Incredible India

Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh is a world famous Tiger reserve, spread over the Vindhya Mountains in Central India. More than 22 species of mammals, 250 species of birds and 70 species of butterflies are found in Bandhavgarh National Park. Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaque represent the primate group. It is said that India's first white tiger was found in the forest area of Bandhavgarh due to which it is also called white tiger country.

Kanha National Park

Spread across 940 sq.km, Kanha National Park is one of the largest parks in Madhya Pradesh where the majestic Royal Bengal Tigers are found in good numbers.The Park is respected globally for saving the Barasingha from near extinction. National Geographic's award winning 'Land of the Tigers' was shot here, and the park is home to leopards, wild dogs and the Barasingha as well.A safari in Kanha is filled with sightings and adventurous thrills and is a must.

Ranthambore National Park

Once a private game reserve of the royal family of Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the world’s best known wilderness areas. Located 14 kilometres from Sawai Madhopur and 155 Km. from Jaipur and at the junction of some of the geologically oldest mountain ranges - the Aravallis and Vindyas - Ranthambore offers some of the finest opportunities for sighting the magnificent tiger in the wild. A mix of rolling hills and crags, and meadows, lakes and rivulets, this dry-deciduous forest system is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna. Apart from the tiger, other wildlife in the Park include, sloth bear, leopard, jackal, fox, hyena, Indian wolf, chital, sambhar deer, blue bull antelope or nilgai, rhesus macaque, langur and an incredible variety of birds. The landscape is dominated by the 10th century fortress of Ranthambore. Open from October to June, Ranthambore is accessible by rail from Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur and by road from Jaipur and Delhi. Sawai Madhopur has a range of accommodation to suit every budget.

Jim Corbett National Park

One of India's best known and oldest wildlife sanctuaries, the Jim Corbett National Park, a part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve, a Project Tiger Reserve lies along the Ramganga River at the foot of the Kumaon Hills. It is named after Jim Corbett, the famous naturalist and the legendary hunter of the man-eaters of Kumaon. The main areas for tourists are the Dhikala Tourism Zone (entry through Dhangarhi Gate) and the Bijrani Tourism Zone (entry through the Amdanda Gate). The magical landscape of Corbett is well known and fabled for its tiger richness.

Tadoba

Tadoba is probably one of India’s finest Tiger Reserves. The success of protection and a conservation mechanism has meant the number of tigers in this reserve have increased, close to the optimal holding capacity. This also meant that the herbivore population has been maintained in balance and thus the flora too is able to grow and regenerate continuously. In other words, the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve boasts of a healthy forest. The sight of a tiger, the snarl of a leopard, high speed movement of the crocodile and the strategising wild dogs will always keep memories of Tadoba fresh. You could drive into the Park in an open Gypsy vehicle and just wait by the lakeside at Panchadhara or Pandharpauni or just anywhere on the route where you can also hear the symphony of birds.

Sunderbans

Sunderbans is a very famous wildlife sanctuary of our country. It is the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger. In the Sunderbans National Park, you can find the estuarine crocodile, wild boar and several varieties of birds and snakes. It is located in the south of Kolkata and stretches till Bangladesh. Also, Sunderbans is the largest delta of the world formed by the unification of three rivers-the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Best time to visit: Winter: October-April

Kaziranga National Park

Located in the Golaghat and Nagaon district of Assam, home to the one-horned rhino, this most notable wildlife sanctuary has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 1985.

Manas National Park

Located in the Himalayan foothills in western Assam, Manas was originally a game reserve since 1928 and became a Tiger Reserve in 1974, a World Heritage Site in 1985, and a Biosphere Reserve in 1989 then was declared as a National Park in 1990. The park is contiguous with the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, and in 2003 it was declared part of the Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve which serves as the international corridor for elephant migration between India and Bhutan. Spread over an area of 500 sq. km, the park has extensive grasslands and is famous for its unique scenic beauty. The park harbours more than 20 endangered species.Considered one of the world's rarest simian species, the golden langur was first spotted in Manas in the mid-20th Century. Other mammals commonly found here are Rhino, Elephant, Tiger, Pygmy hog, Hispid hare, Assamese macaque, Rhesus macaque, Leopard, Swamp deer, Wild pigs etc. The best season to visit is from November to April.

Panna National Park

Panna national park is home to some of the biggest predators and waterfalls of dizzying heights .Panna's royal past dates back to mid of 17th Century AD, when it became the capital of Maharaja Chhatrasal’s kingdom. The Ken River passes through Panna hills, making Panna wildlife-friendly destination. One can spot the majestic tiger, the ghariyal - a huge reptile found only in the Indian subcontinent, and a variety of flora and fauna.

Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary

Sariska Tiger Reserve situated in the Alwar District of Rajasthan is 107 Km. from Jaipur and only 200 km from Delhi. It covers an area of 800 sq km in total, with a core area of approximately 500 sq km. The Northern Aravali Hills dominate the skyline with their mixture of sharp cliffs and long narrow valleys. The area was declared a sanctuary in 1955 and became a National Park in 1979.The Sariska Tiger reserve holds a good diversity of wild animals besides Tiger being the principal predator, other animals in the Reserve include, leopard, Hyena, Caracal, Jungle cat, Ratel, Nilgai, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, langur, Rhesus macaque, Four-horned antelope, Wild pig, Indian civet, Rufous tailed hare, Common Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Palm Civet, Pangolin, Porcupine, etc. A total of 211 bird species have been recorded in the Reserve . Out of which 120 are resident, 73 are migrant and 18 are considered to be vagrants. Avian population in the Reserve include, peafowl, grey francolin, white-rumped vulture, painted spur fowl, Aravalli red spurfowl, Indian Cuckoo, common sand grouse, Indian pitta, great horned owl etc.October – June is the best period to visit the Tiger Reserve.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Step into the woods of Periyar, a grand kingdom of wilderness. The tigers in this sprawling green kingdom are elusive and if you’re lucky enough to spot one lazily strolling in the wild, you would be struck with awe of the sheer grandeur of his majestic looks and rugged physique. The Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the twenty-seven tiger reserves in India.Periyar Sanctuary is the oldest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala, which is also credited with having the largest protected area. The 777 sq km sanctuary is gifted with a unique landscape which serves as the habitat for numerous flora and fauna in amazing varieties. The sanctuary is known for an attractive boating option in the scenic lake. During the ride travellers can have a variety of sights – of elephant herds frolicking in the lake, deer herds grazing on the grasslands, birds roosting in trees - and many more. The sanctuary is about 110 km away from Munnar.

Bandipur National Park

The Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary puts life back into perspective. Or rather it puts the perspective back into life. Trying to spot elusive animals, listening for bird calls and commuting on the first elephant into the heart of the forests which were once the private hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Mysuru himself - it's a little like everyday life, only drastically different. The elephant safari is an experience not only because you feel like the lord of all that lies before you, but also because, you never know what you might see. Depending on the Peacock's temperament in the moment, you could get treated to a Peacock dance, or you might catch it on a bad day when it might get modest and a vividly-hued tail peeking from the thick foliage is all you'll get. You might spot a bison playing peek-a-boo from behind a bush, or a crocodile sunning itself on the banks of the River Kabini. The Sanctuary is home to the Spotted Deer, the Sambar Deer, Pythons, Sloth Bears, Porcupines, Monkeys and over 230 species of birds. That's a lot of spotting to do - just might help you see the good things in life again.Bandipur is steeped in history and one can see it evolve over the centuries. The Maharaja of the Mysore created a sanctuary of 90 km2 (35 sq mi) in 1931 and named it the Venugopala Wildlife Park. The Bandipur Tiger Reserve was established under Project Tiger in 1973 by adding nearly 800 km2 (310 sq mi) to the Venugopala Wildlife park.

Similipal National Park

It is about 300 km from Bhubaneswar and nestled in the centre of the Mayurbhanj district, the northern-most district of Odisha. One of the eighteen tiger reserves of India spreads over an area of 2,700 sq.km. The Variation in the topography, climate and vegetation has supported large varieties of animals, birds and reptiles. Other than tigers this wild life sanctuary is also an abode to wild animals like leopards, elephants and rare reptile like mugger crocodiles. Besides, the sanctuary shelters more than 200 species of birds. The Similipal forest is abounding with hills, waterfalls and rivers.