Preserving and securing animals have been a part of Indian culture forever. People like treating animals the same as humans and give equal importance to their lives and health. However, with time, the tradition of saving animals was fading away, and to curb the merciless hunting of animals, major wildlife sanctuaries in India were established to preserve several rare breeds of animals. These sanctuaries had rich biodiversity that included wild animal species like lion, Bengal Tiger, White Tiger, Babbar Sher, Asiatic, snow leopard, one-horned rhinoceros, and many other animals and birds.
Beginning of Tourism
With time, they gained popularity amongst the tourists, and people began to visit them. That’s how India became an abode of some of the unique flora and fauna species and a paradise for nature and wildlife lovers. If you are one of them, you must pay a visit to some of these wildlife sanctuaries. It would be a thrilling experience to see animals roaming around the jungle freely.
There are many sanctuaries in India, but some of them are more worth visiting than others. So, here is a list of major wildlife sanctuaries in India to help you decide your next travel destination.
6 Amazing Wildlife Sanctuaries in India
1. Corbett National Park – Uttarakhand
Corbett National Park in the Indian state of Uttarakhand is the oldest national park and wildlife sanctuary in India. It occupies an envious spot among the top 10 best national parks in the country. This park is widely popular as it sits at the foothills of the Himalayan range of Uttrakhand, and it is famous for executing the Protect Tiger Reserve project. This park is spread around a 520 sq km area and comprises hills, riverine belts, grasslands, large lakes, and rare breeds of animals, especially tigers. It also protects birds and has 650 species of residents and migratory birds. It is more like a thick forest and house of many rare and exotic species.
2. Keoladeo Ghana National Park – Bharatpur
Keoladeo Ghana National Park was previously known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. It is a man-made wetland that has been declared a national park. This park is located in Rajasthan and is renowned for its resident breeding birds. It is a bird paradise and contains around 375 bird species. A large number of migratory birds such as ducks, geese, pelicans, coots, waders, and many other migratory birds arrive here in the winter season to avoid harsh weather conditions. It also protects some endangered species like the Greater Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Siberian Crane, and many others. Jungle safari, flora, and fauna, Greenlands, wetlands, and woodlands are some other reasons to visit this national park. So do stop here during your trip to get an excellent and memorable experience.
3. Ranthambhore National Park – Rajasthan
Another wildlife sanctuary of Rajasthan, Ranthambhore National Park, is known for securing leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, hyena, and several other endangered species. The breed of majestic tigers and the surroundings of the Banas and Chambal rivers are the main highlights of this national park. These reasons make it popular among visitors for tiger safaris and jungle safaris.
4. Nagarhole National Park – Karnataka
Nagarhole National Park is based in the Mysore district of Karnataka. This wildlife sanctuary has a significant number of Indian bison, leopards, sloth bears, and elephants. Apart from animals, it also comprises species of highly commercial-valued trees such as teak, sandalwood, silver oak, etc. Endangered mugger crocodiles, 250 species of birds, 96 species of dung beetles, and 60 species of ants are some other parts of this park. So include this wildlife sanctuary in India in your travel bucket list too.
5. Sariska National Park – Rajasthan
Rajasthan has many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and Sariska National Park is one of them. It is located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Earlier, it was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955, but it protected a huge number of tigers. For this reason, it was declared as one of the tiger reserve forests later in 1978. So, if you want to witness a tiger roaming on the street, then consider this place for your jungle safari trip.
6. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary – Kerala
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is based within the range of Cardamom Hills and Periyar River. This outlook of the river and hill gives it an enchanting scenic view, and the rare wildlife species are like a cherry on the cake. This park is located in Kerala and comprises animals like mice, deer, mongoose, sambar deer, barking deer, gaur bison, Nilgiri langur, and leopards. It is the home of many other animals too, and you can also do a jungle jeep safari to see tigers, elephants, and other animals roaming around the Periyar lake.
Our list ends here, but there is more to these places that can never be described in words. So, make sure to explore them with your own eyes.
