Don't let the multitudes of terrains in India confuse you. Much like the myriad of mountains and deserts, the country is also famous for its rich biodiversity and vast natural resources. Not to mention how there are exquisite species of flora and fauna. There are a number of wildlife sanctuaries in India that are worth visiting and that are home to a lot of different species of animals. Be it Asiatic lions or Tibetan antelopes of red pandas, India is home to a variety of animal life. In fact, every state in the country has at least one wildlife sanctuary that sees quite a lot of tourists. While all of them might not be too popular, they are certainly worth a visit. Here are some of the best wildlife sanctuaries in India.
The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka is in Chikmagalur and one of the top wildlife sanctuaries in India that you must visit. It is a great spot for adventure lovers and wildlife photographers to head to. The sanctuary is home to Indian rock pythons, King cobra, leopards, tigers, boars, porcupines, and many other animals. It is open for 2 hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, so make sure you plan your trip well.
The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is quite popular in Maharashtra and is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India. It houses many herbivorous and carnivorous animals like Bengal tigers, leopards, striped hyenas, jungle cats, sloth bears and so on. It also has rare plant species like axle-wood, which is fire-resistant.
The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala shares its borders with Tamil Nadu, close to Anamalai Hills. Not just animals but the forest space here also has a lot of medicinal herbs and exotic plants. It is a great spot to go on a wildlife safari or a trek or a hike. Make sure you also visit the Thoovanam Waterfalls located centrally here.
A unique wildlife preserve in the Andaman Islands is the Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary, founded in 1985. It was originally developed to protect elephants but is now home to several other species of animals like spotted deer, monitor lizards, wild pigs and three-striped palm squirrels. It is also a great spot to go birdwatching.
One of the most unique wildlife sanctuaries in India, the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat is dedicated to flamingos. You will also come across spiny-tailed lizards and Indian porcupines here, but it is the flamingos that make this place popular.
Oh, how fulfilling it is to head to the mountains and explore wildlife! One of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in India, the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary provides shelter to the rare breed of Tibetan antelope, also called Chiru. You'll also find many wild yaks, snow leopards, red fox, wolves and otters here, among other animals.
Another wildlife sanctuary worth visiting in Gujarat is the Indian Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary. It was established in 1973 and has been working hard to preserve and protect the wild ass population, which is endangered now.
The Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh is an ideal place for nature lovers. You can have a close and personal encounter with the wild, of course, under supervision. The sanctuary is also popular among botanists and wildlife biologists who conduct research on different species here quite frequently.
The Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, also called the Srivilliputhur Sanctuary is in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It is home to a plethora of animals and birds. Not to mention, the Andipatti Hill that acts as a backdrop to the sanctuary only makes it more Instagram-worthy.
Situated in Satara district of Maharashtra, the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is home to King Cobras, Royal Bengal Tigers and a lot of other birds. It is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in the state and has also been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.
The Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary gets its name from Tamor Hill and Pingla Nalla in Chhattisgarh. It is famous for housing the endangered chinkara, barking deer, sambar deer, leopards, elephants and a lot of other animals.
The Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the oldest sanctuaries in India and also houses around 350 different species of flowers apart from trees and animals. You'll also find hornbills and emerald cuckoos here.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in India. It gets its name from the Periyar lake that flows through it. A wildlife safari through the sanctuary is enough to make your day absolutely wonderful.
Established in 1955, the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand is every nature lover's dream to visit. The Har Ki Dun trek is also one of the four reasons why this place is quite popular.
The Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India. Not only is a famous picnic spot but also an ideal location for your picture-perfect frame!
The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary gets its name from the Manas River that flows nearby. It has also been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. While it houses many different species of animals and birds, it also offers activities like river rafting, jeep safari, elephant safari and so on.
The Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, and it puts in extra efforts to preserve and protect cheetahs from going into extinction. Rivers Ganga and Narmada are the main sources of water here.
The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary was earlier called the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. You'll find a lot of Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, White-bellied woodpecker and other exotic species here.
The Landfall Island Wildlife Sanctuary in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is home to many aquatic animals like the Hawksbill turtle, Green sea turtle, Andaman drongo, Andaman crake and so on.
One of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in India, the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful place to visit in Telangana. It's a sight for sore eyes, and you'll certainly be a rage on social media!
Every nature and wildlife lover makes it a point to visit wildlife sanctuaries, no matter what the destination of the trip is. Make the most of your trip and explore as much as you can. It’s the only way to make your trip memorable.
