1. Corbett National Park
India's first national park, Corbett was established in 1936 by
legendary tiger hunter Jim Corbett. It's located in Uttarakhand, around
three hours from Nainital and seven hours from Delhi. The park is a
large one and has five zones. One zone, Jhirna, is open all year round.
The rest of the park closes during the monsoon. The chances of seeing a
tiger at Corbett aren't great but there are plenty of other animals, and
elephant safaris are possible. For the best wildlife viewing, stay deep
in the reserve in the Dhikala zone. However, if you're a foreigner be
prepared to pay at least double the rates for accommodation, with the
cheapest rates around 3,000 rupees a night for a private cabin at a
forest rest house. It is costly!
2. Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park, in Madhya Pradesh, has the honor of providing the setting for Rudyard Kipling's classic novel, The Jungle Book.
It's rich in lush saal and bamboo forests, lakes, streams and open
grasslands. This large park is well regarded for its research and
conservation programs, and many endangered species have been saved
there. As well as tigers, the park abounds with barasingha (swamp deer) and an extensive variety of other animals and birds.
3. Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh, also in Madhya Pradesh, is best known for its spectacular
setting, as well as having the highest concentration of tigers in any
park in India. The park features dense green valleys and rocky hill
terrain, with an ancient fort built on 800 meter (2,624 ft) high cliffs.
Although it's relatively difficult to reach, this park offers the best
chance of seeing tigers. Elephants are also available for tiger tracking
and safaris.
4. Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore is a fascinating blend of history and nature. Inside the
park is a formidable fort that was built in the 10th century and coveted
by many rulers due to its strategic position between north and central
India. The park itself is characterized by rocky plains and steep
cliffs. It supports a diverse range of flora and fauna, including around
30 tigers. This park is very popular due to its proximity to Delhi and
the fact that tigers are relatively easy to spot here.
5. Sunderbans National Park
Sunderbans is a magnificent tangle of mangrove jungle that's the only
one of its kind in the world. It's spread over 54 islands and extends
into neighboring Bangladesh. The Sundarbans is only accessible by boat
and exploring it this way is a thrilling experience that shouldn't be
missed. Don't be hopeful of seeing any tigers though. They're very shy
and usually remain well hidden in the reserve.
0 comments:
Post a Comment