Best National Parks of India

Bandhavgarh National Park is world-renowned as a tiger reserve and it is known to have the highest density of Bengal tigers in the world. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of avifauna. The jeep safaris are amongst the most popular activities here.

State: Madhya Pradesh
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, spotted deer, sambar deer, barking deer, wild boar, Indian bison (gaur), and various bird species.

Best Time: October to June

Known For : Jungle Safari in Corbett National Park Corbett Waterfall River Rafting in Corbett National Park

Located in Uttarakhand, this is India's oldest national park and is best known for its protection of the endangered Bengal tiger. Apart from tigers, it's home to leopards, wild elephants, and diverse bird species. The park's varied topography and its role in the launch of the Project Tiger initiative make it a prime destination for wildlife enthusiasts.

State: Uttarakhand
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, leopard, Himalayan black bear, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, gharial, and over 600 species of birds.

Best Time: Mid October to Mid June

19 Jim Corbett Attractions

Home to the largest population of the one-horned rhino on earth, Kaziranga National Park is located in the state of Assam in North-Eastern India. Approximately around five hours by road from Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park was awarded the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.

State: Assam
Wildlife: Indian one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, wild buffalo, swamp deer, hog deer, sambar, and numerous bird species.

Best Time: October to June

Known For : Ranthambore Tiger Reserve Jeep Safari Ranthambore Ranthambhore Fort

Ranthambore is one of the best tiger reserves of the country, known to have "friendly" tigers and chances of sighting one here is reasonably better than many other tiger reserves of India. Along with this Ranthambore has one of the richest flora and fauna. The place is a boon for wildlife photographers and is perfect for excursions and sightseeing.

State: Rajasthan
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, sambar deer, spotted deer, nilgai, wild boar, and various birds like the great Indian horned owl.

Best Time: October to Apr

20 Ranthambore Attractions

Located in a central region of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is the largest National Park in central India and has been ranked as one of the best parks in Asia. Among the 22 species of large mammals, the royal Bengal tigers are one of the major attractions. This National Park came to be known the world over through Rudyard Kipling's book- The Jungle Book.

State: Madhya Pradesh
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, leopard, Indian wild dog (dhole), sloth bear, barasingha (swamp deer), Indian bison, spotted deer, sambar, and numerous bird species.

Best Time: October to June

Spread across an area of 300 square miles, Periyar National Park is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world and the best-protected reserve in India. It is covered by lush evergreen and deciduous forests serving as home to various animals such as deer, elephants, sambar, Nilgiri Langurs, etc.

State: Kerala
Wildlife: Asiatic elephant, Bengal tiger, leopard, sambar deer, wild boar, Malabar giant squirrel, bonnet macaque, and diverse birdlife, including hornbills.

Best Time: Oct to Feb

Popularly known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Nagarhole National Park boasts of its rich wildlife including both flora and fauna. The place is a paradise for nature lovers and those seeking solitude. Located in Mysore district of Karnataka, the park is bounded by Kabini River on the north while Bandipur National park forms its southern boundaries.

State: Karnataka
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, Indian leopard, wild dog, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, sloth bear, and a rich variety of birds.

Best Time: Oct to May

Gir National Park in Gujarat is the last bastion of the Asiatic lion, offering a unique opportunity to witness these majestic creatures in the wild. Besides lions, the park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including leopards, deer, crocodiles, and various species of birds. The thickly forested region, interspersed with grasslands and watering holes, presents an unparalleled wildlife experience.

State: Gujarat
Wildlife: Asiatic lion, leopard, sambar deer, spotted deer, wild boar, Indian jackal, Indian pangolin, and various bird species.

Best Time: July to March

Known For : Gopalaswamy Hills Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Situated in Karnataka, Bandipur National Park was once the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Mysore. It was later established as a reserve in 1974, and these deciduous forests rich in wildlife and flora have become a popular tourist attraction since then. Due to a lot of wildlife casualties due to tourist traffic, a ban on traffic between 9 PM to 6 AM has been established to ensure the safety of the animal population.

State: Karnataka
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, Indian leopard, dhole, spotted deer, sambar, gaur, sloth bear, and several species of birds.

Best Time: October to May

2 Bandipur Attractions

Known For : Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve Moharli Khosla

Famous for its natural heritage, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is definitely one of India's most exciting and best protected Tiger Reserve, with most visible tiger sightings in the state of Maharashtra. This place is an ideal weekend gateway for wildlife and nature lovers.

State: Maharashtra
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, Indian gaur, and diverse birdlife.

Best Time: October to March

6 Tadoba Attractions

Known For : Bharatpur National Park Lohagarh Fort Banke Bihari Temple

Keoladeo National Park, located in the Bharatpur region of Rajasthan, is home to over 370 species of animals and birds. It is recognised as one of the most popular birds feeding and breeding grounds. In 1982 the park was marked as a National Park, and later in 1985, it came on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

State: Rajasthan
Wildlife: Various migratory birds, including Siberian crane, painted stork, pelicans, cormorants, and resident animals like nilgai, wild boar, and various reptiles.

Best Time: November to February

12 Bharatpur Attractions

Known For : Marichjhanpi Ghoramara Island New Moore Island

Known for hosting the biggest mangrove forests in the world, Sundarban National Park is located in West Bengal, India. It is also a Tiger Reserve and a Biosphere reserve that provides a complete nature's circle to the tourist right from 'Royal Bengal tigers' to roaring rivers and beautiful estuaries.  It is a UNESCO world heritage site with a large variety of birds and reptiles including the salt-water crocodile.

State: West Bengal
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, saltwater crocodile, fishing cat, spotted deer, wild boar, Indian python, and numerous bird species.

Best Time: September to March

3 Sundarbans Attractions

Manas National Park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam. The only tiger reserve in Assam and also famous for the rare golden langur and the red panda, Manas is one of the best-kept national parks in India.

State: Assam
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, Asiatic elephant, pygmy hog, golden langur, Assamese macaque, and various bird species.

Best Time: October to Apr

Sariska Tiger Reserve is well nestled in the Aravali Hills covering 800 sq km area divided into the grasslands, dry deciduous forests, sheer cliffs and rocky landscape. Whether one wants to have camel safaris, go out for shopping in the surrounding places, visit medieval palaces or wildlife watching Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is the best place.

State: Rajasthan
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, leopard, striped hyena, jackal, sambar, spotted deer, nilgai, wild boar, and various bird species.

Best Time: October to June

Nestled at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, Mudumalai National Park is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is home to diverse wildlife including elephants, tigers, leopards, and several species of deer. The park is a melting pot of rich biodiversity and offers a picturesque landscape with the Nilgiri Hills in the backdrop.

State: Tamil Nadu
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, Indian leopard, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, Indian gaur, and a wide variety of birds.

Best time: Between December and June.

Pench National Park, straddling the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, is a biodiverse refuge that inspired Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book." The park is renowned for its sizable population of Bengal tigers, leopards, and other fauna like the Indian wild dog. The pristine landscape, comprising teak forests interspersed with meandering streams, offers a serene backdrop for wildlife safaris and bird watching.

State: Madhya Pradesh
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, chital (spotted deer), sambar, Indian gaur, and over 200 bird species.

Best Time: October to June

Located in Madhya Pradesh, Panna National Park is renowned for its wild cats, including tigers and leopards. The park, encompassing vast plateaus and gorges, is also home to the majestic Ken River. Apart from its rich wildlife, the park has a significant population of vultures.

State: Madhya Pradesh
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, and over 200 species of birds.

Best Time: October and June.

Great Himalayan National Park, situated in Himachal Pradesh has four valleys named Sainj Valley, Tirthan Valley, Jiwa Nal Valley and Parvati Valley. They are all popular for their natural and scenic beauty. The park has exotic species of flora and fauna. The park was established in 1984.

State: Himachal Pradesh
Wildlife: Snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan tahr, musk deer, blue sheep, and a variety of high-altitude bird species.

Best Time: April to June and September to November.

Located 45 min drive away from Munnar, the Eravikulam National Park houses a rich and diverse variety of flora and fauna and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Elephant, Nilgiri langur, Nilgiri marten, Atlas moth (largest in the world) are some of the main animal species that can be spotted here. An endangered species of mountain goats called the Nilgiri Thar can also be seen here.

State: Kerala
Wildlife: Nilgiri tahr, sambar deer, Indian muntjac, golden jackal, leopards, Indian bison, and a rich variety of birdlife including endemic species.

Best Time: September to November and April to June.

Located in the eastern Ladakh region, Hemis is the largest national park in India. Famous for its thriving population of the elusive snow leopard, it's also home to a variety of other high-altitude wildlife including the Tibetan wild ass and the Ladakhi Urial. The park is unique due to its high-altitude terrain, cold deserts, and scarce vegetation.

State: Ladakh
Wildlife: Snow leopard, Tibetan wolf, Eurasian brown bear, Himalayan marmot, blue sheep, and various high-altitude bird species.

Best Time: May to Sept

The Satpura National Park is located in the beautiful and diverse suburbs of Madhya Pradesh and is one of the most diverse and stunning national parks in Central India. One of India's most beautiful tiger reserves, the sanctuary was the winner of the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Award for the most visitor-friendly wildlife destinations in the year 2010. 

State: Madhya Pradesh
Wildlife: Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, sambar, chital, Indian bison, langurs, and a wide variety of bird species.

Best Time: October to April.