Where The Wild Cats Live: Tigers In India’s National Parks

India’s national parks are known for their tigers. However, the chance of meeting a representative of the proud big cat is not the same in every area.

If you want to successfully go tiger stalking during your wildlife safari tour in India, you should consider the following tips when choosing your national park.

Number of tigers in the respective national parks: the chances are good in Bandhavgarh National Park, Pench National Park, Tadoba Andhari National Park, Ranthambore National Park and Kanha National Park.

Weather and season: Higher chance in Indian summer (April and May), as the drought draws the big cats to the watering holes

Time of day: The later the day, the less likely a tiger sight, because then the animals have killed their prey and are looking for a place to sleep.

The most beautiful national parks in India

In the north of India

  • Corbett National Park: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Asian elephant
  • Kaziranga National Park: Indian rhinos, elephants
  • Ranthambore National Park: Sambar and Axis deer, gazelles, freshwater crocodiles, black storks, leopards, striped hyenas, sloth bears, golden jackals, honey badgers, reed cats, small mongooses
  • Panna National Park: sambar deer, bears, monkeys, antelopes (small number of tigers)
  • Hemis National Park: snow leopards, wolf, brown bear, blue sheep

In central India

  • Gir National Park (west coast): Asiatic lion
  • Sundarbans National Park (east coast)
  • Kanha National Park: Bengal Tiger
  • Pench National Park: tiger, sika deer
  • Tadoba Andhari National Park: Indian leopard, sloth bear, wild buffalo, crocodile and over 280 species of birds
  • Bandhavgarh National Park: Bengal tiger, elephant

In the south of India

  • Periyar National Park: herds of elephants, bison, sambar deer

General information on India’s national parks

There are 93 official national parks in India. They are classified as Category 2 sites by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and are internationally recognized.

The national parks are administered at the state level. However, these meanwhiles recognize more than 100 areas in India as national parks, you can go on an Indian wild safari by booking the packages offered by Welgrow.

History and development of national parks in India

The first national park in India was the Hailey National Park, which was established in 1936 and is now called Corbett National Park. Initially, a few followed.

In 1970 there were only five national parks in all of India. As a result, numerous initiatives for nature and wildlife protection were launched from the beginning of the 1970s and environmental protection was massively expanded.

Particular attention was paid to the protection of the threatened Bengal tigers and for this purpose, numerous tiger reserves were set up all over India, and the best part is that you can book India luxury tour packages and visit these parks to make out the best of your trip.

As a result, there are around 550 game reserves and 446 nature reserves of category 4 according to IUCN standards in India today. In the long term, there are plans to expand existing protected areas and to set up new ones.

Area of ​​national parks in India

All in all, an area of ​​157,000 square kilometers is under protection throughout India. That corresponds to almost five percent of the area of ​​the whole country.

Around 40,000 square kilometers of this are national parks alone, which makes up a little more than one percent of the total area of ​​India.

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Safari In The Indian Jungle And The Opportunity To See A Bengal Tiger

India, although densely populated, hosts a biodiversity comparable to that of the African continent, which, however, is decidedly less “covered” by contemporary documentaries.

The tiger is a powerful, majestic and mysterious animal and one of the most fantastic creations of nature. Having seen him once in his natural habitat, you will never forget this indescribable moment.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of seeing this predator in the wild is extremely low, because since the beginning of the 20th century, the number of tigers in the world has dropped dramatically.

However, in recent years, thanks to efforts to conserve the population, the number of tigers has begun to increase, and India is one of the few countries in the world where they can be seen. There are reserves here that specialize in the conservation of these big cats, so you will have a unique opportunity to see them with your own eyes.

Below are some of the best Indian wild safari destinations to go:

Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

You can hardly find a place on the planet where it would be easier to see a tiger than in Bandhavgarh Park. It is one of the smallest Indian national parks, but it is also home to the largest population of tigers and is the home of the famous white tiger.

The national park is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, in the center of northern India. Here on the central plateau, at an altitude of 800 m above sea level, surrounded by rocky hills, monsoon and saline forests, are the ruins of the Bandhavgarh fort.

The number of tigers present in this park is 90. Leopards, Indian sambars and temple monkeys – langurs can also be seen in the park.

Kanha Tiger Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

It is one of the largest national parks in India and is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. This place served one time as the scenery for the filming of the famous “The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling.

In search of tigers, you will cross vast meadows, bamboo forests and streams. Along the way, you can see bison, hyenas, pythons and leopards, as well as barasingha, marsh deer, which are also found in abundance here.

The park is open from mid-October to the end of June. The best time for a safari is from October to April.

Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

In Ranthambore National Park, in addition to tigers, you can also see crocodiles, leopards, snakes, sloths and Indian honey badgers. This is one of the largest national parks in northern India, where you can watch Bengal tigers swim in lakes or bask in the sun on green fields.

This park was formed on the territory of a deciduous forest. In addition, here you can see both natural and man-made historical monuments, including the 213-meter high Ranthambore fort, in honor of which the park got its name.

Jim Corbett National Park

The park was opened in 1936 under the name Hailey National Park. Thus, Corbett is the oldest tiger park in the country.

There are fewer chances to see tigers than other parks, but you will have a rare opportunity to see elephants, as this is one of the few national parks in northern India that is considered their home.

Until now, you have only seen these fantastic animals on the screen or in the pages of books. But by contacting Welgrow for tiger safaris in India, you can see tigers in their natural habitat with your own eyes.

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