The
total area of India's protected wilderness is approximately
140,000sq km and constitutes 4 percent of the country's total
land area. The emphasis has not only been on protecting wildlife
in reserved forests, but in areas where man and animal continue
to live in harmony.
The country's protected wilderness consists of 75 National
Parks and 421 Sanctuaries, of which 19 fall under the purview
of Project Tiger.
Its climatic and geographic diversity makes it the home of
over 350 mammals and 1,200 bird species, many of which are unique
to the subcontinent. The land of the tiger and the elephant,
the peacock and the rhinoceros, India's wildlife is a delight
for the nature lover. The wildlife parks and sanctuaries spread
across the country offer a fascinating diversity of terrain,
flora and fauna.
Corbett: The Wild Land Of Himalayas
Located in the Patlidun Valley at the base of the Himalayas
in Uttar Pradesh, Corbett was established in 1936 in area of
520 sq. kms. , as the Hailey National Park. India's first national
park and the first sanctuary to come under project Tiger, Corbett
supports a variety of vegetation making it the ideal habitat
for the tiger and its prey. The prominent fauna: tiger, leopard,
elephant, sloth bear, jungle cat, fishing cat, dhole, yellow-throated
marten, Himalayan palm civet.
Reach -
By Air: nearest airport is Delhi
By Rail: nearest railhead is Ramnagar
By Road: Ramnagar 5 kms. Delhi
275 kms.
Kanha: The Density Of Fauna
No
other wildlife reserve in India offers the density of fauna,
found at Kanha in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Often called
Tiger Land. Kanha is located in a horse – shoe shaped valley
bound by two distinct spurs, and supports 22 species of mammals
in the central parkland and the adjoining plateaus. Over the
years, animals at Kanha have become bolder and more confident,
making the park excellent for wildlife viewing and photography
of tiger, leopard, barasingha, gaur, sambhar, chausingha, nilgai,
barking deer, black buck, red jungle fowl.
Reach -
By Air: nearest airport is Nagpur.
By Rail: nearest railhead is Jabalpur
160 kms.
By Road: Mandla 65 kms. Nagpur
266 kms.
Bandhavgarh: Recalling The Past
Located in the Vindhya Hills, Bandhavgarh encompasses hills
covered with a mixed forest of sal, dhobin and saga and large
stretches of grassland with bamboo groves. Dominated by a large
fort said to have been built by Lord Rama, the hero of the Indian
epic Ramayana, Bandhavgarh is famous for its tigers. jungle
cat, hyena.
Reach -
By Air: nearest airport is Khajuraho.
By Rail: nearest railhead is Umaria.
By Road: Umaria 35 kms. Khajuraho
210 kms.
Sariska: The Home Of Tigers
The landscape of Sariska is dominated by sharp cliffs of hills
and narrow valleys of the Aravali. The forests are dry deciduous.
Within the sanctuary there are the ruins of medieval buildings.
The ruins of temples of Garh- Rajor of the 10th centuries are
scattered in the jungle. A 17th century castle on a sharp hilltop
at Kankwari, provides a panoramic view of flying Egyptian vultures
and eagles.
Reach -
By Air: nearest airport is Jaipur.
By Rail: nearest railhead is Alwar.
By Road: Alwar 37 kms, Delhi 200
kms and Jaipur 107 kms.
Ranthambhor: Gateway To The Tigers Den
Experience of royal past and encounter with majestic tiger.
The great Ranthambhor Fort perched atop a creek 200 mts. high.
Ranthambhor is said to have India's friendliest tigers. Assured
of protection, they have changed their nocturnal habits and
are seen quite frequently during the day. Sprawled over the
Aravali and Vindhya mountain ranges. A system of three artificial
lakes enhances beauty of the park.
Reach -
By Air: nearest airport is Jaipur
132 kms.
By Rail: nearest railhead is Sawai
Madhopur.
By Road: nearest town is Sawai
Madhopur 14 kms.
Keoladeo: Exotic Migratory of Birds Sanctuary
The
first wildlife park on the Golden Triangle of tourism is Keoladeo,
55km from the Agra. The rich aquatic plant and animal life in
the shallow, fresh-water marsh of Bharatpur has been attracting
resident and migratory aquatic birds in thousands since Times
immemorial. It has a recorded history of 100 years of duck shoots.
There are over 353 species, belonging to 56 families. The Siberian
Cranes visit no other waters in India, except the marshes of
Keoladeo. For the number and variety of birds to be seen, Keoladeo
is matchless.
Reach -
By Air: nearest airports are Agra
& Jaipur.
By Rail: nearest railhead is Bharatpur
3 kms.
By Road: Agra 55kms, Delhi 212
kms.
Periyar: Most Picturesque Reserve
Periyar is one of India's most picturesque reserves. A dam
constructed on the periyar river led to the submersion of a
large forest area and the formation of a 55 sq. kms lake, which
assured the local wildlife a perennial source of water and led
to its rapid growth. The home of elephant, tiger, mouse deer,
wild dog porcupine, lion tailed macaque, flying squirrel.
Reach -
By Air: nearest airport is Kochi
By Rail: nearest railhead is Kottayam
114 kms.
By Road: Kumily 4 kms. Kochi 200
kms.
Bandipur: Evergreen Open Forest
Part of the lushly-forested Deccan Plateau, Bandipur in Karnataka,
offers a rich and varied wildlife habitat. Covered with a mix
of deciduous forests, evergreen forests and scrub well irrigated
by the Moyar river, the prominent fauna: Asian elephant, wild
pig, four-horned antelope, black-naped hare. Bandipur has a
fairly open forest floor, making it easy for visitors to spot
wildlife.
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport is Bangalore.
By Rail: nearest railhead is Nanjangud.
By Road: Bangalore 60 kms, Gundulpet
20 kms, Nanjangud 55 kms.
Gir: The Wild Palace Of The King
The last surviving population of the Asiatic lion can be seen
at the Gir National park. Located in the Saurashtra peninsula
in Gujarat .Gir is composed of terrain with steep rocky hills,
deep ravines and occasional stretches of grasslands. Irrigated
by many rivers, the park supports a mixed semi-arid deciduous
forest.
Reach -
By Air: nearest airport is Keshod.
By Rail: nearest railhead is Sasan.
By Road: Veraval 42 kms, Keshod
80 kms.
Manas: Blend Of Flora & Fauna
The Manas river divides the lush mixed deciduous forests that
run through India to Bhutan. On both sides, the habitat is zealously
protected as it houses no less than 20 species of birds and
animals that are highly endangered and listed in the IUCN Red
Data Book 'Manas' is also the primary habitat of the rare golden
langur, wild buffalo, hispid hare, pigmy hog, capped langur,
India one-horned rhinoceros, water buffalo, elephant, tiger
and hog deer.
Reach -
By Air: By Air - nearest airport
is Guwahati.
By Rail: nearest railhead is Barpeta
Road.
By Road: nearest town is Barpeta
Road 41 kms, Guwahati 186 kms.
How to plan your tours:
Explore India, we offer tours packages and holidays guide to
all tourist destinations of India. For more tour options mail
us at info@easytravelindia.com
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