India is a land of incredible biodiversity, boasting a vast array of national parks that are home to diverse ecosystems and fascinating wildlife. From the majestic tigers of Ranthambore National Park to the pristine beauty of the Sunderbans National Park, each national park offers a unique and captivating experience. Let’s explore the top 20 national parks in India, categorized by states.
In Uttarakhand, the Jim Corbett National Park beckons wildlife enthusiasts with its iconic Bengal tigers, while the Valley of Flowers National Park showcases a breathtaking display of alpine flora. Moving to Madhya Pradesh, the Kanha National Park entices visitors with its dense forests and thriving tiger population, while Bandhavgarh National Park is renowned for its stunning landscapes and frequent tiger sightings.
Rajasthan boasts the famous Ranthambore National Park, where the royal Bengal tigers roam amidst ancient ruins. In Assam, the Kaziranga National Park stands tall as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. Karnataka showcases the lush forests of Bandipur National Park and the mesmerizing wildlife of Nagarhole National Park.
Kerala’s Periyar National Park offers a chance to spot majestic elephants and explore the serene Periyar Lake, while Maharashtra boasts the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Sanjay Gandhi National Park Mumbai, and Pench National Park.
These are just a few examples of the remarkable national parks in India. Each state has its own unique offerings, allowing visitors to delve into the wonders of nature and witness incredible wildlife up close. With their conservation efforts and breathtaking landscapes, these national parks are a testament to India’s rich natural heritage.
Here is a list of the Top 20 National Parks in India:
#1. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, India
#2. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India
#3. Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India
#4. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India
#5. Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India
#6. Sundarbans National Park, India
#7. Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, India
#8. Nagahole National Park/Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Karnataka, India
#9. Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand, India
#10. Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India
#11. Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India
#12. Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, India
#13. Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu, India
#14. Japdapara National Park, West Bengal, India
#15. Gorumara National Park, West Bengal, India
#16. Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh, India
#17. Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, India
#18. Mount Harriet National Park, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
#19. Papikonda National Park, Andhra Pradesh, India
#20. Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat, India
1. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, India – The Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India that was established in 1936. It is located just a few hour’s drive away from Delhi, but takes one away from the bustle of city life to a completely new world of thick forests and natural beauty. Tourists at Jim Corbett may catch a glimpse of a tiger, or see some other beautiful creatures like deer and elephants. Know more – Top 44 Astounding Places To Visit In Uttarakhand In 2021
2. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India – The Kanha National Park is one of the best national parks in India in terms of its conservation programme. The Sal forests, bamboo groves and open grasslands of the Kanha National Park have played a very important role in tiger conservation and research in India. Tourists can take elephant safaris to visit the tigers in the wild or click beautiful pictures of wild birds and deer.
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3. Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India – This national park is another representation of the natural diversity of Madhya Pradesh. Pench is known for its thick teak woods and tiger sightings. This park also has facilities for river rafting which attracts a large number of tourists.
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4. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India – This national park is very unique because of the fact that it has been built up around the ancient Indian Ranthambore Fort. The steep cliffs and rocky terrain surrounding the fort now house many varieties of wildlife. Some tigers are also present. But in recent years due to overcrowding by tourists, the facilities of this park have suffered greatly. Know more – Places to visit in Rajasthan
5. Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India – Home to the world-famous one horned rhinoceros of India, Kaziranga National Park has now become a fixture in the travel itinerary of all international tourists. Domestic tourists can also visit the park to photograph some beautiful animals in open grassland and experience the thrill of seeing the huge rhinoceros up-close.
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6. Sundarbans National Park, India – This national park is built on one of the most unique natural formations of India. The Sundarbans National Park spreads over more than 12o deltaic islands that are covered in mangrove forests rich in wildlife ranging from tigers and crocodiles to beautiful birds and reptiles.
7. Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, India – This national park was once the hunting ground of the mighty rajas of the ancient kingdom of Mysore. Now it protects a large number of animals like monkeys, deer and elephants. The Bandipur National Park is a segment of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The native flora of this area is deciduous plants known for creating a deep dark canopy of green over a forested land. The serene greenery of Bandipura has earned it the name of being one of the most scenic national parks of India.
8. Nagahole National Park/Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Karnataka, India – This national park is also part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Kabini River runs between the two parks of Bandipur and Nagahole. Elephant herds can often be seen going across the river.
9. Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand, India – This is national park is located at a comparatively higher altitude than most national parks in India. The main feature of this national park is its massive bloom of beautiful alpine flowers during the monsoon season. But it is a bit of a strenuous hike to reach the Valley of Flowers and tourists should keep this in mind when travelling with kids or elders.
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10. Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India – This national park covers an area of 524 sq km. It is a unique landscape dotted with sandstone peaks, deep thicket and narrow ravines. This national park is known for their wide variety of wildlife like leopards, black buck, boars and bears. This park is also a good destination for bird photography. Boating tours and walking tours have also been started at the Satpura National Park to attract more tourists. The more brave-hearted tourists can even camp overnight in a safe and protected area of the national park.
11. Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India – This national park is favorite among nature lovers because of its intense natural beauty. A comparatively lesser known site, this park is home to elephants, tigers, jackals and mongoose. The most unique feature of this national park is the presence of the Neelakurinji trees. These trees bloom every twelve years and cover the entire forest in an otherworldly shade of deep blue. Photographers and nature lovers all wait for years to see the Neelakurinji trees in full bloom.
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12. Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, India – India was once characterized by its dense tropical evergreen forests. As settlement spread these forests were reduced in size. The Silent Valley National Park of Kerala is one of the last remnants of the typical tropical evergreen forests of India. Elephants, tigers, wild pigs and the majestic panthers can all be found here. The ancient and undisturbed origins of the Silent Valley National Park attract scientists and tourists from all over the world.
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13. Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu, India – This national park also doubles as a wildlife sanctuary. It is known for its dense greenery. This reserve is most well-known for its large elephant population. There are also golden jackals, leopards and striped hyenas. This national park in recent years has had to implement many strict measures to protect their wildlife from animal poachers. As a result many endangered species of wildlife in India are now thriving and regenerating their population in the Mudumalai National Park of Tamil Nadu.
14. Japdapara National Park, West Bengal, India – This park highlights the flora and fauna of the eastern part of India. The park is populated by elephants, bison, wild pigs and rhinos. But the biggest attraction for tourists is the elephant safaris through the forests of Jaldapara. Click to know – 10 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Kolkata
15. Gorumara National Park, West Bengal, India – This park is located just a stone’s throw away from Jaldapara and tourists usually make a visit to both these parks. The Gorumara National Park is a comparatively smaller national park, but it is rich in wildlife. Tourists can see Bengal tigers and large Asian elephants moving leisurely through the forests of Gorumara.
16. Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh, India – This national park is one of the most unique national parks of India. This national park is situated in the cold and barren terrain of Spiti. But in the midst of these mountains and barren slopes reside some wild creatures like snow leopards. Snow leopards however are typically very hard to spot. Tourists mostly spend their time photographing the stunning beauty of this mountainous landscape. There are also many opportunities for trekking and hiking around this spot.
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17. Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, India – If Kashmir is said to be heaven on Earth, then the Dachigam National Park is a perfect scenic slice of that heaven. It is located just 22km away from Srinagar, but it houses around seven exotic species of fauna. Some of the most well known inhabitants of this national park include the Himalayan Black Bear, jackals, marmots, leopards. The Kashmiri Stag or the Hangul that lives in this park is also a major draw for wildlife photographers.
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18. Mount Harriet National Park, Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Stepping away from the mainland of the subcontinent; let us now visit the islands of Andaman and Nicobar. Here the Mount Harriet National Park stands as a beautiful representative of the natural treasures of the islands. Varieties of crabs, turtles and wild pigs populate this national park. Tourists visiting this national park often choose to enjoy a stay in the heart of the park at the Forest Guest House with its picturesque views.
19. Papikonda National Park, Andhra Pradesh, India- This is one of the newest entrants to the list of national parks in India. The Papikonda region between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana was very recently declared as a national park because of its huge natural wealth and diversity. The region is an example of a tropical rainforest populated by a large variety of wild animals like tigers, hyenas, sloth bears, panthers and many more.
20. Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat, India – And last but not the least we have the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. This is one of the most successful wildlife conservation projects of India. Started with a mere 12 lions, the sanctuary has now become home to more than 600 Indian lions. Tourists visiting this national park get to have the unique experience of getting close to the kings of the forest roaming around in their natural habitat.
These are a few of the best national parks in India. But there are many more unique such places scattered all over the country. Tourists can visit these spots on a trip to a particular state or plan a trip to the national parks separately. Just a few days of wandering through the beautiful forests of India on a national park safari can prove to be a very thrilling as well as a refreshing experience. So pack your bags today and book a trip to meet up with some of India’s majestic residents of the forests.
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Here are the top 10 FAQs about the top 20 national parks in India, categorized by states:
Q: Which are the top national parks in Uttarakhand?
A: Jim Corbett National Park, Valley of Flowers National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park.
Q: What are the famous national parks in Madhya Pradesh?
A: Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Pench National Park, Satpura National Park.
Q: Which national parks are popular in Rajasthan?
A: Ranthambore National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Keoladeo National Park.
Q: What are the well-known national parks in Assam?
A: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park.
Q: Which are the top national parks in Karnataka?
A: Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Bannerghatta National Park.
Q: What are the famous national parks in Kerala?
A: Periyar National Park, Silent Valley National Park, Eravikulam National Park.
Q: Which national parks are popular in Maharashtra?
A: Some of the renowned national parks in Maharashtra are Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and Pench National Park.
Q: What are the well-known national parks in West Bengal?
A: Sunderbans National Park, Neora Valley National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve.
Q: Which are the top national parks in Himachal Pradesh?
A: Great Himalayan National Park, Pin Valley National Park, Khirganga National Park.
Q: What are the famous national parks in Tamil Nadu?
A: Mudumalai National Park, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Guindy National Park.
Note: The above list provides an overview of popular national parks in each state, but there are many more national parks in India that offer unique wildlife and natural experiences.
