 species of mammals, 260 species of birds and 70 species of butterflies.  Sightings are a regular feature and a rendezvous with a majestic cat is just what you envisioned with skipped heartbeats, racing blood and awe that lingers on. This is a success story of Project Tiger and one that cannot be missed.

Pench National Park

Pench National Park is an abode to over 286 local and migratory birds and of course the majestic tiger. This vast forest was the muse for Rudyard Kipling to pen the masterpiece, “The Jungle Book”. It tells you the stories of the fantastic tigers sharing an ecosystem with the wondrous barasinghas, herds of spotted deer that sprint all through, reptiles, apes that perch on the tall trees and birds that flutter through the skies. In Pench, you are under its spell as you weave past this land of the fictitious Mowgli and feel the magic of the wild.

Gir National Park

Popular among the top 5 wildlife destinations in India, the Gir National Park in Gujarat is the second home after Africa for the endangered Asiatic lions. Apart from lions, other wildlife include the world’s only four-horned antelope, Indian gazelle, spotted deer, blue bull, wild boar, wolf, hyena, jackal and jungle cat. The Kamleshwar reservoir in the middle of the sanctuary is also home to a record number of Marsh Crocodiles and other reptiles. Spread over 1412 kms, this national park welcomes you with thick vegetation and rich fauna.

Kaziranga National Park

The Indo-Gangetic plains lead you to Kaziranga which is home to three of Asia’s iconic animals; the one-horned rhinoceros, the Asiatic elephants and the Royal Bengal Tiger. Kaziranga National Park harbors more than two thirds of the entire one-horned rhinoceros population in the world. From 12 rhinoceros in 1908 to 2000 plus at the last count, this is one story that is lauded. Wildlife sightings include wild boars, Asiatic elephants, sambars, jackals and wild buffaloes. Among the top 5 wildlife destinations, Kaziranga has the best concentrations of tigers, almost guaranteeing a sighting and a once in a lifetime experience.

Manas National Park

Tucked away in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas and set along the Manas river lies this crown jewel among India’s top 5 wildlife sanctuaries.  The Manas National Park houses 22 of India’s most threatened species of mammals and 26 globally threatened avian species. These include species like the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, capped langur, pygmy hog and Bengal florican. It also is home to the magnificent Indian Elephant, the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger and the iconic one-horned rhinoceros making it a complete package. This biosphere is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site both because of its biodiversity as well as its spectacular beauty that stands unrivaled.