India has been fore-running activities for the conservation of wildlife since the early 1930s with the establishment of Jim Corbett National Park. Jim Corbett himself saw the catastrophic reaction man had bestowed upon wildlife and gave up hunting while dedicating his life towards conservation of wild animals, especially Tigers. Wildlife is essentially classified into flora and fauna which mean, in a broad sense of speaking plants and animals respectively. [Read more…] about Wildlife Conservation Efforts In India
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Top 100 Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks of India
1. Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1910. The sanctuary is located in the western Himalayas and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna with grasslands, pastures, meadows with rocky cliffs and rocky outcrops. Leopard, Musk Deer, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Brown Bear and Otter etc. are few of the many species that are found here.
2. Jim Corbett National Park
Located in the Nainital District of Uttrakhand, Jim Corbett National Park was established in 1936. The national park is located amidst a mixed terrain of deciduous forests and mountainous pine forests. As a result Jim Corbett National park is one of the most biologically diverse zones in India. Corbett National Park is a home to the Bengal tiger, Leopard, Leopard cat, Elephants, Sambhar Deer and Golden Jackal etc.
3. Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary
The protected forest area in West Bengal was declared a National Park in 1984 and is a rich biosphere reserve and the part of the Sunderbans situated at the Ganges Delta. Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary is a home to a wide variety of flora and fauna species. These include Tiger, Leopard cat, Fishing Cats and over 70 different species of endemic birds.
4. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in Assam, the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1985 and is located in the foothills of the Himalayas. The sanctuary is a home to a plethora of rare and endangered species of animals like Tiger, Asian elephants, Golden Cat, Leopards, Clouded Leopard, Slow Loris and Chital etc.
5. Kaziranga National Park
Known for the largest population of the Indian one-horned Rhinoceros and Tigers in the world, the Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam. The forests are spread across an area of 430 Square kilometers and are home to species like Tigers, Rhinoceros, Elephant, and the Asian water buffalo, Swamp Deer, Monitor Lizard and Spectacled Cobra etc.
6. Ranthambore National Park
Considered to be one of the best spots to view the Bengal Tiger, Ranthambore National Park is located in Rajasthan and lies between the confluence of the Banas and the Chambal River. The protected forests are also famous for their large banyan trees and is enshrines a Medieval fort. Tiger, Hyena, Sloth Bear and Chital etc. are some of the rare species found here.
7. Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary / Bharatpur National Park
Formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the Avifauna sanctuary is located in Rajasthan. Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary (or Bharatpur National Park) was created around 250 years ago and was named after a Shiva temple located within the forest by the Rajput King Maharaja Suraj Mal. Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary was announced as a bird sanctuary in 1971 and is famous for housing over 230 species of birds.
8. Sasan Gir National Park
Sasan Gir National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Gujarat for its thriving population of the Asiatic Lion. Due to its diverse eco system and geography, Gir Forest National Park is home to a large variety of species of flora and fauna. The rare species of animals found here are Asiatic Lions, Leopards, Sloth Bears, Jungle Cats, Spectacled Cobra and several rare species of birds are also found here.
9. Kanha National Park
Spread across a massive 940 sq kilometers, Kanha National Park is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. The park is characterized by grassy meadows and open bamboo forests. The rare animal species found in the park are Tigers, Leopards, Wild dogs, Jackals and Sloth bear etc. The park is also famous as being the original source of Rudyard Kipling imagination while writing the Jungle Book although the story was actually set in the Pench National Park in India. The Kanha National Park was established in 1955 and is visited by thousands of tourists each year.
10. Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary
Located by the Periyar River in Kerala, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1928 and is spread across 305 square Kilometers. Being located between the mountain ridges the protected area is famous for its population of the Indian Tiger and the Asiatic Elephants. The rare species found here are the Tiger, Elephant, Travancore flying squirrel, Fruit bat, Giant squirrel, Wild pig and lion-tailed macaque etc.
11. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
The oldest water bird sanctuary in India, The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary was established in 1936. Located in the state of Tamil Nadu the protected area is home to more than a thousand species of birds along with several monkeys. Garganey teals, glossy ibis, grey heron, grey pelican, open-billed stork, painted stork, snake bird, spoonbill and spot bill duck are just few of the several species found here.
12. Sariska National Park
Located in Rajasthan, the Sariska National Park is one of the major areas of the Bengal Tiger population of India. Although the area wasn’t originally populated by the regal cat species, it is one of the few places in the world where an apex predator like the Tiger was successfully relocated from the other areas of India. Apart from the Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Striped hyena, Sambhar deer and Chinkara etc. are few of the rare species found here.
13. Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary
Also known as the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, the protected forest is located in Tamil Nadu and was established in 1962. The Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 1988 and is spread across an area of 895 square kilometers. The rare species found here include Tiger, Leopard, Jungle cat, Giant squirrel, wild dog and Elephant etc.
14. Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Also known as the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, forest reserve is spread across an area of 958 sq kilometers. The Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tamil Nadu and is home to several endangered animal species and is surrounded by several peaks and rivers. Bengal Tiger, Elephants, Sloth Bear, Indian Leopard, Pangolin and the Sambhar deer are few of the several rare species of animal housed here.
15. Campbell Bay National Park
Located on the Great Nicobar Island, the Campbell Bay National Park is spread in an area of 462 square kilometers and is a part of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. The protected forests are almost unexplored and contain several rare and endemic species of flora, fauna, avi-fauna and marine life. The tropical evergreen forests situated in the Bay of Bengal make it one of the strangest eco systems in the world.
16. Dudhwa National Park
Located in Uttar Pradesh, Dudhwa National Park is spread across an area of 490.3 sq Kilometers. The Dudhwa National Park was established in 1977 as a sanctuary to the swamp deer or the commonly known Barasingha and is also one of the few remaining habitats of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceroses. Thanks to the efforts of famed conservationist Billy Arjan Singh, the predator species like the Leopard and the Tiger were introduced to keep the stag population in check. A plethora of animal, reptile and bird species are found in this park.
17. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
Situated amidst the mighty confines of the Nanda Devi peak, the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and National Park was established in 1982. The protected forests are located in the state of Uttrakhand and lies at an average elevation of 3500 meters above sea level. The Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black bear, Himalayan Brown bear, Musk deer, Himalayan Tahr and plenty of bird and breath taking floral species.
18. Hemis National Park
Also known as Hemis High Altitude National Park, it is the largest national park in India with an area that spans across 4,400 sq kilometers. Interestingly the park also contains several Tibetan-Buddhist gompas and monasteries and is visited by several tourists. The Hemis National Park contains the rare and endangered species like the snow leopard, Bharal sheep, Tibetan Wolf, Eurasian Brown Bear, Lammergeier Vulture, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Vulture and Mountain weasel etc.
19. Bandhavgarh National Park
With one of the highest tiger populations in India, Bhandavgarh National Park is said to be located on a place said to have given by Lord Rama to Lakshamana, The National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh. The park is spread across an area of 446 square kilometers and is known to be the home for one of the most photographed tigers in the world. The park also contains a medieval fort, and primitive caves dating back to the 1st century AD.
20. Pench National Park
The name of the National Park is taken from the Pench River that flows through the national park from north to south, dividing the park in two equal halves. Pench National Park is famous as being the setting for Rudyard Kipling’s famous collection of stories ‘The Jungle Book’. Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Jackal and several species of birds and reptiles are housed here.
21. Kanchendzonga National Park
Located in the area containing the 3rd highest peak in the world, Kanchendzonga National Park lays at an elevation ranging from 1,829 meters to 8,550 meters above sea level. The Kanchendzonga national park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna species including several rare medicinal herbs and endangered species of animals, reptiles and birds.
22. Bandipur National Park
Spanning across an area of 874 sq kilometers, the Bandipur National Park is located in the state of Karnataka. The national park was established in 1974 and is a refuge for several threatened and endangered species of flora and fauna. Tigers, Elephants, sloth bears, Mugger crocodiles, Dholes, Spectacled Cobra and flying lizards etc. can be spotted here.
23. Wandur National Park/ Mahatama Gandhi Marine National Park
Known for its colorful marine life and coral reefs, Mahatama Gandhi Marine National Park (Wandur National Park) is one of the most visited national parks in the Andaman Islands. The protected marine area is known for its views of some of the most coral reef abundant places in Asia and is also a great place to view the sea turtles and pristine beaches.
24. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Karnataka and is known as a famous tiger reserves in India. The reserve forests are spread across 866.41 sq kilometers and are the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. Tigers, Leopards, Elephants, Black panthers and several species of birds and reptiles can be found here.
25. Valley Of Flowers National Park
Located in the foothills of the western Himalayas, the Valley of Flowers National Park lies in the state of Uttarakhand. As the name suggest the park is covered with grassy meadows that gets covered with colorful flowers and is a major tourist attraction in India. The park is also home to the Snow leopard, Himalayan Brown bear, Asian Black Bear, and red fox etc.
26. Panna National Park
Situated in an area of 542.67 sq kilometers, the Panna National Park and Tiger Reserve is located in Madhya Pradesh. The protected forest was declared as a tiger reserve in 1994 and is the 5th tiger reserve in the state. Apart from the tiger, the Sloth bear, chital, Chinkara and King Vulture etc. can also be spotted at the Panna National Park.
27. Balpakram National Park
Located in Meghalaya, the Balpakram National Park contains several plateau and adjoining forests and is placed around 3000 meters above sea level. The park is famous for housing several species of flora and fauna due to its diverse terrain along with marine fossil deposits. Tiger, Marbled Cat, Golden Cat, Red Panda, Elephant and Wild Water buffalo etc.
28. Similipal National Park
The Park is located in the state of Orrisa and is famous as a reserve for the Asiatic elephant. Similipal National Park is one of the most breath taking nature reserves in India with several, forests, grassy meadows and waterfalls. Tiger, Elephant, Indian Bison, Chausingha, Leopard, Jungle cat and several species of birds and reptiles can be spotted here.
29. Kudremukh National Park
Located amidst the lush green hillocks of the Western Ghats in the state of Karnataka, Kudremukh National Park is one of the best located nature reserves in India. The lush green grasslands and the confluence of three rivers have made it abundant in flora and fauna. Tiger, Leopard, Indian Bison, Sambhar deer, Dhole and Lion-tailed macaque etc can be spotted here.
30. Eravikulam National Park
Eravikulam National Park is located in the state of Kerala in the Western Ghats and is characterized by high altitude grassy meadows and the tropical montane forests of the Shola. The park is surrounded by different tributaries of the Periyar, Kaveri and Chalakudiyar River and has several waterfalls. The Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, Indian Porcupine, Nilgiri Tahr, Stripe-necked mongoose, Golden Jackal and Sambar Deer can be spotted here.
31. Bannerghatta National Park
Located in Karnataka, the Bannerghatta National Park contains several attractions such as trekking, animal rescue center, a zoo, an aquarium and a protected forest. The Park is famous as a corridor for the Asiatic Elephants. Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Indian Bison, Pangolin, Russell’s viper, Cobras, Jackal and the Indian Porcupine etc. can be spotted here.
32. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Kerala, amidst the hillocks of the Western Ghats. The protected forests are located in a high altitude ranging from 400 meters to 2,522 meters above sea level. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is covered with montane rain forests and wet green grasslands along with dry deciduous and thorny-shrub forests towards the south. Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Sambhar Deer, Indian Bison, Nilgiri Tahr, Rusty-spotted cat and Grizzled Giant Squirrel etc. can be found here.
33. Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in Assam, Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across an area of 350 sq kilometers. The park is surrounded by the Brahmaputra, Lohit and the Dibru River. The park comprises of semi-evergreen and deciduous forests and grasslands. The protected forests are a home to several endangered and rare species of flora and fauna. The Park houses feral horses, Tiger, Water Buffalo, Elephant, Flying Squirrel, King Cobra, River Dolphin and Slow Loris etc.
34. National Chambal Sanctuary
Located in the Land of kings, the state of Rajasthan, The National Chambal Sanctuary was established in 1979 and is spread across an area of 5400 sq kilometers. The Chambal River located at the confluence of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh is the life blood of the sanctuary and houses some of the most endangered species of mammals, reptiles and marine life. The Indian Gharial, the Ganges Dolphin, Indian Wolf, Striped Hyena, Monitor Lizard, Indian Flying fox, Porcupine and Hedgehog etc. are few of the rare species that can be spotted here.
35. Orang National Park
The Orang National Park is located on the Northern Shores of the Brahmaputra River and is often termed as the mini Kaziranga due to its population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The park comprises of alluvial flood plains, moist deciduous forests and grasslands. The rare species found here are the Indian Rhinoceros, Tiger, Asiatic Elephants, Pygmy Hog, Pangolin, Leopard Cat and King Cobra.
36. Nameri National Park
Located in the eastern Himalayas and the state of Assam, The Nameri National Park was established on 1978. The park comprises of moist deciduous forests, bamboo forests and narrow strips of grasslands along the Jia Bhoroli River. The wildlife reserve is a home to rare and endangered wildlife species like the Tiger, Leopard, Asiatic Elephant, Sambhar, Dhole, Sloth bear and Sambhar deer etc.
37. Gorumara National Park
The nature reserve is located in the Terai region of the eastern Himalayas in the state of West Bengal. The Gorumara National Park was established in 1994 and is also a home to the Indian rhinoceros. The park is comprised of biomes, Sal forests and Bamboo Groves. The species found here are Leopards, Rhinoceros, Asiatic Elephants, Indian Bison, Wild Boar, Pygmy hog, Indian Wolf and Indian Wild Dogs etc.
38. Nokrek National Park
The Nokrek National Park is located in the state of Meghalaya and is one of the few Biosphere reserves in India. The park comprises of a hilly terrain covered with a lush green forest cover. The park is also famous for its tropical and citrus fruits. Nokrek National Park is famous for its population of the Red Panda.
39. Namdapha National Park
Spread across an area of approximately 2000 sq kilometers, the Namdapha National Park is the third largest National Park in India and located in Arunachal Pradesh. Located on the Burma border, the sanctuary is covered with a lush green canopy of forests and is home to several endangered species of animals, reptiles and birds. Tiger, Leopard, Clouded leopard, Snow Leopards, Asiatic Black bears, Dholes, Red Pandas and Slow Loris etc.
40. Gulf Of Kutch National Park
Located in the state of Gujarat, The Gulf of Kutch National Park is the first marine national park in India. The national park is located on an island in the Arabian Sea and is a home to several species of coral, Dolphins, Whales and the massive Whale Sharks.
41. Silent Valley National Park
The Silent Valley National Park is located in God’s own country, the state of Kerala. The Park is located amidst the Western Ghats and comprises of tropical moist rainforests and moist evergreen forests. The Forests have been mentioned in the Mahabharatha as one of the places the Pandavas spent their 14-year exile at. It is famous for its population of the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque, Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Sloth bear, otter, Travancore flying squirrel, Porcupine and Elephant etc.
42. Gulf Of Mannar Marine National Park
Located in the Gulf of Mannar, The marine national park comes under the jurisdiction of the state of Tamil Nadu and lies between India and Sri Lanka. The Gulf of Mannar National Park contains over 3600 species of marine fauna and several other endangered species. Sharks, Dugongs, Dolphins, Coral, Whales and Sea Cucumbers etc. can be found here. The famous glass bottom boat rides attract a huge number of tourists here.
43. Betla National Park
The Betla National Park is located in the Indian state of Jharkhand and was established as India’s first tiger reserve. The park is covered with a canopy of tropical and mixed deciduous forests and temperate alpine forests in the upper reaches. Tiger, Leopard, Pangolin, Jackal, Brown bear, Hyena and mongoose etc. can be spotted here.
44. Desert National Park
The Desert National Park is located amidst the sand dunes of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. The national park was established in 1992 and comprises mainly of grasslands and sand dunes. It is the best place to observe and spot the rare and endangered desert animal and plant species. Desert Fox, Bengal Fox, Spiny Tail lizard, Monitor lizard, Russell’s viper, Desert cat, Saw-scaled viper and the great Indian bustard can be spotted here.
45. Harike Wetland
Covering an area of 8600 hectares, the Harike Wetland is a manmade lake and wetland formed by the headworks built in 1953 on the confluence of the Beas and the Sutlej rivers. The wetland is characterized by the Harike freshwater lake and is a home to over 200 species of birds along with a rich marine flora and fauna. The endangered Indus dolphin was recently sighted in the Beas River is also found in the Harike freshwater lake.
46. South Button Island National Park
The South Button Island National Park is located towards the south-west of Havelock islands in the Andaman Islands of India. The marine sanctuary is a famous scuba diving spot famous for its coral reefs and the marine life that they harbor. The Dugong and the Hydrosaurus lizards are also few of the many endangered species found here.
47. Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
The wildlife sanctuary is located in the state of Telangana and is spread across an area of 812 sq kilometers. The Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is split in have by the Godavari rives and comprises of a forest covered hills with grassy slopes. The species like Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Dhole, Jackals, Sloth bear, Mugger crocodiles, Cobra and Chinkara etc. can be spotted here.
48. Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Bihar and was established in 1976. The place derives its name from a dam said to be constructed by Bhima in Mahabharatha and is spread across and area of 681.99 sq kilometers. Leopard, Tiger, Mongoose, Monitor Lizard, Grey-headed Fish eagle, Owls, Falcons and Sloth bear etc. can be found here.
49. Palamau Tiger Reserve
Located in the Indian state of Jharkhand, the Palamau Tiger Reserve is one of the famous tiger reserves in India. It is spread across 1,014 sq kilometers of area and was established in 1947. The forests are a home to several rare and endangered species of wildlife such as the Leopard, Tiger, Indian Bison, Sambhar deer and the Indian wild dogs etc.
50. Mudumalai National Park
The Mudumalai National Park is located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and was established in 1940. The wildlife reserve is located amidst the Nilgiri hills of the Western Ghats and is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Tigers, Leopards, Sloth Bears, Indian Bison, Leopard cat, striped hyenas, Jackal, Sloth Bear and Asiatic Elephants etc. can be spotted in this nature reserve along with several endemic and migratory bird species and reptiles.