In India, there are 106 National parks present. In this article, we will explore the top 10 national parks in India that are must-visit national parks in India for all nature enthusiasts.
List of Top 10 National Parks in India
1. Kaziranga National Park
| Location | Assam, India |
| History | Established as a reserve forest in 1905 and declared a national park in 1974 |
| Flora | Tall elephant grass, dense tropical moist deciduous forests, and semi-evergreen forests |
| Fauna | Indian rhinoceros, Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | Kohora, Bagori, and Agaratoli |
| Total zones | 5 zones: Kohora, Bagori, Agaratoli, Burapahar, and Panbari |
| Nearest airport | Jorhat Airport (83 km) |
| Nearest railway station | Furkating Junction (75 km) |
| Best time to visit | November to April |
2. Corbett National Park
| Location | Uttarakhand, India |
| History | Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, later renamed as Corbett National Park |
| Flora | Sal forest, mixed deciduous forest, and tropical dry forest |
| Fauna | Bengal tiger, Indian elephant, Himalayan black bear, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | Jhirna, Bijrani, Dhikala, Durgadevi, and Sonanandi (Sitabani) |
| Total zones | 6 zones: Dhikala, Jhirna, Bijrani, Sonanadi, Durgadevi and Corbett Landscape (buffer zone) |
| Nearest airport | Pantnagar Airport (82 km) |
| Nearest railway station | Ramnagar Railway Station (15 km) |
| Best time to visit | Mid-November to Mid-June (Closed from July to Mid-November due to monsoon) |
3. Ranthambore National Park
| Location | Rajasthan, India |
| History | Established as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 and declared a national park in 1980 |
| Flora | Dry deciduous forest with dhok, mango, and banyan trees |
| Fauna | Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, nilgai, wild boar, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | There are 3 main gates: 1) Main gate near Sawai Madhopur town, 2) Khutwara gate, and 3) Sultanpur |
| Total zones | 10 zones: 1-5 are core zones, 6-10 are buffer zones |
| Nearest airport | Jaipur International Airport (180 km) |
| Nearest railway station | Sawai Madhopur Railway Station |
| Best time to visit | October to June (Closed from July to September due to monsoon) |
4. Sundarbans National Park
| Location | West Bengal, India |
| History | Declared a national park in 1984 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 |
| Flora | Mangrove forest with sundari trees, golpata, and other species of mangroves |
| Fauna | Bengal tiger, Indian crocodile, saltwater crocodile, Indian python, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | There are 3 main entry points: 1) Sudhanyakhali, 2) Sajnekhali, and 3) Dobanki |
| Total zones | The park is divided into two wildlife sanctuaries: Sundarbans East and Sundarbans West |
| Nearest airport | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata (112 km) |
| Nearest railway station | Canning Railway Station (48 km) |
| Best time to visit | September to March (Closed from June to September due to monsoon) |
5. Gir Wildlife Sanctuary
| Location | Gujarat, India |
| History | Established in 1965 as a wildlife sanctuary and declared a national park in 1975 |
| Flora | Dry deciduous forest with teak, flame of the forest, and many other species |
| Fauna | Asiatic lion, Indian leopard, Indian elephant, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | There is only one main gate: Sasan Gir |
| Total zones | The park is divided into two zones: 1) Gir National Park and 2) Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Nearest airport | Diu Airport (110 km) |
| Nearest railway station | Junagadh Railway Station (80 km) |
| Best time to visit | December to March (Closed from June to October due to monsoon) |
6. Periyar National Park
| Location | Kerala, India |
| History | Established in 1950 as Nellikkampatty Wildlife Sanctuary, declared a national park in 1982 |
| Flora | Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests with teak, rosewood, and many other species |
| Fauna | Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, Indian bison, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | There is only one main gate: Thekkady |
| Total zones | The park is divided into two zones: 1) Core zone and 2) Buffer zone |
| Nearest airport | Madurai International Airport (140 km) |
| Nearest railway station | Kottayam Railway Station (114 km) |
| Best time to visit | October to June (Closed from July to September due to monsoon) |
7. Kanha National Park
| Location | Madhya Pradesh, India |
| History | Established in 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary and declared a national park in 1974 |
| Flora | Sal and mixed forests with bamboo, jamun, and many other species |
| Fauna | Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, barasingha, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | There are three main gates: 1) Khatia, 2) Mukki, and 3) Sarhi |
| Total zones | The park is divided into four zones: 1) Kanha, 2) Kisli, 3) Mukki, and 4) Sarhi |
| Nearest airport | Jabalpur Airport (170 km) |
| Nearest railway station | Jabalpur Railway Station (169 km) |
| Best time to visit | October to June (Closed from July to September due to monsoon) |
8. Pench National Park
| Location | Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, India |
| History | Established in 1975 as a wildlife sanctuary and declared a national park in 1992 |
| Flora | Teak and mixed forests with bamboo, mahua, and many other species |
| Fauna | Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian bison, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | There are two main gates: 1) Turia and 2) Karmajhiri |
| Total zones | The park is divided into six zones: 1) Turia, 2) Karmajhiri, 3) Wolf Sanctuary, and 4) three buffer zones |
| Nearest airport | Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur (93 km) |
| Nearest railway station | Nagpur Railway Station (88 km) |
| Best time to visit | October to June (Closed from July to September due to monsoon) |
9. Bandhavgarh National Park
| Location | Madhya Pradesh, India |
| History | Established in 1968 as a wildlife sanctuary and declared a national park in 1993 |
| Flora | Sal and mixed forests with bamboo, dhok, and many other species |
| Fauna | Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | There are three main gates: 1) Tala, 2) Magdhi, and 3) Khitauli |
| Total zones | The park is divided into four zones: 1) Tala, 2) Magdhi, 3) Khitauli, and 4) Panpatha |
| Nearest airport | Jabalpur Airport (200 km) |
| Nearest railway station | Umaria Railway Station (35 km) |
| Best time to visit | October to June (Closed from July to September due to monsoon) |
10. Hemis National Park
| Location | Ladakh, India |
| History | Established in 1981 as a national park |
| Flora | Alpine and subalpine forests with juniper, birch, and rhododendron, among others |
| Fauna | Snow leopard, Himalayan blue sheep, Eurasian brown bear, and many bird species |
| Main gate zones | There is no formal main gate, but entry is typically through the town of Leh |
| Total zones | The park is not divided into formal zones |
| Nearest airport | Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh (approx. 5 km) |
| Nearest railway station | The nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi Railway Station, Jammu (approx. 700 km) |
| Best time to visit | May to September (Closed from November to April due to heavy snowfall) |
Faqs
How many national park in India?
Ans: 106
Which national park is most visited in India?
Ans: Jim Corbett National Park
Which is the best jungle safari in India?
- Ranthambore National Park.
- Hemis National Park.
- Jim Corbett.
- Bandhavgarh National Park.