10 Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks of India

Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary

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Located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir,The Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1910. The sanctuary is located in the western Himalayas and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna with grasslands, pastures, meadows with rocky cliffs and rocky outcrops. Leopard, Musk Deer, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Brown Bear and Otter etc. are few of the many species that are found here.

Jim Corbett National Park

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Located in the Nainital District of Uttrakhand, Jim Corbett National Park was established in 1936. The national park is located amidst a mixed terrain of deciduous forests and mountainous pine forests. As a result Jim Corbett National park is one of the most biologically diverse zones in India. Corbett National Park is a home to the Bengal tiger, Leopard, Leopard cat, Elephants, Sambhar Deer and Golden Jackal etc.

 Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary

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The protected forest area in West Bengal was declared a National Park in 1984 and is a rich biosphere reserve and the part of the Sunderbans situated at the Ganges Delta. The Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary is a home to a wide variety of flora and fauna species. These include Tiger, Leopard cat, Fishing Cats and over 70 different species of endemic birds.

 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

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Located in Assam, the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1985 and is located in the foothills of the Himalayas. The sanctuary is a home to a plethora of rare and endangered species of animals like Tiger, Asian elephants, Golden Cat, Leopards, Clouded Leopard, Slow Loris and Chital etc.

Kaziranga National Park

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Known for the largest population of the Indian one-horned Rhinoceros and Tigers in the world, the Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam. The forests are spread across an area of 430 Square kilometers and are home to species like Tigers, Rhinoceros, Elephant, and the Asian water buffalo, Swamp Deer, Monitor Lizard and Spectacled Cobra etc.

Ranthambore National Park

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Considered to be one of the best spots to view the Bengal Tiger, Ranthambore National Park is located in Rajasthan and lies between the confluence of the Banas and the Chambal River. The protected forests are also famous for their large banyan trees and is enshrines a Medieval fort. Tiger, Hyena, Sloth Bear and Chital etc. are some of the rare species found here.

Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary

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Formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the Avifauna sanctuary is located in Rajasthan. The Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary was created around 250 years ago and was named after a Shiva temple located within the forest by the Rajput King Maharaja Suraj Mal. Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary was announced as a bird sanctuary in 1971 and is famous for housing over 230 species of birds.

Sasan Gir National Park

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The Sasan Gir National Park is located in Gujarat and is famous for its thriving population of the Asiatic Lion. Due to its diverse eco system and geography, Gir Forest National Park is home to a large variety of species of flora and fauna. The rare species of animals found here are Asiatic Lions, Leopards, Sloth Bears, Jungle Cats, Spectacled Cobra and several rare species of birds are also found here.

Kanha National Park

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Spread across a massive 940 sq kilometers, Kanha National Park is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. The park is characterized by grassy meadows and open bamboo forests. The rare animal species found in the park are Tigers, Leopards, Wild dogs, Jackals and Sloth bear etc. The park is also famous as being the original source of Rudyard Kipling imagination while writing the Jungle Book although the story was actually set in the Pench National Park in India. The Kanha National Park was established in 1955 and is visited by thousands of tourists each year.

Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary

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Located by the Periyar River in Kerala, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1928 and is spread across 305 square Kilometers. Being located between the mountain ridges the protected area is famous for its population of the Indian Tiger and the Asiatic Elephants. The rare species found here are the Tiger, Elephant, Travancore flying squirrel, Fruit bat, Giant squirrel, Wild pig and lion-tailed macaque etc.