The 9 Best National Parks in India

Also known as Corbett Tiger Reserve, Jim Corbett National Park was the first Indian national park to be established. Located in Uttarakhand at the foothills of the Himalayas between Rishikesh and the Kumaon region, this remote wildlife haven has benefited from years of conservation, resulting in a thriving population of tigers, leopards, sambar deer, elephants, jackals and many other species.

Set in the northeastern state of Assam, Kaziranga National Park is best known for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses. By helping to save this species from extinction, Kaziranga has come to symbolise the power of wildlife protection and habitat management. The park is also home to Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, water buffalo, river dolphins and hundreds of bird species.

Head to western India’s Kathiawar Peninsula to visit Gir National Park. It’s the only place on earth where you can see wild Asiatic lions, which tend to be smaller and have shorter manes than their African counterparts. Along with the hundreds of lions that inhabit the park, you might also spot striped hyenas, gazelles, leopards and smaller animals like honey badgers, pangolins and porcupines.

Ranthambore might just be the best national park for tigers in India; it’s certainly among the most renowned. The several dozen Bengal tigers that live here can be seen wandering through the park’s picturesque ruins, including Ranthambore Fort and the remains of ancient temples. Stay in one of the luxurious tents at SUJÁN Sher Bagh, which directly supports the park’s conservation work.

Kanha National Park – also known as Kanha Tiger Reserve – is the largest national park in central India, located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Its wooded landscapes provide habitats for not only tigers but also sloth bears, antelope, Indian wolves and plenty of other mammals. One highlight is the barasingha, a type of swamp deer that can only be seen in the wild within this particular park.

Along with Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most well-known places to see Bengal tigers in India. In fact, it has one of the highest densities of this species anywhere in the world. These felines roam the park’s grasslands and forests alongside wild dogs, sloth bears, bison and antelope species like the nilgai and chousingha. We suggest staying in one of Mahua Kothi’s cosy kutiyas (traditional cottages) nearby.

The state of West Bengal is in eastern India, close to the border with Bangladesh. It’s here that you’ll find Sundarbans National Park, which is part of the world’s largest mangrove forest (the Sundarbans). Like many of India’s national parks, it’s also one of the 58 designated tiger reserves across the country and the only mangrove forest on earth that’s home to these majestic mammals.

Located northeast of Rishikesh near Tibet, Nanda Devi National Park is a land of lofty peaks and steep slopes. Its eponymous mountain is more than 25,600 feet (7,800 metres) tall, and it’s known for the seven glaciers – collectively called the Nanda Devi Group – that feed rivers throughout Uttarakhand. Notable wildlife here includes snow leopards, langurs and Himalayan species such as black bears, brown bears and musk deer.

Ladakh is among our favourite places in India for remote outdoor adventures, and Hemis National Park is an essential destination in this far northern region. It’s the country’s largest national park and a prime place to spot snow leopards and blue sheep. The fascinating Shakti Ladakh Village Experience includes a visit to Hemis Monastery, set approximately 12,000 feet (3,600 metres) above sea level.