Top 5 National Parks to Visit in Uttar Pradesh

The state of Uttar Pradesh covers a major portion of the Northern part of India. The area is covered with largely fertile plains and has many rivers flowing through it. The state has more than 15 national parks that can be visited for a vacation in the wilderness. Let us look at the top 5 National Parks of Uttar Pradesh.

1. Dudhwa National Park

Chestnut-Capped-Babbler,  Photo by Koshy Koshy, CC BY 2.0

The Dudhwa National Park is located in Terai and is spread over an area of 490 sq.km. The national park also has the Dudhwa tiger reserve within its premises. Situated along the Indo-Tibetan border, the area is densely covered in forests. Famous for being the home to the diverse Terai ecosystem, the area is also home to various endangered species and birds.

The park is in the Gangetic plains and thus has grasslands and sal forests. The forests of this park are considered to be one of the finest in the country with trees that are over 150 years old. The main attraction of the park are the tigers and the deers. Many animals like the leopard and the Indian Rhino have been introduced artificially into the ecosystem.

The park also has over 350 different types of birds that visit the area. The park is a lovely place to witness these animals in their natural habitats.

2. National Chambal Sanctuary

Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis), Photo by Koshy Koshy, CC BY 2.0

National Chambal Sanctuary is also known as the National Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary that is home to the endangered gharial or small crocodile. The river Chambal follows through this sanctuary as the hills and ravines build many sandy beaches inside the park. The best way to enjoy the view of crocodiles in their natural habitat is by hiring a boat with an experienced guide to the river.

The boat safaris are great to spot dolphins as well as providing perfect photography moments. There are rest houses that provide accommodation as well as commercial hotels around the area. Frequent walking trails are also organised along the ravines so that visitors can witness wildlife in close quarters of the animals and birds.

3. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

Photo by Rtndeep889, CC BY-SA 4.0

Situated in the district of Pilibhit in Northern Uttar Pradesh, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is one of the 41 Project Tiger reserves of the country. The forest cover here is dense which is why the tigers have a good eco-system to survive in with enough prey. The reserve is home to over 127 different kinds of animals and 556 kinds of birds.

The best time to visit the park is between September and June. In the winters, chances of seeing animals out in the open are more and tourists prefer going in that time due to the pleasant weather.

4. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

Photo by Yoc2007, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Nawabganj bird sanctuary also popularly known as Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad bird sanctuary is situated in the Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh. The sanctuary is famous for being the temporary home of more than 250 kinds of birds. The birds come all the way from former USSR countries.

The sanctuary has watcher towers to help with the bird watching and is also home to deer and reptiles. There is a guesthouse inside the sanctuary where tourists can stay and spend a few days watching beautiful birds that come here.

5. Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary

Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary is located near the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The sanctuary is not as famous as the other ones in the area but the place is rich in scenic landscapes and waterfalls. The two famous waterfalls are; Rajdari and Devadari. The variety of animals found here are the wild boar, Indian gazelle and blackbucks.

The leopards here are the main attraction for tourists. Not only endangered animals, the park is also famous for the medicinal plants and herbs found here. Don’t miss out this beautiful place, especially the waterfalls!

Uttar Pradesh is largely the main area where beauty meets adventure. Tourists can visit the parks for the treks as well as to enjoy the beautiful waterfalls and lakes. Other than the mainstream national parks, the ones in Uttar Pradesh have a lot to offer and are waiting to be discovered.

About Rohit

An architect by profession, Rohit Agarwal is a curious traveller, seeking out the minutest detail about the places he travels to, and that’s what one will find in his writings. His writings have appeared in various blogs, he’s currently trying to bring forth as many different places a traveller who shares the same level of curiosity like him would like to visit through his writings.

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