Wildlife and National Parks

Ranthambhore is one of the most well-known national parks in India, established in 1955. It is nestling in an area between the Aravalli and the Vindhya ranges of southeastern Rajasthan. The Park consists of typical dry deciduous elements with Anogeissus pendula - a dominant tree species. A majestic 10th century fort stands atop a hill, overlooking at the park. It is punctuated with waterfall, lakes and numerous streams. The Tigers are the biggest attraction of the park. 

Ranthambore is accessed by road from Jaipur, Agra, Gwalior and Kota or by train from Bharatpur, Delhi and Jaipur. The park is open, from 1st October until 30th June.

It was established in 1955. It is situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is spread out in a horse-shoe shaped valley. At Kanha, the majestic Tiger is the core species. Among the deer species Swamp Deer or Hard-ground Barasingha, are the pride of the park, as it is the only sub species of swamp deer in India (Cervus Duavcelli Branderi). One of the best locations to enjoy the bounty, is Bammi Dadar, also known as the sunset point. The lush sal (Shorea robusta) and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha provided the inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel "Jungle Book"

Kanha is accessed by road from Jabalpur, Raipur, Nagpur, Kawardha, Pench and Bandhavgarh (long but pretty drive). The park is open, from 1st November until 30th June.

It was established in 1968. It is located in the Vindhya Hills, Bandhavgarh encompasses hills. The forest covers a mix of sal (Shorea robusta), dhobin and saga and large stretches of grassland with bamboo groves. It used to be the private hunting reserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. It is now an exceptional place to spot Indian Tigers, either by auto-vehicle or on elephant back. The history of the region can be traced back to the 1st century. There are 39 caves in the Bandhavgarh fort and in the surrounding hillocks up to a radius of about 5 km. The oldest cave dates from the 1st century. Several caves carry inscriptions in Brahmi script.

Access to Bandhavgarh is by road from Khajuraho or Kanha (a long but pretty drive). The park is open, from 1st November until 30th June.

Jim Corbett National Park named after a hunter who turned conservationist, Jim Corbett. He played a key role in establishing the park. It is the oldest national park in India, and was established in 1936. It is situated in the foot hills of the Himalayas. It has more than 500 resident Species of Birds, and over double that including migratory. Corbett is a paradise for bird watchers.

Corbett is accessed by road from Delhi or by a shorter journey from Nainital or Rishikesh. The park is open, from 15th November until 15th June.

It is located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya, and spread along the fertile plains of the Brahmaputra River. It‘s a bio-diversity hotspot, in the state of Assam. The park combines a high species diversity, and good visibility. A World Heritage Site, the park hosts two-thirds of the world's great One-horned Rhinoceroses. Kaziranga boasts the highest density of tigers among protected areas, and has also been declared a Tiger reserve. The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild water-buffalo, and Swamp-deer. It is a vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forest. Criss-crossed by four major rivers, the park includes numerous small bodies of water.

Kaziranga is accessed by road from Guwahati, Tezpur and Jorhat. The park is open, from October until April.