Located in the Ganga delta in West Bengal, spanning the Hooghly in the west and Teulia river in the east, Sunderbans was declared a National Park in 1984. The park covers a vast stretch of mangrove swamp, lush forested islands and small rivers near the Bay of Bengal. Most of the region comprises estuarine mangrove forests and swamps, which support an ecosystem specially adapted to great salinity.
Sunderbans is home to the magnificent Royal Bengal tiger, the park holding more tigers than any other tiger reserve. More than 400 tigers were recorded during the mid-1980s. Project Tiger has also launched a programme to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles. Crocodiles and the Gangetic dolphin are to be found aplenty in the Raimgangal river. The Sajnekhali sanctuary, famous for its rich avian population, is regarded as a part of the Sunderbans National Park.
To visit Project Tiger area including Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary permission is to be obtained from Tourism Centre, Government of West Bengal, 3/2, B.B.D Bag (East), Kolkata-700 001. TelePhone (033) 2488271.The other related places of interest are Bhagatpur Crocodile Project (2.5 hours from Namkhana), Lothian Island, Holiday Island (3 hours from Sajnekhali), Kalas, Sagar Island (2.5 hours from Namkhana) and Jamudwip (5.5 hours from Namkhana).

When to visit : September to May

Where to stay : Forest lodge and forest rest-houses are available for accommodation at Sajnekhali.

How to get there :

By Air : Dum Dum (166 kms.), is the nearest airport at Kolkata.

By Rail : The nearest railhead is at Canning, 48 kms. away. The nearest town is Gosaba, 50 kms. away.

Kaziranga National Park lies on the south bank of the Brahmaputra and its boundary for the most part follows the Mora Diphlu river and runs parallel to National Highway No. 37. It covers an area of 688 sq. kms. The park-was first established in 1908, as a reserve forest with only about a dozen rhinos and was declared a National Park in 1974
Kaziranga is famous for the great One-Horned Rhinos. Tigers, which are natural enemies of rhinos, are also there in sizable numbers in this area. Other attractions of this National Park include the wild buffalo, magnificent swamp deer, hog deer, wild boar, hoolok gibbon, capped langur and ratel (badger).
A wide variety of snakes including the rock python and the monitor lizard are also found here. Amongst the birds, the crested serpent eagle is common while Palla's fishing eagle and grey headed fishing eagle are frequently seen. Others include the great adjutant stork, crane, Bengal floricab, bar-headed goose, whistling teal and pelican.
Mihimukh is the starting area for the park and elephants can be hired from here to enter the sanctuary. Jeep safaris and early morning elephant rides can be arranged for at the Tourist Centre here.

When to visit : November to March.

Where to stay : Forest rest houses and bungalows are available in the park area. Kaziranga. Forest Lodge is also available with air-conditioned rooms, bar, restaurant and other facilities.

How to get there : By air and rail at Jorhat (94 kms.); and Guwahati (220 kms.) from the park. Nearest town is Bokaghat, 22 Kms. from the park.

The Namdhapa National Park is famous for the extremely elusive snow leopard and the clouded leopard. Three major rivers drain this area and flow into the Noa Dihing, a tributary of the Brahmaputra. Some of the inhabitants of the park include the gaur or mithun, elephant, Himalayan black bear, takin, the wild goat peculiar to the Patkoi range, musk deer, slow loris, binturong and the red panda. Several primate species like the Assamese macaque, pigtailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque and the hoolock gibbon can be found in the area. The inaccessibility of a major portion of the park has helped in preserving the pristine quality of the region. The park is also a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.

When to visit : October to March.

Where to stay : The Government Tourist Lodge. Miao and Rest House at Namchik are the available means of accommodation.

How to get there :
The nearest rail-head is Ledo (56 kms.) and the nearest airport is Dibrugarh (163 kms.).

Chilika Lake, spreading over an area of 1100 sq. kms. is the largest brackish water lake in the country and attracts a large number of migratory birds besides resident ones. Barkul and Rambha are two places on the lake, which serve as the base.

The Dolphins have been reported mostly near Satapada-Magarmukha area and occasionally between Kalijai and Balugaon. Other mammals reported from small pockets in the surrounding hills/forests/scattered islands & amidst the vegetation of sandy ridge facing Chilika and the sea include black bucks, spotted deer, fox, jackal, hyena, jungle cat, hare, rat, pachyura (an insectivora), common bat, otter, common mongoose, monkey, squirrel, porcupine etc.

When to visit : the best time to visit is October to early June.

Where to stay : For reservation of Panthaniwases at Barkul and Rabbha one can write directly to The Divisional Manager (A&C), OTDC (Head Office), Panthaniwas Old Block, Lewis Road, Bhubaneswar-751014.

How to get there :

Air : The nearest airport, Bhubaneswar, is 105 kms. from Bakul & 135 kms. from Rambha. The airport is directly connected with Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi & Mumbai by Indian Airlines.

Rail : Nearest railheads are Balagaon, Chilika, Khallikote and Rambha on S.E. Railways, which are connected to Kolkata, Puri, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai via Secunderabad. The airport is directly connected with Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai by Indian Airlines.

Situated in the Guntur, Prakasam, Kurnool, Mahboobnagar and Nalgonda districts in an area of 3568 sq. kms., these dry deciduous mixed forests along the river Krishna harbour tiger, panther, sloth bear, wild dog, jackal, wolf, fox, ratel, Indian giant squirrel, tree shrew, cheetal, mouse deer, black buck, sambar, chowsingha, nilgai and wild boar.

When to visit : October to May.
Where to stay : Rest house and cottages at Srisailam and Mannanur.
How to get there : 130 kms. by road from Hyderabad.

The 874.20 sq. kms. Bandipur National Park, situated in the Mysore district which is also a Tiger Reserve with its open grassy woodland, lies to the south of the Kabini River while Nagarhole, 643.39 sq. km. in area, to the north of the river, has taller and denser forests. Bandipur, lying in the shadow of the Western Ghats, is one of the finest habitats of the Asian elephant. Drained by the Moyar River, its open forest makes it easy for visitors to see the elephant and gaur in natural surroundings.

When to visit : March to August.

Where to stay : Hotel Mayura Prakruti, (KSTDC), M.C.Resorts, Bush Betta, Tusker Trails. Also, the Forest Department of Govt. of Karnataka provides accommodation in the sanctuary.

How to get there :
Air : The nearest airport is Bangalore (220 kms.)
Rail : The nearest railhead is Mysore (80 kms.).
Road : It is 220 kms. from Bangalore and 80 kms. from Mysore.

About 65 kms. away from Ooty (Now known as Udhagamandalam). This sanctuary is spread over 521 sq. kms.

The vegetation is varied and the fauna includes elephants, gaur, bonnet macaque, common langur, tigers and leopards, chital, dhole, panther, sloth bear, python, barking deer, four-horned antelope, otter, crocodiles (mugger), giant flying squirrel, sambar, hyena, wild dog, wild boar, mouse beer, spotted deer, jackal, hare, porcupine and mongoose.

The birds listed in the sanctuary are peacock, grey jungle fowl, red spur fowl, grey partridge quail, goggle-eyed plover, Malabar whistling thrush, large racket tailed drongo, shama, magpie-robin, spotted babbler, small green barbet, green pigeons, little brown dove, Malabar grey hornbill, bulbuls, mynahs etc. Among birds of prey, eagles, hawks, buzzards, harriers, falcons and king vultures are predominant besides some migratory waterbirds.

When to visit : September to May.

Where to stay : Hotel Tamilnadu (TTDC Ltd.), Forest Guest House,. Abhayaranyam, Kargudi, Masinagudi and Theppakkadu with catering arrangements.

How to get there :

Air : Coimbatore (160 kins.) is the nearest airport.
Rail : Ooty 65 kms.) and Mysore (95 kms.) are the nearest stations.
Road : NH passes through the sanctuary, one has to stop at Theppakkadu. From Ooty (base camp at Parson's Valley), you can trek to this sanctuary and the Mukkurthi National Park.

Dachigam is one of India's most scenic wildlife reserves. It is located about 22 kms. from Srinagar and forms almost half of the famous Dal Lake's catchment area.

Dachigam is considered home to some of the unique Himalayan flora and fauna. Primary amongst them is the hangul or Kashmir stag, the most endangered species of red deer in the world.

During winters, the upper reaches of Dachigam become inaccessible to visitors and the temperature in lower Dachigam dips as low as minus 10 degree Celsius. Some birds and animals found during this time of the year include the cinnamon sparrow, black and yellow grosbeak, black bulbul, monal pheasant and the Himalayan grey langur. The main predator in the park is the leopard, while other scavengers that feed on its prey like the jackal, hill fox, yellow throated marten and the wild boar are also found. Himalayan griffon, lammergeyer, leopard cat, long tailed blue magpie, jungle cat, and Himalayan weasel can also be sighted during this period.

With the advent of spring and summer, the Himalayan black bear makes its appearance after hibernating in the rocks for the winter period. Birdlife also becomes active and the birds which appear are the golden orioles, pygmy owlets, Himalayan pied woodpeckers, warblers, babblers, buntings and laughing thrushes.

In the upper reaches, during the short summer, new varieties of birds like red-browed finch, Himalayan ruby throat and wagtails also make an appearance. The higher altitudes in the park still harbour a few Himalayan brown bears.

When to visit : May to August for upper Dachigam and September to December for lower Dachigam.

Where to stay : Two lodges and rest houses in the sanctuary are available. For those staying in Srinagar, hotels and house boats are available in plenty.

How to get there : The nearest town and airport is Srinagar, 22 kms. away. It is 310 kms. from Jammu, the nearest railway station. A metalled road links Srinagar with lower Dachigam. Upper Dachigam can be reached on foot.

The Corbett National Park is located in the Terai region of the State of Uttaranchal straddling the undulating Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas. Located around 300 kms. away from New Delhi, it is India's first ever national park.

Over 50 mammals, 580 birds and 25 reptile species have been listed in the Corbett National Park.

Leopards as well as lesser cats such as the leopard cat, jungle cat, fishing cat are also found here. The sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, dhole, jackal, yellow throated marten, Himalayan palm civet, Indian grey mongoose, common otter, porcupine and clacktaped hare are the other attractions of this area. It is possible to see elephants all over the park.

When to visit : The best season to visit Corbett National Park is between February and May. It is closed from mid-June to mid-November.

Where to stay : Forest rest houses are available at Khinnauli, Sarapduli,Bijrani and Ghairal. In the Dhikala forest rest houses, log-huts, tourist huts and tented camps are available.

How to get there : The nearest town and rail link is at Ramnagar, 51 kms. away. New Delhi is a six-hour drive.

Covering an area of about 500 sq. kms., Dudhwa National Park, along the Indo-Nepal border in Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, is best known for the Barasingha or Swamp Deer. Among the big cats, tigers abound at Dudhwa. There are also a few leopards. The other animals found in large numbers, are the Indian one-horned rhinoceros and the wild elephant. Other animals found in Dudhwa are jungle cats, leopard cats, fishing cats, jackals, civets, sloth bears, sambar, otters, crocodiles and chital.

Among reptiles, pythons and monitor lizards are fairly common. Dudhwa is also a bird-watcher's paradise. Dudhwa, perhaps, houses the greatest number of owls and storks. The great Indian horned owl, the forest eagle owl, the brown fish owl, the tawny owl, the dusky horned owl, the scops owl, brown wood owl and the jungle owlet are found in plenty. The storks, which abound here, are the black-necked stork, white-necked stork, black stork, painted stork, white stork, open-billed stork and the adjutant stork.

In a bid to save the Indian one-homed rhinoceros, seven rhinos from Assam and Nepal were introduced into Dudhwa in 1984-85. Currently, 15 rhinos can be spotted in Dudhwa.

When to visit : The best time to visit is November to May.
Where to stay : Dudhwa Forest Home, Log Huts, Dormitory, tent, rest houses at Soniarpur, Sathiana.
How to get there : The nearest town is Palia (10 Kms.). From Delhi (430 Kms.). : By rail upto Shajahanpur, and onwards by road. From Lucknow (250 Kms.): By rail upto Mailani, and onwards by road.

Situated in eastern Rajasthan, about 176 kms. away from Delhi, and 50 kms. west of Agra, is the Keoladeo Ghana or Bharatpur National Park, one of the most spectacular bird sanctuaries in India, nesting indigenous water-birds as well as migratory water birds and water side birds. It is also inhabited by sambar, chital, nilgai and boar. More than 300 species of birds are found in this small park of 29 sq. kms. of which 11 sq. kms. are marshes and the rest, scrubland and grassland. Crane: Of all the exotic migrant birds that arrive in Bharatpur ever year, the most sought after is the Siberian Crane or the great white crane, which migrates to this site every year, covering a distance of more than half the globe. These birds, numbering only a few hundred, are on the verge of extinction. They arrive in December and stay till early March.

When to visit : The park is open throughout the year, although most visitors choose to come between October and February, when wintering wildfowl assemble in thousands on the lakes. The breeding season is between August and October.

Where to stay : Accommodation is available at the Forest Lodge (1TDC), Saras Tourist Bungalow (RTDC), Shanti Kutir, Forest Rest House and private hotels near the park.

How to get there : The nearest railhead is Bharatpur (2 Kms.) and the nearest airport is at Agra (52 kms).

Near the township of Sawai Madhopur, in the state of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is an outstanding example of Project Tiger's efforts at tiger conservation in the country.

As a result of stringent conservation efforts, tigers, the prime asset of the Park, have become more and more active during the day. More than in any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers are easily spotted here in daylight. They can be seen lolling around lazily in the sun or feverishly hunting down sambar around the lakes. Therefore, Ranthambore is probably the ideal park for wildlife photography and attracts professional wildlife photographers from all over the world. Apart from tigers, the park also has its share of panthers. They are to be found on the outskirts of the park due to the inevitable conflicts with the tiger population. Kachida Valley is believed to be the place to sight these rather elusive cats. The other permanent residents of the park include marsh crocodiles, hyenas, jungle cats and sloth bears. Sambar, found in abundance all over the area, are the prime target of all the predators. Chital, nilgai and chinkara, are the other inhabitants of the region. The avian population comprises of black storks, quails, Bonelli's eagles, spur fowls, crested serpent eagles and painted storks. During the winter months, the Park attracts a lot of migratory birds, primarily a variety of ducks.

The Park is best explored through jeeps, which are available on hire.

When to visit : The best time to visit the park is between October and June.

Where to stay : RTDC Jhoomar Baori Forest Lodge, RTDC Hotel. Kamdhenu, Maharaja Lodge (Taj Group), Sawai Madhopur Lodge, PWD Rest House, and Jogi Mahal (located within the Park premises) are some of the available means of accomodation.

How to get there :
By Air : Jaipur (145 kms.) is the nearest airport.
By Rail : The Park is around 11 kms. away from Sawai Madhopur railway station, that lies on the Delhi to Muimbai truck route.
By Road : A good network of buses connect Sawai Madhopur, the nearest town, with quite a few areas around.

Sariska is located at Kankwari fort, near Alwar, on the Delhi - Jaipur Highway. The terrain is predominantly hilly, as it lies in the Aravalli range. It has total area of 788 sq. kms., with a core area of approximately 474 sq. kms. The beautiful Siliserh Lake runs along the edge of the reserve, with a quaint hunting lodge overlooking it.

At last count in 1985, 35 tigers were reported. Other carnivores of the area are the panther, jungle cat, jackal and hyena. Three caracals were also reported during the last census in 1985. Other animals include the sambar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai and different species of porcupines.

The birdlife comprises the pea fowl, grey partridge, quail, sand grouse, tree pie, white breasted kingfisher, golden - backed woodpecker, crested serpent eagle and great Indian homed owl.

When to visit : October to June is the best time to visit the park.

Where to stay : Tiger Den (RTDC); Hotel Lake Palace RTDC). Sisilerh; Sariska Palace Hotel (Heritage Hotel); Forest Rest House.
How to get there : You can reach Jaipur by air which is 113 kms. from the sanctuary. Nearest town and rail link is at Alwar, which is 21 kms. from the park.

It is the only remaining habitat of the Asiatic lion, which has been confined to this forest since 1884 (around 300 lions were reported in 1995). The Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African cousin. Nevertheless, a large male lion of the Gir is quite a sight to behold.

The chinkara, wild boar, striped hyena, jackal, leopard, fox, musk shrew, India Pangolin, deer, common langur, porcupine, hare, black buck and crocodiles are the other animals that can be found in this sanctuary. There are over 200 bird species including the peafowl, grey partridge, Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, jungle bush quail, painted sandgrouse, common green pigeon and several species of doves.

When to visit : The parm remains closed during monsoons, from mid-June to mid-October. The ideal time to visit is between December and March.

Where to stay : Accommodation facilities in the park include Forest Bungalow of the Forest Department and The Gir Lodge of the Taj Group of Hotels.

How to get there :
Air : The nearest airports are Keshod (89 kms.) and Rajkot (160 kms.)
Rail : Sasan is the nearest railhead on the meter gauge line. However, the convenient railhead is Junagadh.
Road : The park is connected by road with Ahmedabad 408 kms., Junagadh 54 kms., Rajkot 160 kms., Somnath 48 kms. and Veraval 45 kms. State transport buses between Junagadh and Veraval operate via Sansangir.

Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary - home to several water - birds, the Little Rann of Kutch - home of the Indian wild ass, and the fascinating Flamingo Island, render the state of Gujarat a virtual haven for wildlife buffs.

There are more than 22 species of mammals and 200 species of birds. Some of the inhabitants of this park are the rhesus macaque, the black- faced langur, jungle cats, chinkara, black buck and the chital. The park attracts many migratory birds in the winter months that include the steppe eagle and a variety of waterbirds. Reptilian fauna includes cobra, krait, python, turtle and a variety of lizards.

When to visit : The ideal time to visit Bandhavgarh is the November to June period. The Park is closed during monsoons from July to October.

Where to stay : White Tiger Forest Lodge (MPSTDC), Forest Rest House, Bandhavgarh Wildlife Camp and Safari, Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, Tiger Trails, The Royal Retreat and the PWD Rest House are the available means of accommodation.

How to get there :
By Air : The most comfortablc route to Banilhavgarh is by air to Khajuraho (210 kms.), from where it is a 5 hour drive.
By Rail : The nearest railheads are Jabalpur (170 kms.), Katni (102 kms.), and Satna (112 kms.) on the Central Railway and Umaria (30 kms.) on the South Eastern Railway.
By Road : State/private transport buses ply between Katni and Umaria, and from Satna and Rewa to Tala (Bandhavgarh).

Kanha boasts of about 22 species of mammals. Some of the inhabitants of this park are the gaur, the sambar and the chausingha. Other frequent visitors include the Nilgai antelope, the sloth bear, the dhole or Indian wild dog and an occasional panther. Some 200 species of birds inhabit the park that include the cattle egret, black ibis, hawk eagle and the red-wattled lapwing.

The barasingha is undoubtedly the jewel of Kanha. But for all the astonishing diversity in its wildlife population, Kanha is best known as the habitat of the tiger.

When to visit : The park is closed from July 1 to October 31, because of the heavy monsoon. The ideal time to visit Kanha would be the period between February and June. A stay of at least 3 nights is recommended in order to get a really good sighting of Kanha's more elusive animals.

Where to stay : Royal Tiger Resort, Wild Chalet Resort, Kanha Safari Lodge, Baghira Log Huts, (MPSTDC), Tourist Hostel (MPSTDC) and Forest Rest Houses are the available means of accommodation.

How to get there :
Khatia (3 Kms. from Kisli) and Mukki are the two main entry points to the Park. The nearest town is Mandla (65 kms.).
By Air : Nearest airports are located at Jabalpur (170 kms.). Raipur (219 kms.) and Nagapur (270 kms.).
By Rail : The closest railheads are at Jabalpur and Bilaspur.
By Road : A daily bus service is available for Kisli and Mukki from Jabalpur, and back. It is advisable to reach Kisli before sunset, as vehicles are not allowed in the park after dark.

On the periphery of Rajgir is located Rajgir Sanctuary covering an area of 35.84 sq. kms., home of the barking deer, langur, giant squirrel, leopard and nilgai (blue bull). A visit to this sanctuary also gives a peep into the glory of historic Rajgir, the seat of Indian empire in 6th century B.C., closely associated with the life and teachings of Buddha and Mahavir Teerthankar. It is also an ideal health resort with a number of hot springs.

When to visit : October to June.
Where to stay : A large number of economy Hotels, rest houses and tourist bungalows.
How to get there : Patna the nearest airport is 102 kms. Rajgir is linked with the mainline of the Eastern railway from Bakhtiapur.

Home to many wild animals like the wild boar, sambar, nilgai, chital sloth bear, tiger and panther, this sanctuary lies in a low hilly terrain at an average altitude of 1800 ft. (615 metres).

When to visit : October to March

Where to stay : Tourist Lodge Hazaribagh Circuit House, Upkaar Hotel, Prince Hotel and Pagoda Hotel.

How to get there :
By Air : The nearest airport Ranchi) (91 kms.) is connected with Kolkata, Patna, Lucknow and Delhi.
By Rail : Koderma, 59 kms. away, is the nearest railway station.
By Road : Hazaribagh is well connected by road to Ranchi (91 kms.), Dhanbad (128 Kms). Regular bus service is also available.

The Palamau Tiger Reserve is spread over an area of 1026 sq. kms. Though the Koel river and its tributaries run through the reserve, the animals mostly depend on man-made water holes for their needs and as a result, they can be easily viewed. The leopard, tiger, elephant, Indian wolf, gaur, sambar, sloth bear and nilgai are some of the inhabitants of the reserve.

When to visit : October to March
Where to stay : The Tourist Lodge and Forest Rest Houses are available for accommodation. For reservations field director may be contacted.
How to get there : The nearest railhead is Daltonganj (25 kms.) and the nearest airport is at Ranchi (180 kms.)