indian national park

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Ranthambore National Park

Location : Near Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.

Nearest Access : Sawai Madhopur

Main Wildlife Found : Tigers, Leopards, Boars

Coverage Area : 392-sq-kms

Ranthambore Tour Packages

Ranthambore Lodges & Resorts

About Ranthambore National ParkSituated in Eastern Rajasthan, where the Aravali Hill ranges and theVindhyan plateau meet, the Ranthambhore National Park was once thehunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The rivers Chambal in theSouth and Banas in the North bound the Ranthambore National Park.

Six man made lakes are the central focus of the park and manyperennial streams criss-cross the entire park. The Ranthambore NationalPark has internal drainage and has no link up with any river system,

even though two rivers bound the Park in its north and south side.

Flora in Ranthambore National ParkThe landscape is dotted with ancient Banyan Trees, Dhok & Pipal trees,clusters of mango trees and crisscrossed with evergreen belts. Theterrain is made up of massive rock formations, steep scarps, perenniallakes and streams and forest suddenly opening up into large areas ofSavannah. The terrain of Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary fluctuatesbetween impregnable forests and open bush land. The forest is thetypically dry deciduous type, with Dhok, being the most prominent tree.

Major Wildlife Attractions - Ranthambore National

ParkRanthambore National Park is famous for its Tigers and is a favorite with photographers. For arelatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of fauna and flora - species list includes 300trees, 50 aquatic plants, 272 birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile & amphibians and30 mammals.

For the wildlife savvy, Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary today offers an intense diversity of floraand fauna. Tigers, the park's pride makes it one of the best places in the country to observethem. Apart from that a large numbers of Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Gazzelle, Boars, Mongoose,Indian Hare, Monitor Lizards and a large number of birds.

Other Attractions In RanthamboreRanthambore Fort & Jogi Mahal : With a coverage area of 392-sq-kms, this park got itsname from the Ranthambhore Fort, which sits on a rocky outcrop in the heart of the Park. Thefort, which dates back to the 10th century and is probably the oldest existing fort in Rajasthan,was a vital citadel for control of Central India and particularly the Malwa plateau.

The entry point to the Ranthambore National Park, goes straight to the foot of the fort and theforest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The latter boasts of the second-largestBanyan tree in India.

Best Time to Visit Ranthambore

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The best visiting season of Ranthambore national park is during the months of October - Marchand April to June.

How to Get thereAir : Jaipur at 145-kms is the nearest airport from Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary.

Rail : Ranthambore National Park is around 11-kms away from Sawai Madhopur railwaystation, that lies on the Delhi to Bombay trunk route.

Road : A good network of buses connect Sawai Madhopur, the nearest town fromRanthambore to all the major cities within the state of Rajasthan.

Park Visitation Timings"1. Between October To March: 6.00 am - 9.00 am & 3.00 pm - 6.00 pm""2 Between April To June: 6.30 am - to 9.30 am & 3.30 pm - 6.00 pm"

General Info / TipsField Director, Ranthambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur, RajasthanNote: Light cotton garments are recommended to visitors while visiting Ranthambore national

park during the hot summer months and woollens are suitable for the winters. Entry charges forhired vehicle, guide and photo equipment are separate. These can be reserved at the ProjectTiger office in Sawai Madhopur.

Corbett National Park

Location : Uttaranchal

Nearest Access : Ramnagar

Main Wildlife Found : Tigers, Leopards, Crocodiles

Coverage Area : 1,200-sq-kms.

Corbett Tour PackagesCorbett Lodges & Resorts

About Corbett National ParkLocated in the foothills of the Himalayas is the majestic Corbett NationalPark. Home to a variety of flora and fauna, it is famous for its wildpopulation ofTigers, Leopards and Elephants. Corbett national park wasestablished in 1936, as the Hailey National Park. India's first nationalpark and the first sanctuary to come under Project Tiger, Corbettsupports a variety of vegetation making it the ideal habitat for the Tigerand its prey.

Once a popular hunting ground of the British, this 201 square mile park

was named in honor of the late Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter-naturalist turned author and photographer who most of his years in thisarea and contributed in setting up the this park. With the help of theWorld Wildlife Fund, Project Tigerwas launched in Corbett National Parkin 1973 and this park was one of the first such tiger reserves in thecountry.

Flora In Jim Corbett Park

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The varied topography comprises hilly and riverine areas, temporary marshy depressions,plateaus and ravines. The lower areas are almost completely populated by Sal trees. In the JimCorbett National Park are found 110 tree species, 50 mammals species, 580 bird species and25 reptile species.

Major Wildlife Attractions - Corbett National ParkCorbett is a haven forTigers as well as its prey, which include four kinds of Deer, Wild Boar and

some lesser-known animals. Leopards are mostly found in the hilly areas of the park. Somenocturnal cats found here are the Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat and Fishing Cat. Sloth Bear is foundin the lower regions of the park while the Himalayan Black Bear is seen in the higher hills only.The Dole or Wild Dog, though they can be seen in the southern areas of the park along with theJackal.

Some of the smaller residents of the park are Himalayan Palm Civet, Indian Gray Mongoose,Common Otter, Blacknaped Hare and Porcupine. Elephants are among one of the mainattractions of Jim Corbett Park. Along the Ramganga River shores, one can spot the long-snouted, fish-eating Gharial Crocodile and the Mugger Crocodile. Also seen on the rockyhillsides is the Ghoral or Goat Antelopes. The Langur and Rhesus Monkeys are well distributedthrough out the park and warning the whole Jungle with alarm calls when they see either a Tiger

or Leopard from tree-top perches.

Other Attractions In CorbettRamnagar : Situated in the rich farm belt of Terai, on the southeastern fringes of the greatforests, the busy market town of Ramnagar is the main administrative centre for CorbettNational Park and Project Tiger. Ramnagar makes a fishing base camp. At Lohachaur, 15-kmsnorth along the River Kosi, good anglers are in with a chance of landing the legendary Mahseer,a redoubtable battling River Carp. Permits to have a go must be sought from the Project Tigeroffice in Ramnagar; most resorts also arrange all inclusive fishing trips.

Wildlife Viewing : Chital, Sambar, and various other Deer species find refuge in theSavannah grasslands known as the Maidan, behind the campsite to the south, and Tigers are

occasionally drawn in looking for prey. Two hour elephant rides, explore this sea of grass, rarelypenetrating far into the deep jungles beyond; try to convince your Mahout or Elephant driver toventure in, as they can be quite magical. Come at dusk or dawn; in the heat of the day youprobably wont come across much more than deer among the tall grass. Tiger-sightings are fewand far between, but you may be rewarded with fresh pug marks.

Jeep Safari in Corbett : Jeeps Safari, is the most convenient way to travel within Corbettnational park, and can be rented for the park trips from Ramnagar, from the KMVN TouristLodge and other travel agencies . One bus each day goes to Dikhala from Ramnagar, stoppingat the Forest Rest houses en route. Banking and other important tourist facilities are available atRamnagar and Lucknow.Note : Bring binoculars, remain quiet, and dont wear bright colours or strong perfumes.

Best Time to Visit - Jim Corbett National ParkThe best visiting season of Corbett is from November 15 to June 15. Corbett remains closedbetween June 16 and November 14, when the monsoons flood the river beds and cut the fragileroad links.

How to Get thereAir : Phoolbagh, Pantnagar at a distance of 50-kms is the nearest airport. Delhi at a distance of300-kms is the nearest international airport.

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Rail : Ramnagar is on the broad gauge track from where the road transport options have to beavailed to reach the park. For faster trains and connections to other parts change at Moradabad.

Road : Dhikala is 300-kms from Delhi, 145-kms from Lucknow and 51-kms from Ramnagar.The route from Delhi spans Hapur-Murababad-Ramnagar. The turn off is some 7-kms beyondMuradabad to the left, marked by a small board. The route from Lucknow spans BareillyKichhaRudrapurDorahaKashipur. Ramnagar is served by frequent buses to and fromNainital and Ranikhet, 112-kms north. Buses arrive every half hour or so after the eight hour tripfrom Delhi; Delhi Transport corporation run a semi deluxe service, and most of the alternativesare pretty basic.

General Info / TipsEntry Inside The Corbett National Park : Visitors are advised to reach the gate half an hour inadvance to complete the formalities for entry into the park.

Tourist Information Centres : All visitors to Corbett National Park have to obtain permitsfrom the park administration centre at Ramnagar. The closest of the various gates into theCorbett national park, 1-m from central Ramnagar, is on the road to Bijrani camp, 11-km away,a base for day trips. Dhangarhi Gate, 18-kms along the highway north to Ranikhet, providesaccess to the northern and north western portion of the Jim Corbett Park along the Ramnagar

River valley, and to the main camp of Dhikala.

Bandipur National Park

Location : Karnataka

Nearest Access : Mysore & Ooty (80-kms)

Main Wildlife Found : Asian Elephants and Gaurs

Coverage Area : 874.20-sq-kms

Bandipur Tour Packages

About Bandipur National ParkHalfway down the Mysore-Ooty highway, the Deccan Plateau rises to meetthe wrinkled folds of the Western Ghat mountains. Here lies one of India'sbest-known wildlife reserves - Bandipur National Park. It is situated withinChamarajanagar district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, and abutsthe states of Tamil Nadu & Kerala. Endowed with a moderate climate anddiverse geographical features, the park supports a remarkable variety of floraand fauna, making it a veritable paradise for wildlife.

In 1973, Bandipur became one of the first of India's Tiger Reserves and thesouthernmost of the nine reserves specially established under Project Tiger.In 1974, intention was declared under the Wildlife Protection Act to notify it asa National Park.

Flora & Fauna in Bandipur National ParkThe scrub jungles towards the eastern limits of the park consist of stunted trees, interspersedwith bushes and open grassy patches. Towards its northwestern fringes, there is a gradual shiftin the vegetation from open dry deciduous forests to tropical mixed deciduous forests. Thesediverse habitats support an enormous diversity of animal life.

With the onset of pre-monsoon showers in April, Bandipur begins to unfold in all its glory. Theresident birds commence their breeding activities. The air is filled with their melodious calls.Sprouting grass in the meadows and view lines attract elephants and the majestic gaur in largenumbers. For the tourist who comes to watch the larger mammals in their natural surroundings,

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Bandipur is a paradise from April to October. Even before this, during summer, when drynessprevails over most parts of Bandipur, the backwaters of the Kabini Reservoir in the northwesternportion of the park host huge congregations of large mammals, especially the elephant and thegaur. This unique feature makes a breathtaking spectacle, and is almost the only one of its kindin Asia.

Best Time to Visit Bandipur National ParkThe ideal time to visit the Bandipur National Park is between the months of April and October.

How to Get thereAir : The nearest airport is at Bangalore which is 220 km from Bandipur.

Rail : Mysore is nearest railhead, at a distance of 80-kms.

Road : 220 km from Bangalore; 80 km from Mysore; 80 km from Ooty.

Kanha National Park

Location : Mandla District, Madhya Pradesh

Nearest Access : MandlaMain Wildlife Found : Tigers, Leopards, Bears

Coverage Area : 1,940-sq-kms

Kanha Tour PackagesKanha Lodges & Resorts

About Kanha National ParkHow many of you have seen a tiger before? Most of the answers will beambiguous because everyone wants to see a tiger. Then where can onespot a tiger? Well, even if there are circuses and zoo's all over India,there's some kind of a thrill you experiences when all of a sudden youcame across a Tigerroaming freely in the wilderness of its naturalhabitat: the fields and forests of India. There are numerous Tigerreserves in India, that are preserving this ferocious beast, but nowherecan you see them as often, and as regularly as in Kanha National Park.

Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha national parkcum Tiger reserve extends over an area of over 1,940-sq-kms. Themajor feature of this region's interesting topography is the horseshoeshape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of theMekal. The Surpan River meanders through Kanha's central Maidans,grasslands that cover the extensive plateau. Steep rocky escrapmentsalong the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley.

Flora & Fauna - Kanha National ParkThe terrain inside the park is varied, nonetheless enjoyable. Bambooforests flow into Sal forests and meadows. There are herds of spotteddeer to be seen with smaller herds of beautiful Antelope, the Black Buck. With a little luck, youcould also spot the timorous Barking Deer. It's snapping warns other denizens of the forest thata predator is around. There is also a very strong possibility that you will see the RareBarasingha, the Swamp Deer. Once there were only 66 of these in Kanha, but carefulconservation and management raised their population to over 400.

Major Wildlife Attractions Of Kanha

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Spotting wild animals is always a matter of luck but Kanha is so rich in wildlife that the odds aretitled in your favour. First time visitors are often so keen to spot the larger animals that theyoverlook the smaller ones. There are 175 varieties of birds in Kanha. So if you happen to be birdwatcher, look forward to a full bird show. Most people are keener to meet Kanha's majorattraction, the Tiger; still one has to be patient to spot one.

But while on a mission to find a tiger, one can easily catch glimpses of all the grazers, aPorcupine, many Gray Langurs, Mongoose, Hyena, Jungle Cat, even a Leopard. Other wildattractions in this Tiger country include varieties of Deer - the Barasingha, Chital or Spotted

Deer, Chousingha, Nilgai, as well as the majestic Gaur or Indian Bison and wild Pig.

Other Attractions In KanhaElephant Safari : The animals at Kanha are best observed from the elephant back and theopen country makes the chance of sightings reasonably good.

Kanha Museum : There is a museum at Kanha national park, depicting attributes andactivities of the park and the tribal culture of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Best Time to VisitThe visiting season to Kanha national park is within the months of April to

June and November to January. The park is closed from July to Mid-November that is during the monsoon season.

How to Get thereAir : Nagpur at 266-kms is the nearest Airport to visit Kanha National Park and is connected byvarious domestic airline services with Mumbai.

Rail : Jabalpur at 169-kms is the convenient rail head to visit Kanha.

Road : Kanha National Park is connected by road with Jabalpur 175-kms, Khajuraho 445-kms,Nagpur 266-kms, Mukki 25-kms, Raipur 219-kms. Within the park: Koshi - Kanha (9-kms), Kishi

- Katia (4-kms), Kishi - Mukki (32-kms). There are regular to and fro bus service available fromJabalpur to Kanha.

Local Transport : The Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC)operates a Jeep Service for visitors to go around in the park. Advance bookings can be madethrough the Manager, MPSTDC, Log huts, Kisli. Wild Chalet Resorts at Village Mocha, Kanhacan also arrange for local sightseeing.

Sundarbans National Park

Location : Piyali, West Bengal

Nearest Access : Gosaba (50-kms)

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Main Wildlife Found : Bengal Tiger, Ridley Sea Turtle

Coverage Area : 1330.10-sq-kms

Sundarbans Tour PackagesSundarbans Lodges & Resorts

About Sundarbans National ParkThe vast swampy delta of the two great Indian rivers, Brahamaputra and theGanges extends over areas comprising of mangrove forests, swamps and

forest island all interwoven in a network of small rivers and streams. TheSundarbans National Park, home of the Royal Bengal Tiger, covering an areaof approximately 1330.10-sq-kms and the largest mangrove forest in theworld, form the core of this area. The Sundarban region has got its namefrom Sundari trees, once found in abundance here.

The Ganges and the Brahmaputra form this alluvial archipelago of 54 islandswatered by the Bay of Bengal. The islands Goasaba, Sandeshkali andBasanti form the northern boundary of the Sundarbans; on the south is thesea; to the west side of the Sunderbans park is the Matla and Bidya Riversand to the east is the international boundary of Bangladesh.

Flora in Sundarbans National ParkFascinating life forms await you in this largest estuarine delta in the world, Sunderbans. In Apriland May the flaming red leaves of the Genwa, edge the emerald islands. The crab like redflowers of the Kankara and the yellow blooms of Khalsi add to the dazzling display. As youpenetrate into the forests of Sundarbans, this fairyland unfolds its mysterious beauty.

Major Wildlife Attractions of SundarbansThe Sundarbans forest is home to more than 400 tigers. The Bengal Tigers have adaptedthemselves very well to the saline and aqua environs and are extremely good swimmers. Asyou enter the adventurous wild land of the Sundarbans you'll be thrilled to see the Chital Dearand Rhesus Monkey. The aqua fauna of Sundarbans include variety of fishes, red Fiddler Crabs

and Hermit Crabs.

There are crocodiles, which can be often seen along the mud banks. Sundarbans national parkis also noted for its conservation of the Ridley Sea Turtle. There's is a incredible variety ofreptiles also found in Sundarbans, which includes King Cobra, Rock Python and Water Monitor.The endangered river Terrapin, Batagur Baska is found on the Mechua Beach, while theBarkind Deer is found only in Holiday Island in Sunderbans.

Other Attractions In SundarbansThe Sajnakhali Sanctuary :The Sajnakhali sanctuary, famous for its rich avian population, isregarded as a part of the Sunderbans National Park. The kingdom of birds at Sajnekhatienchants your eyes. The most sought after sights by a bird watcher are seven colourful species

of Kingfisher, white bellied Sea Eagle, Plovers, Lap-Wings, Curfews, Whimbrels, Sandpipersand occasional Pelican.

Netidhopani : At Netidhopani, the ruins of a 400 year old temple and legends lend mystery tothe atmosphere.

Bhagabatpur : Bhagabatpur is famous for having a hatchery of thelargest estuarine crocodiles in the world.

Kanak : Kanak is the nesting place of the Olive Ridley Turtles.

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Haliday Island : Haliday island is famous as last retrest of Barking Dear in India.

Piyali : Piyali is the gatway to Sundarbans, 72-kms from Kolkatta by road and close toSajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Netidhopani through waterways. A small river Piyali flows throughthe green paddy fields and mingles with river Matla. Picturesque Piyali delta makes an idealromantic holiday destination. A beautiful tourist complex with accommodation and recreationfacilities is also situated over here.

Kaikhali :On your way to Sundarbans you cannot afford to miss Kaikhali Island, where nature is so aliveand so colourful. An ideal picnic spot.

Best Time to Visit Sunderbans National ParkThe ideal time to visit the Sundarbans national park is during the months of September andMay. Winter make the time to see the mighty Royal Bengal Tigersun-bathing on the riverbanks.

How to Get thereAir : The nearest airport is Kolkatta, at 112-kms.

Rail : Canning is nearest railhead, at a distance of 48-kms.

Road : Road transportation is available from Kolkatta for Namkhana (105-kms), Sonakhali(100-kms), Raidighi (76-kms), Canning (64-kms), and Najat (92-kms), which are all near theSunderbans and have access to the riverine waterways leading to it.

Waterways : Sundarbans are accessible only by riverrine waterways. Motor launch facilitiy areavailable from Namkhana - Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project- Sagar Island -Jambudwip; fromSajnekhali - Sudhanyakhali-Buridabri- Netidhopan-Holiday Island; from Sonakhali - Gosaba;from Raidighi - Kalas.

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India's National Parks

India's first wildlife park, Jim Corbett National Park, was formed in1936. Once a popular hunting ground among the British, the parkwas named in honor of the late Jim Corbett, a legendary hunter-naturalist turned author and photographer who helped indemarcating the park's boundaries.Today India has dozens ofnational parks and hundreds of wildlife sanctuaries. The preserves

are committed to maintaining the delicate ecosystems necessary toensure the survival of both flora and fauna.

India's national parks teem with an astounding variety of animal andplant life. Ranthambor encompasses nearly 152 square miles of drydeciduous forest in southwestern Rajasthan, where the landscape is dotted with ancient banyantrees, dhok and pipal trees, clusters of mango trees and and evergreens. The diversity of florathere includes 300 trees and 50 aquatic plants.

As for fauna, India's parks play an enormously significant role in the protection of India's wildanimals, including its tiger population. The parks provide a safe haven for tigers, which outsidethe parks are forced to compete with about 100 million humans who make their livelihood from

India's forests. Indian tigers were once threatened by the shooting safaris of the Maharajas andBritish colonists, but today an even greater threat is posed by the demand for tiger bones andother body parts demanded by the practitioners of"traditional" medicine in certain regions ofAsia.

India's parks protect other species of wildlife, too. For example, Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat,situated in the Thar Desert, is a sanctuary for the last population of Indian wild ass, and India'sgreatest bird sanctuary can be found in Keoladeo Ghana National Park, more commonly knownby its old name, Bharatpur. Formerly the shooting preserve of the Maharaja of Bharatpur, wherein 1938 the Viceroy of India's party shot 4,273 birds in one day, today the park protects 3,000species of bird.

Some of the rarest wildlife on the planet can be found in India's national parks, such as thegolden langur, the world's rarest monkey. Golden langurs can be found only in a small patch offorest on the Manas River, which forms the border between the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary inBhutan and the Manas National Park in India. Gir Forest holds the last surviving population ofAsiatic lion in the world, and Kaziranga National Park in Assam is home to a large population ofone-horned rhinoceroses and wild buffalo. For those eager to observe elephants, Bandipur, inthe shadow of the Western Ghats, is one of the finest habitats of the Asian elephant.

The parks also are rich in history. For example, at Bandhavgarh National Park, set among theVindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh, caves dug into the sandstone of an ancient fort haveinscriptions dating from the 1st century BC. Ranthambor derives its name from the fort ofRanthambor, which sits on a rocky outcrop in the forest and dates to the 11th century, when itwas a vital citadel for the control of central India. Madhya Pradesh's forests were immortalizedby Rudyard Kipling in his Jungle Books.

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Bandhavgarh and Corbett

Bandhavgarh National Park

Set among the Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of168 square miles, this national park contains a wide variety ofhabitats and high density of game, including a large number oftigers. Over half the area is covered by sal forests and there arestretches of bamboo and grassland. Within the park is the ancientBandhavgarh fort and caves, dug into the sandstone of the fort,have inscriptions dating from the 1st century BC. In the recentpast, the fort was last occupied by the Maharaja of Rewa until itwas designated as a National Park in 1968. In addition to tigers, also seen are chousingha(small four horned) antelope, chinkara (Indian) gazelle, nilgai(blue bull) antelope, wild boar,

jackal, muntjak(barking) deer, sambardeer, chital(spotted) deer, jungle cat, striped hyena,porcupine, ratel, rheses macaque, black-faced langurmonkey and more. In March and April,gaur(Indian bison), move down from the higher hills to the southeast of the park and make theirway to the central meadows. As this park is relatively new, there is still a good chance of addingbirds to the checklist of some 150 species already compiled.

Corbett National Park

Northeast of Delhi by 186 miles is Corbett National Park, situatedin the Himalayan foothills of Uttar Pradesh. Once a popular huntingground of the British, this 201 square mile park was named inhonor of the late Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter-naturalistturned author and photographer who helped in demarcating thepark's boundaries. With the help of the World Wildlife Fund, ProjectTiger was launched in Corbett National Park in 1973 and this parkwas one of the first such tiger reserves in the country.

The varied topography comprises hilly and riverine areas, temporary marshy depressions,plateaus and ravines. The lower areas are almost completely populated by sal trees. In the parkare found 110 tree species, 50 mammals species, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species.

Corbett is a haven for tigers with its plentiful prey - four kinds of deer, wild boar and lesseranimals. Leopards are found in the hilly areas of the park but often do not cross paths withtigers in their territories. Some nocturnal cats found here are the leopard cat, jungle cat andfishing cat. Sloth bear is found in the lower regions of the park while the Himalayan black bear isseen in the higher hills only. The dole (wild dog), though rare, can be seen in the southern areasof the park along with the jackal. Some of the smaller residents of the park are Himalayan palmcivet, Indian gray mongoose, common otter, blacknaped hare and porcupine. Elephants (solitarybulls and breeding herds) are one of the main attractions of Corbett. Along the Ramganga River

shores, one can spot the long-snouted, fish-eating gharial crocodile and the mugger crocodile.Also seen on the rocky hillsides is the ghoral(goat-antelopes). The langur and rhesus monkeysare well distributed through out the park and also warn the jungle with alarm calls when they seeeither a tiger or leopard from tree-top perches.

Gir Forest and Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur)

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Gir Forest National Park

In the southwest of the peninsular state of Gujarat, lies the 116 square-mile sanctuary created to protect the last wild population of lion outsideAfrica. The Gir is a mixed deciduous forest with teak, flame of theforest, some acacia and banyan trees. It is a hilly tract with many riversand offers long pleasant drives of beauty. Since 1913 when the lionpopulation fell drastically to just 20 animals, the numbers have

increased to around 239 (1985 census). The Asiatic lion is slightlysmaller than its African cousin is and its mane is smaller. Other animalsin the park are leopard, sambardeer, chitalspotted deer, nilgaiantelope, chowsingha four-horned antelope, chinkara gazelle, wildboar, langurmonkey, jackal, and hyena.

Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur) National Park

While many of India's parks have been developed from the hunting preserves of princely India,Keoladeo Ghana was created by a maharaja. By diverting water from a nearby irrigation canal,a fabulous ecosystem which sustains a wealth of birdlife was created. Over 350 species of birdsfind refuge in Bharatpur's 11 square miles of shallow lakes and woodland. It is considered to be

unique in the total number of bird species as well as the quantity of birdlife which it harbors. Ithas an impressive assortment of land and arboreal birds, but the grand spectacle is provided bythe aquatic species. For example, there are four species of cormorants, eight species of egrets,three ibises, 17 species of duck and geese, and two species of crane. The Siberian Crane isone of the rarest species in the world, and Bharatpur is its only known wintering ground in India.

Little Rann of Kutch and Nagarhole

Little Rann of Kutch

Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat situated in the Thar Desert was established in January 1972 as a

sanctuary for the last population of Indian wild ass (khar). This extraordinary area gets partlyinundated by about 2 feet of water in the monsoon months (July-September). Once below sealevel, this area was raised by earth movements which cut it off from the Gulf of Kutch, and wasbroken up by later earth movements into the flat saline areas (where people can be seenmaking salt), and higher grounds with sandy, salt-free soil. The wild ass depends on the thornyscrub of the higher ground area for its feed. Also found in this park are chinkara gazelle, nilgaiantelope, wolf, blackbuck antelope, hyena, desert fox, jackal, desert cat, and caracal.

Nagarhole National Park

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This 247 square-mile park in Karnataka has an astonishingabundance of wildlife including large mammals such as tiger,leopard, wild elephant, dhole (Indian wild dog), and gaur(Indianbison). Other species present are chitalspotted deer, muntjac(barking deer), mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild boar, slothbear, hyena, mongoose, civet, otter, and more. The landscape isone of gentle slopes and shallow valleys. Dry deciduous foresttrees are leafless in the summer rather than in the winter. There aregrassy swamps where the soil is clayey, perennially moist, and

which support a luxuriant growth of green grass all year. Thechange in terrain throughout the park in refreshing and the riversystem provides a unique wildlife viewing experience.

Ranthambor National Park

Ranthambor encompasses nearly 152 square miles of drydeciduous forest in south western Rajasthan and, in the heart ofthis forest, the Aravali and Vindhya ranges meet. The park derivesits name from the fort of Ranthambor which sits on a rocky outcropin the forest. The fort dates back to the 11th century when it was a

vital citadel for the control of central India. In 1981 Ranthamborwas awarded National Park status and though overrun byvegetation, remnants of the summer palaces, temples and guardstones within the fort still remain.

Ranthambor is famous for its tigers and is a favorite with photographers. With strict tigerpreservation measures, tigers have become more active during the day and can beencountered by visitors in broad daylight. Sighting a tiger can never be a sure shot, but hereone comes as close to it as is possible.

The landscape is dotted with ancient banyan trees, dhok&pipaltrees, clusters of mango treesand crisscrossed with evergreen belts. The terrain is made up of massive rock formations, steep

scarps, perennial lakes and streams and forest suddenly opening up into large areas ofsavannah. For a relatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of fauna and flora - specieslist includes 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, 272 birds, 12 reptiles (including the marsh crocodile) &amphibians and 30 mammals.

Other than the tiger, other predators found in Ranthambor are leopard, striped hyena, jackal,caracal and jungle cat. Also seen are sloth bear, sambardeer, chital(spotted) deer, nilgai(bluebull) antelope, wild boar, chinkara (Indian) gazelle, Indian hare, mongoose, common langur,palm civet, palm squirrel, porcupine and monitor lizard.

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