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 Park

Situated in Eastern Rajasthan, where the Aravali Hill ranges and the
Vindhyan plateau meet, the Ranthambhore National Park was once the
hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The rivers Chambal in the
South and Banas in the North bound the Ranthambore National Park.

Six man made lakes are the central focus of the park and many
perennial streams criss-cross the entire park. The Ranthambore National
Park has internal drainage and has no link up with any river system,
even though two rivers bound the Park in it’s north and south side.

Flora in Ranthambore National Park

The landscape is dotted with ancient Banyan Trees, Dhok & Pipal trees,
clusters of mango trees and 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 of
Savannah. The terrain of Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary fluctuates
between impregnable forests and open bush land. The forest is the
typically dry deciduous type, with Dhok, being the most prominent tree.

Major Wildlife Attractions - Ranthambore National

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

For the wildlife savvy, Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary today offers an intense diversity of flora
and fauna. Tigers, the park's pride makes it one of the best places in the country to observe
them. 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 Ranthambore

Ranthambore Fort & Jogi Mahal : With a coverage area of 392-sq-kms, this park got its
name from the Ranthambhore Fort, which sits on a rocky outcrop in the heart of the Park. The
fort, 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 the
forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The latter boasts of the second-largest
Banyan 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 - March
and April to June.

How to Get there

Air : Jaipur at 145-kms is the nearest airport from Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary.

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

Road : A good network of buses connect Sawai Madhopur, the nearest town from
Ranthambore 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 / Tips

Field Director, Ranthambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan
Note: 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 for
hired vehicle, guide and photo equipment are separate. These can be reserved at the Project
Tiger 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 Packages
Corbett Lodges & Resorts

About Corbett National Park

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas is the majestic Corbett National
Park. Home to a variety of flora and fauna, it is famous for its wild
population of Tigers, Leopards and Elephants. Corbett national park was
established in 1936, as the Hailey National Park. India's first national
park and the first sanctuary to come under Project Tiger, Corbett
supports a variety of vegetation making it the ideal habitat for the Tiger
and 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 this
area and contributed in setting up the this park. With the help of the
World Wildlife Fund, Project Tiger was launched in Corbett National Park
in 1973 and this park was one of the first such tiger reserves in the
country.

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 Jim
Corbett National Park are found 110 tree species, 50 mammals species, 580 bird species and
25 reptile species.

Major Wildlife Attractions - Corbett National Park

Corbett is a haven for Tigers 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. Some
nocturnal cats found here are the Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat and Fishing Cat. Sloth Bear is found
in 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 the
Jackal.

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 main
attractions 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 rocky
hillsides is the Ghoral or Goat Antelopes. The Langur and Rhesus Monkeys are well distributed
through 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 Corbett

Ramnagar : Situated in the rich farm belt of Terai, on the southeastern fringes of the great
forests, the busy market town of Ramnagar is the main administrative centre for Corbett
National Park and Project Tiger. Ramnagar makes a fishing base camp. At Lohachaur, 15-kms
north 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 Tiger
office in Ramnagar; most resorts also arrange all inclusive fishing trips.

Wildlife Viewing : Chital, Sambar, and various other Deer species find refuge in the
Savannah 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, rarely
penetrating far into the deep jungles beyond; try to convince your Mahout or Elephant driver to
venture in, as they can be quite magical. Come at dusk or dawn; in the heat of the day you
probably won’t come across much more than deer among the tall grass. Tiger-sightings are few
and 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 Corbett
national park, and can be rented for the park trips from Ramnagar, from the KMVN Tourist
Lodge and other travel agencies . One bus each day goes to Dikhala from Ramnagar, stopping
at the Forest Rest houses en route. Banking and other important tourist facilities are available at
Ramnagar and Lucknow.
Note : Bring binoculars, remain quiet, and don’t wear bright colours or strong perfumes.

Best Time to Visit - Jim Corbett National Park

The best visiting season of Corbett is from November 15 to June 15. Corbett remains closed
between June 16 and November 14, when the monsoons flood the river beds and cut the fragile
road links.

How to Get there

Air : Phoolbagh, Pantnagar at a distance of 50-kms is the nearest airport. Delhi at a distance of
300-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 be
availed 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 beyond
Muradabad to the left, marked by a small board. The route from Lucknow spans Bareilly–
Kichha–Rudrapur–Doraha–Kashipur. Ramnagar is served by frequent buses to and from
Nainital and Ranikhet, 112-kms north. Buses arrive every half hour or so after the eight hour trip
from Delhi; Delhi Transport corporation run a semi deluxe service, and most of the alternatives
are pretty basic.

General Info / Tips

Entry Inside The Corbett National Park : Visitors are advised to reach the gate half an hour in
advance to complete the formalities for entry into the park.

Tourist Information Centres : All visitors to Corbett National Park have to obtain permits
from the park administration centre at Ramnagar. The closest of the various gates into the
Corbett 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, provides
access 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 Park

Halfway down the Mysore-Ooty highway, the Deccan Plateau rises to meet
the wrinkled folds of the Western Ghat mountains. Here lies one of India's
best-known wildlife reserves - Bandipur National Park. It is situated within
Chamarajanagar district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, and abuts
the states of Tamil Nadu & Kerala. Endowed with a moderate climate and
diverse geographical features, the park supports a remarkable variety of flora
and fauna, making it a veritable paradise for wildlife.

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

Flora & Fauna in Bandipur National Park

The scrub jungles towards the eastern limits of the park consist of stunted trees, interspersed
with bushes and open grassy patches. Towards its northwestern fringes, there is a gradual shift
in the vegetation from open dry deciduous forests to tropical mixed deciduous forests. These
diverse 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. The
resident 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 large
numbers. 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 dryness
prevails over most parts of Bandipur, the backwaters of the Kabini Reservoir in the northwestern
portion of the park host huge congregations of large mammals, especially the elephant and the
gaur. This unique feature makes a breathtaking spectacle, and is almost the only one of its kind
in Asia.

Best Time to Visit Bandipur National Park

The ideal time to visit the Bandipur National Park is between the months of April and October.

How to Get there

Air : 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 : Mandla
Main Wildlife Found : Tigers, Leopards, Bears
Coverage Area : 1,940-sq-kms
Kanha Tour Packages
Kanha Lodges & Resorts

About Kanha National Park

How many of you have seen a tiger before? Most of the answers will be
ambiguous because everyone wants to see a tiger. Then where can one
spot 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 you
came across a Tiger roaming freely in the wilderness of its natural
habitat: the fields and forests of India. There are numerous Tiger
reserves in India, that are preserving this ferocious beast, but nowhere
can you see them as often, and as regularly as in Kanha National Park.

Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha national park

cum Tiger reserve extends over an area of over 1,940-sq-kms. The
major feature of this region's interesting topography is the horseshoe
shape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of the
Mekal. The Surpan River meanders through Kanha's central Maidans,
grasslands that cover the extensive plateau. Steep rocky escrapments
along the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley.

Flora & Fauna - Kanha National Park

The terrain inside the park is varied, nonetheless enjoyable. Bamboo
forests flow into Sal forests and meadows. There are herds of spotted
deer to be seen with smaller herds of beautiful Antelope, the Black Buck. With a little luck, you
could also spot the timorous Barking Deer. It's snapping warns other denizens of the forest that
a predator is around. There is also a very strong possibility that you will see the Rare
Barasingha, the Swamp Deer. Once there were only 66 of these in Kanha, but careful
conservation 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 are
titled in your favour. First time visitors are often so keen to spot the larger animals that they
overlook the smaller ones. There are 175 varieties of birds in Kanha. So if you happen to be bird
watcher, look forward to a full bird show. Most people are keener to meet Kanha's major
attraction, 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, a
Porcupine, many Gray Langurs, Mongoose, Hyena, Jungle Cat, even a Leopard. Other wild
attractions 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 Kanha

Elephant Safari : The animals at Kanha are best observed from the elephant back and the
open country makes the chance of sightings reasonably good.

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

Best Time to Visit

The 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 there

Air : Nagpur at 266-kms is the nearest Airport to visit Kanha National Park and is connected by
various 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 from
Jabalpur 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 made
through the Manager, MPSTDC, Log huts, Kisli. Wild Chalet Resorts at Village Mocha, Kanha
can 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 Packages
Sundarbans Lodges & Resorts

About Sundarbans National Park

The vast swampy delta of the two great Indian rivers, Brahamaputra and the
Ganges extends over areas comprising of mangrove forests, swamps and
forest island all interwoven in a network of small rivers and streams. The
Sundarbans National Park, home of the Royal Bengal Tiger, covering an area
of approximately 1330.10-sq-kms and the largest mangrove forest in the
world, form the core of this area. The Sundarban region has got its name
from Sundari trees, once found in abundance here.

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

Flora in Sundarbans National Park

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

Major Wildlife Attractions of Sundarbans

The Sundarbans forest is home to more than 400 tigers. The Bengal Tigers have adapted
themselves very well to the saline and aqua environs and are extremely good swimmers. As
you enter the adventurous wild land of the Sundarbans you'll be thrilled to see the Chital Dear
and 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 park
is also noted for its conservation of the Ridley Sea Turtle. There's is a incredible variety of
reptiles 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 the
Barkind Deer is found only in Holiday Island in Sunderbans.

Other Attractions In Sundarbans

The Sajnakhali Sanctuary :The Sajnakhali sanctuary, famous for its rich avian population, is
regarded as a part of the Sunderbans National Park. The kingdom of birds at Sajnekhati
enchants 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, Sandpipers
and occasional Pelican.

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

Bhagabatpur : Bhagabatpur is famous for having a hatchery of the

largest 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 to
Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Netidhopani through waterways. A small river Piyali flows through
the green paddy fields and mingles with river Matla. Picturesque Piyali delta makes an ideal
romantic holiday destination. A beautiful tourist complex with accommodation and recreation
facilities is also situated over here.

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

Best Time to Visit Sunderbans National Park

The ideal time to visit the Sundarbans national park is during the months of September and
May. Winter make the time to see the mighty Royal Bengal Tiger sun-bathing on the river
banks.

How to Get there

Air : 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 the
Sunderbans and have access to the riverine waterways leading to it.

Waterways : Sundarbans are accessible only by riverrine waterways. Motor launch facilitiy are
available from Namkhana - Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project- Sagar Island -Jambudwip; from
Sajnekhali - 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 in
1936. Once a popular hunting ground among the British, the park
was named in honor of the late Jim Corbett, a legendary hunter-
naturalist turned author and photographer who helped in
demarcating the park's boundaries.Today India has dozens of
national parks and hundreds of wildlife sanctuaries. The preserves
are committed to maintaining the delicate ecosystems necessary to
ensure the survival of both flora and fauna.

India's national parks teem with an astounding variety of animal and

plant life. Ranthambor encompasses nearly 152 square miles of dry
deciduous forest in southwestern Rajasthan, where the landscape is dotted with ancient banyan
trees, dhok and pipal trees, clusters of mango trees and and evergreens. The diversity of flora
there includes 300 trees and 50 aquatic plants.

As for fauna, India's parks play an enormously significant role in the protection of India's wild
animals, including its tiger population. The parks provide a safe haven for tigers, which outside
the 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 and
British colonists, but today an even greater threat is posed by the demand for tiger bones and
other body parts demanded by the practitioners of"traditional" medicine in certain regions of
Asia.

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's
greatest bird sanctuary can be found in Keoladeo Ghana National Park, more commonly known
by its old name, Bharatpur. Formerly the shooting preserve of the Maharaja of Bharatpur, where
in 1938 the Viceroy of India's party shot 4,273 birds in one day, today the park protects 3,000
species of bird.

Some of the rarest wildlife on the planet can be found in India's national parks, such as the
golden langur, the world's rarest monkey. Golden langurs can be found only in a small patch of
forest on the Manas River, which forms the border between the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in
Bhutan and the Manas National Park in India. Gir Forest holds the last surviving population of
Asiatic lion in the world, and Kaziranga National Park in Assam is home to a large population of
one-horned rhinoceroses and wild buffalo. For those eager to observe elephants, Bandipur, in
the 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 the
Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh, caves dug into the sandstone of an ancient fort have
inscriptions dating from the 1st century BC. Ranthambor derives its name from the fort of
Ranthambor, which sits on a rocky outcrop in the forest and dates to the 11th century, when it
was a vital citadel for the control of central India. Madhya Pradesh's forests were immortalized
by 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 of

168 square miles, this national park contains a wide variety of
habitats and high density of game, including a large number of
tigers. Over half the area is covered by sal forests and there are
stretches of bamboo and grassland. Within the park is the ancient
Bandhavgarh fort and caves, dug into the sandstone of the fort,
have inscriptions dating from the 1st century BC. In the recent
past, the fort was last occupied by the Maharaja of Rewa until it
was 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, sambar deer, chital (spotted) deer, jungle cat, striped hyena,
porcupine, ratel, rheses macaque, black-faced langur monkey and more. In March and April,
gaur (Indian bison), move down from the higher hills to the southeast of the park and make their
way to the central meadows. As this park is relatively new, there is still a good chance of adding
birds to the checklist of some 150 species already compiled.

Corbett National Park

Northeast of Delhi by 186 miles is Corbett National Park, situated

in the Himalayan foothills of Uttar Pradesh. 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 helped in demarcating the
park's boundaries. With the help of the World Wildlife Fund, Project
Tiger was launched in Corbett National Park in 1973 and this park
was 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 park
are 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 lesser
animals. Leopards are found in the hilly areas of the park but often do not cross paths with
tigers in their territories. Some nocturnal cats found here are the leopard cat, jungle cat and
fishing cat. Sloth bear is found in the lower regions of the park while the Himalayan black bear is
seen in the higher hills only. The dole (wild dog), though rare, can be seen in the southern areas
of the park along with the jackal. Some of the smaller residents of the park are Himalayan palm
civet, Indian gray mongoose, common otter, blacknaped hare and porcupine. Elephants (solitary
bulls 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 monkeys
are well distributed through out the park and also warn the jungle with alarm calls when they see
either 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 outside
Africa. The Gir is a mixed deciduous forest with teak, flame of the
forest, some acacia and banyan trees. It is a hilly tract with many rivers
and offers long pleasant drives of beauty. Since 1913 when the lion
population fell drastically to just 20 animals, the numbers have
increased to around 239 (1985 census). The Asiatic lion is slightly
smaller than its African cousin is and its mane is smaller. Other animals
in the park are leopard, sambar deer, chital spotted deer, nilgai
antelope, chowsingha four-horned antelope, chinkara gazelle, wild
boar, langur monkey, 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 birds
find 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. It
has an impressive assortment of land and arboreal birds, but the grand spectacle is provided by
the 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 is
one 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 partly
inundated by about 2 feet of water in the monsoon months (July-September). Once below sea
level, this area was raised by earth movements which cut it off from the Gulf of Kutch, and was
broken up by later earth movements into the flat saline areas (where people can be seen
making salt), and higher grounds with sandy, salt-free soil. The wild ass depends on the thorny
scrub of the higher ground area for its feed. Also found in this park are chinkara gazelle, nilgai
antelope, 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 astonishing
abundance of wildlife including large mammals such as tiger,
leopard, wild elephant, dhole (Indian wild dog), and gaur (Indian
bison). Other species present are chital spotted deer, muntjac
(barking deer), mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild boar, sloth
bear, hyena, mongoose, civet, otter, and more. The landscape is
one of gentle slopes and shallow valleys. Dry deciduous forest
trees are leafless in the summer rather than in the winter. There are
grassy swamps where the soil is clayey, perennially moist, and
which support a luxuriant growth of green grass all year. The
change in terrain throughout the park in refreshing and the river
system provides a unique wildlife viewing experience.

Ranthambor National Park

Ranthambor encompasses nearly 152 square miles of dry
deciduous forest in south western Rajasthan and, in the heart of
this forest, the Aravali and Vindhya ranges meet. The park derives
its name from the fort of Ranthambor which sits on a rocky outcrop
in the forest. The fort dates back to the 11th century when it was a
vital citadel for the control of central India. In 1981 Ranthambor
was awarded National Park status and though overrun by
vegetation, remnants of the summer palaces, temples and guard
stones within the fort still remain.

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

The landscape is dotted with ancient banyan trees, dhok & pipal trees, clusters of mango trees
and 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 of
savannah. For a relatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of fauna and flora - species
list 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, sambar deer, chital (spotted) deer, nilgai (blue
bull) antelope, wild boar, chinkara (Indian) gazelle, Indian hare, mongoose, common langur,
palm civet, palm squirrel, porcupine and monitor lizard.

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