India ~Wildlife Parks that should be on your must visit list

Do you want to go on a wildlife junket? Kanha, Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh and Gir – you’ve seen them all. Now, it’s time for some bird watching and hippo spotting. This is a list of some of the lesser visited wildlife parks where the birds and animals roam - parks that should be on your must visit list.
Have a wild time!


Keoladeo Ghana Park
Do you want to wake up to the sweet chirping of birds? Keolodeo Ghana Park in Rajasthan is the place to be if you are a bird watcher. Come November and the migratory birds fly in from the north, from as far away as Siberia to escape the cold. The park was originally the duck hunting grounds of the former maharajas, but today is home to tens of thousands of migratory birds. Look out for the well known Siberian Crane, Babblers, Red Kite, Cinereous vulture and Lapwing among others. Birdwatchers will be treated to a visual delight!

Getting there: Many trains run on this route with the Bharatpur Junction station being the stop for Bharatpur. If you would like to drive, Bharatpur is just 184 kms away from Delhi.

Mudumalai National Park
The Mudumalai National Park borders Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. At this park there is a great variety of fauna and flora with tropical green forests in one corner and dry deciduous in the other. Take a safari at Mudumalai and you can be sure of spotting sambhar, chitals, wild boars, primates and elephants. And if you are lucky you may even get a glimpse of that elusive tiger!

Getting there: If you are coming in by train, Mettupalayam is 46 kms from Mudumalai. Coimbatore is 160 km away and one can easily hire a taxi to take you to the sanctuary.

Pench National Park
A two hour drive away from Nagpur, the Pench National Park was the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. Stretching over 758 sq kms of enchanting teak forests and grasslands where bisons or Gaurs roam free. This is definitely the place to see Jungle Book come alive and you may even get a glimpse of Shere Khan the tiger!

Getting there: Nagpur is the nearest rail station as well as airport. There are plenty of taxis and private cars available here to Pench, 92 kms away.

Periyar Tiger Reserve
The Periyar Tiger Reserve or Thekkady as it is also known is in Kerala. A tiger reserve, it is also known the large herds of Indian elephants that inhabit the area around the Periyar River. Take out your camera and get some shots of elephants on camera or maybe even the rare lion tailed macaque. Go on a Periyar river cruise safari and get a different perspective of the animals from the confines of a boat.

Getting there: Madurai is the closest airport and lies 140 kms away. Kottayam 110kms away from Periyar is on major train routes. Thekkady is 200 kms from Kochi, and there are regular buses and private taxis that ply to Periyar.

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve
The Sunderbans Tiger Reserve is the kingdom of Royal Bengal Tigers and a UNESCO World Heritage Site spreading over a massive land mass of 4264 sq kms. The mangroves and swamps are the home of these striped beasts that can sometimes be seen languishing in the estuarine mangroves, taking shelter from the searing sun. Also get to see snakes crocodiles and fishing cats, all looking forward to preying on tiny marine species.
The Sunderbans are home to rare varieties of flora and fauna and is surely a must visit park if you are looking for a unique experience!

Getting there: The closest airport is in Kolkata 112 kms from Sunderbans - one can take a private taxi from there to reach Sundarbans. Port Canning is the closest railhead some 44 kms away from Sundarbans. Trains from Sealdah station run on this route.

Simlipal National Park
Situated in Orissa, Simlipal National Park, is a sanctuary and part of the Project Tiger Reserve. The waterfalls and dense foliage are home to tigers and other wildlife: elephants, deer, leopards, gaur bison, sloth bears, reptiles, langurs, crocodiles and more than 200 species of bird life. The best waterfalls are the Barehipani waterfall with a 400 feet drop, and the Joranda waterfall, with a shorter drop of 150-metres. If you’re lucky you just might spot a tiger wandering about. What you’re more likely to see are elephants, monkeys, deer and birds.

Getting there: Balasore is 76 kms away and the nearest railhead. There are many trains from Kolkata and Bhubaneswar that run on this route.