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Top 10 National Parks in India

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?

  1. Ranthambore National Park.
  2. Hemis National Park.
  3. Jim Corbett.
  4. Bandhavgarh National Park.