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10 Best National Parks in India.

The Republic of India is the second-most populous country and the biggest democracy in the world.

It is also the seventh-largest country by area, its vast land resources have enabled India to curve out exceptional areas of conserving nature.

The wide range of geographic and climatic conditions translates to nature parks that are rated amongst the best in the world.

Discover India’s natural bounty from the frigid peaks of the Himalayas, to the humidity of the rainforest, the dry air of the desert to the majesty of 4,500 miles of coastline.

Furthermore, India’s rich cultural history, mysticism and deep spirituality make for an inviting destination.

When India’s wildlife is mentioned, tigers quickly spring to the mind. It is a fact that most of the national parks were designated when the need to save the cat from extinction became apparent.

The efforts have seen a sharp increase in the tiger population making India home to 70% of all wild tigers.

1. Bandhavgarh National Park- Madhya Pradesh.

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Home of the Bengal Tiger, Bandhavgarh National park possesses the world’s highest density of tigers.

Located in the State of Madhya Pradesh the park is known for its biodiversity. 

It also carries large populations of leopards, hyenas and different species of deer. The park is a haven for nature lovers as offers a variety of landscapes, flora and fauna.

Tiger devotees will be in their element here as the park organizes tiger safaris that include tracking and photographing of wild tigers.

Enjoy time in the tiger’s lair in the tropical forest, bamboo thickets and grasslands which are great for bird watching the 350 species of birds.

For panoramic views of the sanctuary visit the Bandhavgarh Fort book the one hour trek to the fort. Game drives are also available.

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2.  Gangotri National Park- Himalayan Ranges.

To Guamukh by Gauravkaintura1234 –

Spreading over the western Himalayan ranges is another of India’s beautiful parks. The park borrows its name from the Gangotri glacier which is the source of River Ganga which is the lifeline of the park.

It is a pristine high altitude wilderness of coniferous forests, grasslands and imposing glaciers guaranteed to make your visit memorable.

The park harbours many endangered and rare to spot species like the blue sheep, snow leopard, black and brown bear, musk deer and Himalayan Thar

The vegetation comprises coniferous forests and rolling alpine meadows providing shelter for several birds species.

This park is a trekker’s paradise, hosting one of the most popular trails named Gaumukh-Tapovan Trek.

The elevation makes it attractive for professional trekkers and nature walkers alike.

3.  Kaziranga National Park – Assam State.

Photo by Diganta Talukdar –

Home of great one-horned rhinoceros as it holds two-thirds of the world’s population.

Furthermore, it is a World Heritage Site. Kaziranga National Park is the last bastion of land that remains unspoilt by human activities in eastern India.

The landscape is lush forests, tall elephant grass and marshes with reeds.

Kaziranga’s strength is its diverse wildlife that features wild Asiatic water buffalo, elephants, species of deer, birds and it also hosts a tiger sanctuary.

Discover Kaziranga by taking a jeep safari, venturing out on the back of an elephant or riding a boat on the Brahmaputra to see the animals in their natural settings.

4. Sundarbans National Park – West Bengal.

Tiger in the Palms by Anupam Mukherjee-

The Sundarbans National Park covers 10,000 KM²  of both land and water sprawling between India and Bangladesh. It is world-renowned for its vast coastal mangrove forest system.

Its landscape consists of rivers, the Ganges estuary, mudflats and Sandari mangrove trees.

Wildlife to watch out for include tigers that swim in salty waters, foxes, bats,  macaque, fish-eating and aquatic birds, river dolphins, king cobra and saltwater crocodiles.

The park is a biosphere reserve, a national park and a tiger reserve.

The Sundarbans is an excellent destination for a boat safari after which you can take in more of the views of the mangrove forest at the Kotka Beach watchtower.

5. Desert  National Park- Rajastan.

Photo by Ramesh Lalwani –

Located in Rajasthan, India’s largest national park by size. It is a delicate desert ecosystem of which 20% is dunes.

Even though the desert park is in an extremely dry and sandy area it gifts those who dare visit it with lifelong memories.

As in any desert, the vegetation is sparse and mainly composed of sewan grass, shrubs and cacti surrounded by rugged rocks, salty ancient lakebeds and sand dunes.

Wildlife to be marvelled at include wild camels, Bengal foxes, deer and antelopes, a wide variety of reptiles and over 250 species of resident and migratory birds. The park is a bird watcher’s must-go-to destination. 

Lose track of time on the dune by taking a jeep safari or watching the sunset while riding atop the ‘ship of the desert’ on the unique Camel Safari.

6. Gir Forest National Park – Gujarat.

Good times by Sumeet Moghe –

Home of the Asiatic lions. Apart from Africa, Gir is the only natural habitat of free-roaming wild lions.

The presence of a healthy lion population is due to government efforts to protect the species from extinction as was in other parts of India.

Another reason to go to Gir park is to see the Chowsingha the world’s only 4 horned antelope.

Drive through to get a glimpse of Sambar deer jackals, hyenas, king cobra and crocodiles.

The park is listed as an important bird area due to its dense diversity. Gir national park is great for game drives.

7. Jim Corbett National Park – Uttarakhand.

Photo by Sayanti Sikder –

The mother of all national parks in India, it was the first to be designated a protected area.

The park landscape is dominated by riverine belts, swampy depressions, grasslands, hills and a large lake.

The vegetation is lush deciduous forests that cover over 70% of the park.

The main attraction is the tigers, otters, fish-eating crocodiles and Asiatic elephants. The best way to watch the animals in their element is by taking a jeep safari or elephant safari.

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8. Ranthambore National Park- Rajastan.

Diversity at Ranthambore By RahulDogra264 –

One of the royal national parks of the royal state of Rajasthan holds the title of the most photographed of India’s national parks.

Its allure comes from the three mirror lakes, a fort and a living temple. Historically, It was the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Jaipur thus has been home to wildlife for centuries.

It is the perfect place to see leopards, sambar deer, golden jackal, striped hyena, honey badger and if lucky you can spot the tiger.

The park is a short journey from new Delhi making it a popular destination for a weekend getaway for the urban population.

9. Kanha National Park – Madhya Pradesh.

Kahna National Park is another gem in the repertoire of Indian national parks it hosts several species of plants, birds, insects and reptiles. It is a well-managed park teeming with big cats, deer and sloths.

The lush green forests of bamboo and sal trees coupled with the colourful meadows and gorges inspired Rudyard Kipling to write The Jungle Book.

It is one of the most loved parks by foreign visitors because of the well-developed infrastructure.

10. Nanda Devi Valley and Biosphere of Flowers National Park.

Pink browed Rosefinch in the Nanda by Dibyendu Ash –

Making the cut, is Nanda Devi National Park located among the peaks of the majestic Himalayas.  The magical valley of flowers is irresistible to Hindu pilgrims and hikers.

Nanda Devi is India’s second-highest peak and is worshipped as a goddess. The outstanding high altitude plant biodiversity made it qualify as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The park’s remoteness saves it from human interference.  The carpet of blossom happens during small windows revealing an enchanting must-see landscape.

Besides the famed beauty of the flowers, there are also protected species to be observed such as the snow leopard and musk deer.

India is more than tigers, dancing king cobras and tamed elephants. The national parks teem with many wild animals in habitats ranging from the blue goat of the Himalayas to the river dolphins in Sandabarns.

The only place with free-roaming wild lions apart from Africa is no mean feat. The national parks of India are a treasure trove well protected for posterity.