Top 20 Wildlife Sanctuaries to Visit in India

Are you one amongst the wildlife lovers and willing to take on a trip to wild life sanctuaries in India? Then you must know about the top places of wildlife within India that have plenty of flora and fauna, different species of wildlife and lush greenery that make the places paradise for the wildlife lovers and Photographers.

Wildlife safaris in India are adventurous and filled with thrill. There are more than 160 National Parks in India that gives an ultimate experience of wildlife tour. These national parks have jungles along with the rare species of animals and those about to extinct such as Single Horned Rhinos, Royal Bengal Tigers and Asiatic Lions. You can avail great accommodation facilities in luxury tents and jungle lodges out there.

Wildlife tour or safaris in India is a never to miss trip as it gives an adventurous experience. You can plan your trip to the best Sanctuaries of India mentioned below.

1. Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park, situated in the district of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, is one of the renowned national parks of India. This reserve is named after the well known Ranthambore Fort which is under the UNESCO World Heritage. Its unique vegetation includes dry deciduous forest where one can spot the Royal Bengal Tigers. It is one of the leading reserves of India under the Project Tiger which is a home to many other mammals like hyena, leopard, sambar, wild boar and sloth bear. It is recommended to visit this Park from March till June.

Ranthambore National Park

Suggested Tour: 8 Days - Golden Triangle Ranthambore Tour

Also Read: A Travel Guide on Ranthambore National Park

2. Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is the first national park of India. It is the most widely visited wild life safaris of India. It is considered as one of the finest reserves with its scenic surroundings, moderate weather and wild life in abundance which includes deer and wild elephant. This Park shelters more than 50 species of mammals along with 580 species of birds and 25 species of reptiles. This versatile reserve is the oldest national park in Asia. The best recommended time to visit Corbett National Park is from November till March.

Jim Corbett


Read More: Ten Compelling Reasons to Visit Jim Corbett National Park

Suggested Tour: 5 Days - Corbett Wildlife Tour

3. Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park of Assam is one of the sites under UNESCO World Heritage. It shelters Single Horned Rhinoceros, which is about 2 / 3rd of the world’s population of Rhinoceros. It is also regarded as home to tigers, water buffalo, swamp deer, bog deer, Indian fox, wild boar, Jackals, elephants, and leopard. This wild life reserve in the North Eastern part of India is known as a protected area for more than 100 species of birds. The Birdlife International reckoned this place as an “Important Bird Area”.

Kaziranga National Park


Suggested Tour :

4. Bandipur National Park

Being a part of the World Heritage Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Bandipur National Park is considered as one of the best wildlife safaris in South India. Located in the state of Karnataka, this park is a home to more than 100 species of mammals along with 350 vibrant species of bird. This national park is well connected to Ooty and Bangalore. The safaris are managed by the Government and are allowed twice in a day. The best time to visit this park is between May and June though it can be visited all round the year.

Bandipur National Park


Suggested Tour: 14 Days - Periyar Bandipur Wildlife

Read On: Travel Tips for Visiting Bandipur National Park

5. Bandhavgarh National Park

“The Heart of India,” Madhya Pradesh houses one of the finest national parks for spotting tigers in India. It is Bandhavgarh National Park which has the highest density of tigers in India. It was once a renowned home for white tigers. The last among the white tigers named Mohan is now showcased on the walls of Rewa’s Royal Palace. More than 250 species of birds and over 20 species of mammals which include tigers, leopards, Striped Hyenas, Chinkara Wild Boar, Antelopes, Sambar, Sloth Bear and Golden Jackals. This national park is among the few reserves of India where elephant safaris are popular. You can visit this place in the months of November and April which is known to be the best time to visit Bandhavgarh National Park.

Bandhavgarh National Park Wildlife


Suggested Tour: 16 Days - India's Best Tiger Wildlife Safari

Must Read: Top 10 Places to Visit in Madhya Pradesh

6. Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is located in Kanha region of Madhya Pradesh. This is the largest park in the central India and it is famous for its collection of wild cats, tigers, foxes, wild dogs, jackals, deers, gaur, sloth bear, striped hyena, honey badger and others. The park houses more than 300 species of birds like egret, common teal, Indian roller, little grebes, pied hornbill, paradise flycatcher, red jungle fowl, white breasted kingfisher, white-browed fantail and others. You can enjoy jeep safari through the park to spot the animals. The best time to visit this park is from February to June.

Kanha National Park 

Suggested Tour: 10 Days - Taj Mahal with Bandhavgarh and Kanha

7. Pench National Park

Pench National Park is located in Chhindwara and Seoni districts of Madhya Pradesh. This park gets its name from the River Pench. The park is famous for rafting, open jeep safari, bus safari, elephant safari and others. The main animal to spot here is the Bengal Tiger. Apart from the 40 tigers in the park, top animals to spot are sambar, wild boar, chital, Indian leopard, porcupine, jungle cat, four-horned antelope, fox, striped hyena, gaur, wild dog, Indian wolf and others. The park is also the best spot for birdwatching. Top birds to spot in this region are peafowl, shoveller, herons, red-vented bulbul, whistling teal, myna, egret, magpie robin, wagtail and others. The best time to visit this park is from November to May. Pench National Park

Suggested Tour: 11 Days - Khajuraho and Tiger Tour

Also Read: Top Seven Attractions In Madhya Pradesh

8. Mount Abu National Park

Mount Abu National Park is located in the Aravalli ranges of Mount Abu, Rajasthan. This park is famous for its collection of endangered species and large mammals like leopards, jungle cat, striped hyena, sloth bear, Indian fox, porcupine and others. Around 250 species of birds are found in this sanctuary. However, the iconic bird of this region is the grey jungle fowl. You can rarely spot the green Avadavat in this region. Hiking, safari and trekking are the top activities in this park. The best time to visit this park is from October to March.

Mount Abu Wild Life Sanctuary

Read On: Attractions Not To Miss in Mount Abu

9. Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole National Park is located in Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka. This is one of the top tiger reserves of the country. Nagarhole National Park is a heritage site of the country and it holds top animals like Bengal tiger, striped hyena, barking deer, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Indian elephant, gray langue, slender loris, bonnet macaque, leopard cat, hare and many others. Around 250 species of birds are spotted in the park like blue bearded bee-eater, Malabar whistling thrush, heron, duck, scarlet minivet and others. The Balle elephant camp is located inside the park for those who love to play with elephants. Top activities to enjoy in the park are boat safari, elephant safari, jeep safari, coracle ride, bus safari and others. The best time to visit this park is from October to May.

Nagarhole National Park

Also Read: 15 Unforgettable Places To Visit In Mysore

Suggested Tour: 11 Days - South India Wildlife & Cultural Tour

10. Tadoba National Park

Tadoba National Park is located in Chandrapur region of Maharashtra. It is one of the oldest and largest park of the state. Apart from the high population of tigers, this park is famous for Indian leopard, sambar, striped hyena, small Indian civet, sloth ear, honey badger, marsh crocodiles, star tortoise and others. The lake of this park is an important spot for ornithologists. There are around 195 species of birds in this region like crested serpent eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, changeable hawk-eagle, paradise flycatcher, warblers and many others. The best time to visit this park is from October to June. April and May is best for tiger spotting.

Tadoba National Park

Must Read: 10 Lesser Known Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

Suggested Tour: 16 Days - India Wildlife & Culture Tours

11. Mudumalai National Park

Mudumalai National Park is located in the Nilgiri district of Coimbatore. The park holds around 55 species of mammals and 227 birds. Top animals to spot are Bengal tiger, leopard cat, jungle cat, striped hyena, Indian elephants, monkey, sambar deer, chital deer, sloth bear, red giant flying squirrel, wild boar and others. Top birds to spot here are black-orange flycatcher, Malabar grey hornbill, besra, brown hawk owl, Oriental honey buzzard, crested serpent eagle and others. Top activities to enjoy in this park are van safari, elephant safari, jeep safari and others. The best time to visit this park is from February to June.

Mudumalai National Park, Karnataka 

Suggested Tour: 6 Days - South India Wildlife Safari

12. Panna National Park

Panna National Park is located in Chhatarpur and Panna district of Madhya Pradesh. Top animals to spot in this park are tiger, sambhar, sloth bear, chital, nilgai, chinkara and leopard. The park is famous for birdwatching too. Around 200 different species of birds can be spotted in the region. Top birds of the park are king vulture, bar headed goose, changeable hawk eagle, Indian vulture and others. Boat ride, jeep safari, elephant safari and night safari are the top activities to enjoy in this park. The best time to visit this park is from October to June.

Panna National Park

Suggested Tour: Same Day Khajuraho Temple Tour Including Panna National Park

13. Sariska National Park

Sariska National Park is located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. This wildlife reserve is famous for its collection of Bengal tiger, striped hyena, sambhar, four-horned antelope, Indian jackal, hanuman langur, wild boar, Indian leopard, hare and others. You can also find numerous birds in this park like treepie, Indian eagle owl, grey partridge, crested serpent eagle, white throated kingfisher and others. You can find many monuments and forts inside the park. Top activities to enjoy here are jeep safari, camping, trekking and others. The best time to visit this park is from October to June.

Sariska National Park

Suggested Tour: 4 Days - Sariska and Jaipur Tour

14. Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is located in Ladakh of Jammu and Kashmir. This park gets its name from Hemis Gompa, inside the park. The park holds 16 mammal species including snow leopard, great Tibetan sheep, blue sheep, Tibetan wolf, Tibetan wild ass and others. Top birds to spot in this park are robin, serin, Golden Eagle, Himalayan snowcock, streaked rose finch and others. This is the largest park in southern Asia. Trekking is an important tourist attraction in this region. The best time to visit this park is from May and September.

Hemis National Park, Ladakh 

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Suggested Tour: 10 Days - Best of Ladakh Tour

15. Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park is located in the Idukki district of Kerala. The park is famous for animals like Nilgiri tahr, gaur, jungle cat, leopard, sambar deer, ungulates, Indian porcupine, ruddy mongoose, elephants and others. Top birds to spot in this region are wood pigeon, Nilgiri flycatcher, Nilgiri pipit, laughing thrush and others. Bus safari and forest jeep safaris are common in this region. The best time to visit this park is from March to May and July to September.

Eravikulam National Park 

Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Idukki

Suggested Tour: 8 Days - Kerala Cultural and Wildlife Tour

16. Bharatpur National Park

Bharatpur National Park is located in Bharatpur region of Rajasthan. This park is also called as Keoladeo Ghana national park. More than 230 species of birds are found in this region apart from the long list of migration birds. Tourists can scale the place on foot or hire rickshaw or cycle. You can also enjoy horse carriage ride in this park. Top birds to spot here re common teal, heron, migrant duct, oriental ibis, sandpiper, white spoonbill, osprey, greater spotted eagle, sea eagle and others. Only a handful of mammals can be spotted in the park like nilgai, Indian porcupine, fishing cat, Asian palm, smooth coated otter, small Indian mongoose and others. The best time to visit this park is from October to March.

Nilgai at Bharatpur National Park 

Read Also: A Complete Guide on Bharatpur National Park, Rajasthan

Suggested Tour: 8 Days - Golden Triangle with Bharatpur Tours

17. Kudremukh National Park

Kudremukh National Park is located in Chikmangalur district of Karnataka. This park is famous for its collection of primary predators like leopard, tiger, wild dogs and others. Other animals to spot here are monkey, spotted deer, giant flying squirrel, sambar, sloth bear and others. Bird watching is an important activity here. You can spot many migration birds during winter season. Top birds to spot are Malabar whistling thrush, imperial pigeon, Malabar trogon, great pied hornbill and others. Other tourist activities to enjoy in Kudremukh national park are hiking, trekking and others. The best time to visit this park is from October to March.

Kudremukh National Park

Also Read: Beginners’ Indian Travel Guide – Wildlife Safari

18. Bannerghatta National Park

Bannerghatta National Park is located in near Bangalore. This park holds a reserve, zoo, petting zone, butterfly enclosure, animal rescue center, elephant sanctuary, snake house, aquarium and safari park. It is also the best place for hiking, boating, safari and trekking. Top animals to spot are leopard, Asiatic lion, monitor lizard, royal Bengal tiger, porcupine, Indian gazelle, sloth bear, spotted bear and others. The butterfly park covers more than 7.5 acres of land and 20 species of butterflies. There is also an audiovisual center, museum and conservatory in this region. The best time to visit this park is from November to June.

Bannerghatta National Park 

Explore: Top Places to Visit Near Bangalore within 200 kms

19. Desert National Park

Desert National Park is located near Jaisalmer. This park consist of 20% of sand dunes. Top animals to spot here are blackbuck, desert fox, wolf and others. Top birds to spot in this region are sandgrouse, bee-eater, shrikes, partridge and others. The great Indian bustard is commonly found here. Tourists can enjoy jeep safari through the desert to spot all the animals. If you visit during winter season, you can find many migration birds near Gadsisar Sagar tank, inside the park. The best time to visit this park is from October to March.

Desert National Park, Jaisalmer

Read More: Topmost Places To Be Visited In Jaisalmer

20. Dudhwa National Park

Dudhwa National Park is located in Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. This park is famous for its diverse wildlife wealth. The major animals of this park are the tigers and swamp deers. Other animals to spot here are fishing cat, spotted deer, sambar deer, jungle cat, jackal, leopard cat, barking deer, Indian rhinoceros and others. Around 350 species of birds cover this park. Top species to spot are sarus crane, kingfisher, bulbul, and woodpecker, bee-eater, painted stork, white necked stork, minivet and others. The best time to visit this park is from November to May.

Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh 

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