Wildlife Tours in India

India is home to a rich diversity of wildlife complemented by an equally rich variety of flora and fauna. The sight and sounds of a majestic elephant, the dance of a peacock, the stride of a camel, and the roar of a tiger are unparalleled experiences in themselves. The country offers huge opportunities for wildlife tourism. India’s vast wildlife heritage includes over 70 national parks and around 400 wildlife sanctuaries, including bird sanctuaries.

The tiger, India’s national animal, symbolizes strength and speed. India has two dozen Tiger Reserves. The tiger, the fastest mammal on Earth, is one of India’s joys and prides. The Royal Bengal Tiger is among the most majestic tiger species. Sixty percent of the world’s wild tiger population resides in India. Indian wildlife also includes native and migratory birds. Hundreds of bird species can be observed across India.

In addition to all this, India is also home to Asiatic lions and one-horned rhinoceroses.

Some of India’s important wildlife sanctuaries include:

Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest and most renowned national parks in northern India. Today, the terrain of Ranthambore National Park is an important wildlife tourism destination that has attracted the attention of many photographers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park (or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary)
Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a man-made wetland and one of the World Heritage Sites. Every year, thousands of migratory waterfowl visit the park to winter and breed. The sanctuary is one of the richest bird areas in the world, known for the nesting of its resident and migratory birds, including waterfowl. The rare Siberian cranes used to winter in this park, but this central population of Siberian cranes is now extinct.

Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most popular national parks in India. Bandhavgarh was declared a national park and has great biodiversity. The tiger population density in Bandhavgarh is among the highest known in India. The park has a significant breeding population of leopards and various species of deer. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa captured the first white tiger in this region in 1951. This white tiger, Mohan, is now taxidermied and displayed in the Rewa Maharajas’ palace.

Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park inspired Rudyard Kipling for his famous book “The Jungle Book.” The park’s notable achievement is the preservation of the rare hard-ground swamp deer (Barasingha), saving it from near extinction. This national park has the highest tiger population density in India. The question often asked after a safari in this park is, “How many tigers did you spot?” The park has a significant population of Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Barasingha, and Indian wild dogs.

Gir National Park
It is the only home of pure Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) and is considered one of the most important protected areas in Asia due to the species it supports. The Gir forest area and its lions were declared “protected” in the early 20th century by the Nawab of Junagadh. This initiative helped conserve the lions, whose population had decreased to only 15 due to poaching. The April 2010 census recorded 411 lions in Gir, an increase of 52 compared to 2005.

Periyar National Park
Periyar is a protected area and a natural reserve in the state of Kerala in southern India. The sanctuary surrounds the picturesque Periyar Lake, formed by the construction of the Mullaperiyar dam. This place is famous for its elephants. A total of 62 different species of mammals have been recorded in Periyar, including many endangered species. Periyar is a highly protected tiger reserve and an elephant reserve. Other mammals found here include gaur, bison, sambar deer, barking deer, mouse deer, dhole (Indian wild dogs), mongooses, foxes, and leopards. Also inhabiting the park, though rarely seen, is the elusive Nilgiri tahr. Four species of primates are found in Periyar: the rare lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, common langur, and bonnet macaque.

Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga is a remarkable example of success in one-horned rhinoceros conservation. Its values and criteria led to Kaziranga National Park being listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985. As a World Heritage Site, the park is home to two-thirds of the world’s one-horned Indian rhinoceroses. Kaziranga has the highest tiger density among protected areas globally and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild buffalo, and swamp deer.