Top 8 Wildlife Sanctuaries In India.

• By Rohit Agarwal

Being a vast bio-diverse region, India is a home to a huge verity of flora and fauna. India is located within the Indomalaya Ecozone and houses a large forest cover in different parts of the country. These forests are a home to about 7.6% of mammals, 12.6% of Avifauna and 6.2% of reptilian species found in the world. The forests covers of the Western Ghats, the Andamans and the Northeastern India are few of the major wildlife hotspots in India and a home to a plethora of endangered species like the Tiger, Lion, Elephants, Leopards, Deer etc. Here are the top 8 wildlife sanctuaries one must visit in India.
Bandhavgarh National Park (Image Credits @ Zoe Sands)


Located in the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh, the Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most popular wildlife destinations in India and is visited by a huge number of tourists. The national park is home to the highest population of Tigers and Leopards in India. The area is a rich biodiverse region with a huge number of flourishing and endangered wildlife species. The park is a home to animals like Tigers, Sambar, Nilgai and the Great Indian Bison etc.
Corbett National Park (Image Credits @ Focuztours)

The oldest National Park and forest reserves in India, it is named after the famous British naturalist Jim Corbett and is located in the State of Uttrakhand. This park is also famous for being a major Tiger Reserve in India and is a home to a verity of flora and fauna. The majority of the park is located in the valley formed by the Ramganga River which is a tributary of the historic Ganges River and is a home to species like Tigers, Leopards, Elephants, Black bears, Sloth, chital, Sambar and several species of monkeys and ape etc.
Kanha National Park (Image Credits @ d & c)

The largest national park in central India, the Kanha National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh. The park stretches across an area of approximately 940 square kilometers and is home to a huge number of plant and animal species. It is also considered to be the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s famous novel The Jungle Book and contains animal species like the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Sloth Bear, Leopards and the Indian wild dog etc.
Kaziranga National Park (Image Credits @ aspicio)

Located in the State of Assam, Kaziranga National Park is a World Heritage Site and holds two third of the world’s one horned Rhinoceroses. It is probably one of the most elaborate forest reserves in India with countless species of birds, reptiles, plants and animals. The national park is also a popular tiger reserve and contains various species like tiger, leopard, sloth bear, pangolin and Rhinoceros.
Sunderban National Park (Image Credits @ kirainet)

Located in the State of West Bengal, the Sunderban National Park is a vast biodiverse region which is covered by mangrove forests and is one of the largest tiger reserves in India. It is also home to a huge number of salt water crocodiles and is one of their major habitats in this region. Apart from tigers and crocodiles the national park is a home to leopards, wild cats, flying fox, pangolin, chital etc.
Gir Forest National Park (Image Credits @ Foto Martien)

Located in the State of Gujarat, the Gir Forest National Park is one of the prime protected areas of the Asiatic Lions. The region’s ecosystem and the vast wildlife are supported by a number of perennial rivers and Dams that work as the lifeline of the park. There are around a 2,375 identified species of various genre of wildlife present in the forests with 38 species of mammals, 37 species of reptiles and 300 species of birds.
Periyar National Park (Image Credits @ Oktoberfrosten)

Located in the State of Kerala, the Periyar National Park is located in southern hills of the Western Ghats. It is considered as a major Tiger and Elephant reserve in India and is located high in the hills of the Southern western Ghats. The national park is a home to 35 different species of mammals, 256 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles and 40 species of fish and many of these are endemic to this region.
Ranthambore National Park (Image Credits @ Gecko's Adventures Images)

Located in the State of Ranthambore (Rajasthan), Ranthambore National Park is known as a popular tiger reserve. Its unique landscape and low forest covers as compared to the other regions in India makes Tiger watch a specialty of this park and Tigers can often be found strolling in the ruins of the Majestic Ranthambore Fort. What were once the hunting grounds of the Jaipur Royal family is now a home to these majestic cats and other species like leopards, Nilgai, sambar, hyena, sloth bear etc.

Indian is a land blessed with a huge number of endemic species of wildlife and plant species. The rich and diverse landscape of India is helpful in containing and maintaining these majestic and endangered animals and plants. These above mentioned National Parks and Forest reserves are a must visit to get in touch with your wild side in wild and untamed India.
About the author:
Rohit Agarwal is a travel blogger and an Architect. He likes exploring the various places and cultures across the world and in India. He also owns and maintains the website TransIndiaTravels.com which provides information about the various tourist locations in India.