Travel tips

Bestowed with a varied topography, India is home to a rich and varied wildlife. Known for its unique features, the wildlife of India attract wildlife enthusiasts and common traveller from all over the world. With the aim to save the wildlife of the country from poaching or other man-made destruction, government of India declared the wildlife areas as wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Presently India is home to dozens of wildlife protected areas providing natural habitat to wild species. One can spot massive elephants to fierce beast tigers to small hare in the wildlife sanctuary and national parks of India. Some of the famous wildlife sanctuaries of India are as follows.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Rajasthan) : Also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is a World Heritage Site. Situated in Bharatpur town of Rajasthan, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary spreads over 29 sq km. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is home to more than 400 bird species including domestic as well as migratory birds. Though the bird sanctuary remain full of birds round the year, but during the winter season the migratory birds the caravan of local birds. The Siberian Crane is the special attraction of the park, the birds visit the park every winter in large number. Other foreign bird species visiting the park include Cranes, Egrets, Pelicans, Ibises, Ducks and Geese. If you want to enjoy the bird watching at its best hire a cycle-rickshaw at the park gate and explore the every nook and corner without burning your calories much.

Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan):Known for tigers, Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Rajasthan. Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in one of the protected wildlife areas of the country, where Project Tiger remained successful. Set amidst the Aravalli Hills, Sariska is full is covered with thorny deciduous forests. Besides tigers, you can spot a number of other wild animals such as leopard, wild dog, sambar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai, civet, four-horned antelope, gaur (Indian bison) and porcupine. Sariska is also home to ruins of the Kankwari fort, the ancient Shiva Neelkanth temples and a Palace of Maharajas of Alwar, now converted into a heritage hotel.

Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan) : One of the important wildlife sanctuaries of India, Ranthambore National Park lies in Rajasthan. The national park with an area of 392 sq kms is set at the junction of Aravali and Vindhyas mountain ranges. Indian tiger is celebrity figure at the national park, in addition to this you can spot several other faunal species such as leopards, hyena, jackal, sloth bear, wild boars, gazelles, sambar and nilgai. Other attractions of Ranthambore include reptiles like snub nosed crocodiles, lizards, tortoise, cobras, kraits, turtles, Indian python, rat snakes and Indian chameleon.You can spot the bird species such as Indian horned owl, spoonbills, patridges, kingfishers, storks, ducks and the much sighted peacocks inside the park.

Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (West Bengal) : If you have a long desire to see the Royal Bengal Tigers, then Sunderbans is the right place for you. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sunderbans is situated at a distance from Kolkata. Sunderbas, the biggest mangrove forest and delta of world is formed by the merging of rivers - Ganges, Brahhmaputra and Meghna. Sunderban Tigers Reserve has a core area of 1330.10 sq. kms and spreads over a series of thickly forested islands and saline water channels. In addition to tigers, the tiger reserve also encompasses more to satisfy your visual feast. Here you can see Spotted Deer, Wild Pigs, Rhesus Monkeys, Herons, Kingfishers, White Bellied Eagles and much more.

Kaziranga National Park (Assam) : A hundred year old wildlife sanctuary, Kaziranga National Park is situated in Cetnral Assam. A World Heritage Site, Kaziranga National Park is known for Great Indian one-horned rhinos an endangered animal species. Kaziranga is also home to Wild Buffalos, Swamp Deers, Wild Elephants and over 450 species of birds. A visit to Kaziranga is once in a lifetime experience. Here alongwith wildlife viewing you can spot the mother nature at its best on your own.

Manas National Park (Assam) : Situated on the foothills of the Great Himalayas in north-east state of Assam, Manas is known for its unmatched beauty. Once a hunting ground for royal families, Manas National Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. One-horned rhino is the major attraction of the national park which draws wildlife enthus from all worldover. Tigers, Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Elephants, Hog Deer, Swamp Deer, Sambar, Chital, Indian Bison, Sloth Bear, Gaurs, Capped Langurs, Golden Langurs, Slow Loris, Assamese Macaques, Hoolock Gibbons, Asiatic Wild Buffaloes and rare Black Panthers are other attractions of the national park. Manas also provides shelter to endangered species such as the Hispid Hare and the Pigmy Hog.

Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh) : Renowned for White tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park is the place where nature meets with history. Situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh covers 448 sq kms area. Tigers have always been the prime attraction for visitors to the park. Besides tigers, the national park is home to faunal species like Rhesus Macaque, Porcupine, Langur, Golden Jackal, Indian Gazelle, Bengal Wolf, Fox, Sloth Bear, Indian Grey Mongoose, Small Indian Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Small Indian Civet, Leopard, Wild Boar, Sambar Nilgai, Gaur, Indian Pangolin, Chital, Four-horned Antelope, Blackbuck etc. Bandhavgarh also provides natural habitat to about 150 bird-species such as Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Shahin Falcon and Brown Fish Owl. Bandhavgarh Fort, Kalchuri Archaeological Remains, Baghel Museum, Ghapudi Dam and Bhamera Dam are other attractions in and around the national park.

Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh) : Once the source of inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s all time great classic ‘Jungle Book’, Kanha National Park is one of the famous wildlife sanctuaries of not only India, in fact the world. Situated in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park spreads over an area of 1,945 sq km. Established in 1955, Kanha provides shelter to a variety of wild animals and avian species including endangered species. You can spot wild animals like tigers, leopard, gaur or Indian bison, wild pig, antelope, black buck, barking deer, swamp deer, jackal, fox, nilgai, jungle cat etc. Bird species which you can spot in Kanha are green pigeons, rock pigeons, partridges, orioles, hoopoes, pond herons and much more. Kanha Museum is an added attraction at Kanha and don’t forget to visit the museum.

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary (Gujarat) : Situated in Gujarat, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is the home of Asiatic Lions. Once the part of the erstwhile Junagadh state, Gir was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1965. Gir Wildlife Sanctuary sprawls over 1412.13 sq km area, with core area of 259 sq.kms. One of the world’s rare wild species, the Asiatic Lions attract large number of nature lovers and common travellers to the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. Other wild animals found in the sanctuary are leopard, sambar, spotted deer, chowsingha, chinkara, nilgai, wild boar etc. Gir is also home to a number reptilian species like Marsh Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Pythons and a wide variety of snakes.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) : One of the biggest wildlife reserves in India, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Kerala. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is set ammong the low lying Cardamom hills of the Western Ghats and centre of attraction here is the artificial lake. Periyar is known for tigers and huge population of elephant. Other animals that you can spot are gaur, wild boars, sambar, deer, bison, barking deer, wild dogs, lion tailed macaque, the nilgiri langur etc. Enjoy the boat ride across the periyar lake and see the herds of elephants taking bath in the lake.

Author: Md Mudassir Alam

About the Author:

Myself, a Delhi based writer, use to write on various topics. Whenever I got leisure time I use to some new destinations in India. Usually I express my personal experiences through words, that I will share with you all here. For more information about India and its tourist destination you can visit the site http://www.itopc.org