How many national parks are there in India?

I am going India purely to see the nature parks and wildlife there. At the moment I just have the flight booked and not yet decided on where exactly I would be traveling in India.

I have joined the forum to find out how many national parks are there in India and where they are in India? I would be able to determine from this where I need to travel and can plan an itinerary.

 

Hello there, welcome to the forum!

A national park aims to protect and conserve the habitats of a variety of wild animals. Thus, a national park is also home to different species of wild animals. A national park is a reserve, sometimes of a natural, semi-natural or developed habitat of animals. As a consequence, activities like poaching, hunting and illegal logging are not allowed inside the premises of a national park.

In India, as of October 2016, there are about 103 national parks, spread amongst its different states. The first ever national park established in the country was the Jim Corbett National Park, which was then known as the Hailey National Park. Fast forward to today, the country has done well to preserve many of its natural environments like forests, rivers and lakes which are enclosed in their numerous national parks.

Perhaps the most well-known specie that that the country has saved from extinction is the royal Bengal tigers. For the past few years, the numbers of the tigers have increased, quite surprising as for the last 100 years, their numbers have dwindled to a few hundreds. Other animals that can be frequently seen in the national parks of the country are leopards, lions, blackbucks, peacocks and rhesus macaques.

Here are the national parks located within each state:

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands (9) - Campbell Bay National Park, Galathea National Park, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Middle Button Island National Park, Mount Harriett National Park, North Button Island National Park, Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, Saddle Peak National Park and South Button Island National Park.

• Andhra Pradesh (3) - Papikonda National Park, Rajiv Gandhi National Park and Sri Venkateswara National Park.

• Arunachal Pradesh (2) - Mouling National Park and Naldapha National Park.

• Assam (5) - Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park and Orang National Park.

• Bihar (1) - Valmiki National Park.

• Chhattishgarh (3) - Indravati National Park, Kangerghati National Park and Sanjay National Park.

• Goa (1) - Mollem National Park.

• Gujarat (4) - Bansda National Park, Gir National Park, Marine National Park and Blackbuck National Park.

• Haryana (2) - Kalesar National Park and Sultanpur National Park.

• Himachal Pradesh (5) - Great Himalayan National Park, Inderkilla National Park, Khirganga National Park, Pin Valley National Park and Simbalbara National Park.

• Jammu & Kashmir (4) - Salim Ali National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park and Kistwar National Park.

• Jharkhand (1) - Betla National Park.

• Karnataka (5) - Anshi National Park, Bandipur National Park, Bannerghatta National Park, Kudremukh National Park and Nagarhole National Park.

• Kerala (6) - Anamudi National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Periyar National Park and Silent Valley National Park.

• Madhya Pradesh (9) - Bandhavgarh National Park, Fossil National Park, Kanha National Park, Madhav National Park, Panna National Park, Pench National Park, Sanjay National Park, Satpura National Park and Van Vihar National Park.

• Maharashtra (6) - Chandoli National Park, Gugamal National Park, Nawegaon National Park, Pench National Park, Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tadoba National Park.

• Manipur (1) - Keibul-Lamjao National Park.

• Meghalaya (2) - Balphakram National Park and Nokrek National Park.

• Mizoram (2) - Murlen National Park and Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park.

• Nagaland (1) - Intanki National Park.

• Orissa (2) - Bhitarkanika National Park and Simlipal National Park.

• Rajasthan (5) - Darrah National Park, Desert National Park, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Ranthambore National Park and Sariska National Park.

• Sikkim (1) - Khangchendzonga National Park.

• Tamil Nadu (5) - Guindy National Park, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Indira Gandhi National Park, Mudumalai National Park and Mukurthi National Park.

• Telangana (3) - Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park, Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park and Mrugavani National Park.

• Tripura (2) - Clouded Leopard National Park and Rajbari National Park.

• Uttarakhand (6) - Corbett National Park, Gangotri National Park, Govind National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park.

• Uttar Pradesh (1) - Dudhwa National Park.

• West Bengal (6) - Buxa National Park, Gurumara National Park, Jaldapara National Park, Neora Valley National Park, Singhalila National Park and Sunderbans National Park.

So these are all the national parks in India. As you can see, they are spread over the different states. Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of national parks so if your aim is to visit many of these, you can try this state. Some of the most popular national parks are that of Jim Corbett, Ranthambore, Gir, Kaziranga and Bandhavgarh.

I hope this helps you!

 

India boasts a rich diversity of wildlife and natural landscapes, and it's home to numerous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Here's a list of some of the prominent national parks in India, along with their locations:

1. Jim Corbett National Park: Located in Uttarakhand, it's one of India's oldest and most famous national parks, known for its Bengal tigers and diverse flora and fauna.
   
   
2. Kaziranga National Park: Situated in Assam, it's renowned for its population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
   
   
3. Ranthambore National Park: Located in Rajasthan, it's known for its population of Bengal tigers and the historic Ranthambore Fort.
   
   
4. Bandipur National Park: Situated in Karnataka, it's part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is home to tigers, elephants, and a variety of bird species.
   
   
5. Sundarbans National Park: Located in West Bengal, it's famous for its unique mangrove ecosystem and the Bengal tiger.
   
   
6. Gir Forest National Park: Situated in Gujarat, it's the only place in the world where you can find Asiatic lions in the wild.
   
   
7. Periyar National Park: Located in Kerala, it's known for its scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and Periyar Lake.
   
   
8. Kanha National Park: Situated in Madhya Pradesh, it's one of the largest national parks in India and is known for its population of tigers, leopards, and barasingha.
   
   
9. Manas National Park: Located in Assam, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a wide range of wildlife, including the Indian rhinoceros.
   
   
10. Hemis National Park: Situated in Ladakh, it's known for its high-altitude environment and the elusive snow leopard.
    
    
11. Sariska Tiger Reserve: Located in Rajasthan, it's known for its population of Bengal tigers and the Sariska Palace.
    
    
12. Dudhwa National Park: Situated in Uttar Pradesh, it's known for its diverse flora and fauna, including tigers, leopards, and Indian rhinoceros.
    
    
13. Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve: Located in Maharashtra, it's one of the best places to spot tigers in the wild.
    
    
14. Valley of Flowers National Park: Situated in Uttarakhand, it's known for its stunning alpine meadows and diverse plant and animal species.
    
    
15. Pench Tiger Reserve: Located in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, it's named after the Pench River and is known for its tiger population.
    
    
16. Great Himalayan National Park: Situated in Himachal Pradesh, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and known for its pristine beauty and diverse wildlife.
    

These are just a few of the many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India. Depending on your interests and the type of wildlife you want to see, you can choose your destinations accordingly. Each park offers a unique experience, and India's natural beauty is sure to captivate you as you explore its wilderness.