India is a paradise for nature lovers. It has over 5oo National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, few of them World Heritage Sites. These forest areas are crucial for the conservation of endangered species such as the leopard, Asiatic lion, elephant, the Bengal tiger and Siberian crane. Many other large mammals including the sloth Bear, Indian Rhinoceros, species of Deer and Antelope, Indian Wolf, Bengal Fox, Golden Jackal, Nilgiri tahr, Gaur and the rare and endangered golden Langur Monkey exemplify the precarious survival of much of India’s mega fauna.
Spread across the length and breadth of India in some of the world’s most bio diverse regions encompassing desert, high mountains, highlands, tropical and temperate forests, swamplands, plains, grasslands, areas surrounding rivers as well as island archipelagos, these reserves and protected forest areas are home to many species of mammals, birds and aquatic life. The diversity of its wildlife is a reflection of the varied physical conditions in these disparate landscapes.
Some of the most well-known conservation parks, or those of special interest, include Gir National Park in Gujarat, Ranthambhore in Rajasthan, Bandhavgarh, Kanha National Parks and Tadoba National Parks in Central India, Corbett National Park in the foothills of the Himalayas, the vast estuarine sanctuary of Sunderbans National Park covering 10,000 sq km of the Ganges delta in West Bengal, Nagarhole and Periyar in South India. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (now known as Keoladeo National Park) near Agra is a haven for more than 300 species of birds. Not to forget the Chambal River Sanctuary for Gharials. There are many many more.
A visit to one or more national parks or sanctuaries can be built into most itineraries. For those with particular or specialist interests in wildlife, a program can be created to take in a number of parks focusing on your areas of interest. We will be pleased to discuss, advise and suggest parks and sanctuaries suited to your overall travel plans and route, choices of accommodation and duration of your stay to ensure that you fully experience each park and have the best opportunities to see the wildlife there.
- FOOTHILLS AND GREATER HIMALAYAS
- RAJASTHAN AND GUJARAT
- SOUTH INDIA
- CENTRAL INDIA
- NORTH EAST AND SUNDERBANS