Wildlife Sanctuaries in India: Top 10 Nature Escapes

Need a break from city chaos and want to see nature at its wildest? India is a land full of natural beauty, from dense rainforests where sunlight barely touches the ground to marshy wetlands teeming with life. The country hosts one of the richest floras and faunas in the world. There are more than 100 national parks and 550+ wildlife sanctuaries in India, making it a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.

If you're an animal lover, watching them live their life casually, basking in the sun, playing with water, or simply spending time with their families fills your heart with a different kind of joy. The more you watch them, the longer you want to keep watching. Here's a list of wildlife sanctuaries in India that you can explore on your vacations.

Top 10 Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

This blog covers some of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in India for a much-needed getaway from your monotonous life. With the number of wildlife sanctuaries in India crossing 550, picking the right ones can be overwhelming. These handpicked sanctuaries offer the perfect escape, whether you're a nature lover, wildlife enthusiast, or just looking for a fun trip with friends and family.

1. Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest wildlife sanctuary in India. It was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, making it the first wildlife sanctuary in India. The park has more than 600 species of birds and is famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger, elephants, deer, and more. Along with wildlife safaris, there are many places to visit in Jim Corbett National Park, including forest zones, riverbanks, and scenic viewpoints. Situated at the foothills of the Himalayas, it offers fresh air, gentle sunlight, and beautiful natural views. It is one of the most visited wildlife sanctuaries in India. 

• Best Time to Visit: November to January

• Location: Ramnagar, Nainital, Uttarakhand

• Nearest Railway Station: Ramnagar Railway Station ( 12 km)

• Nearest Airport: Pantnagar Airport (80 km from the park)

• Famous For: Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, Bird Watching

• Safari Timings: 6 am - 9:30 am and 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm

• Nearby attractions: Corbett Falls, Kosi River, Hanuman Dham, Corbett Museum, etc

2. Kaziranga National Park

Located in Assam, the Kaziranga National Park is home to two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceros. It was established in the year 1908, to protect the one-horned rhinoceros, the park today hosts elephants, water buffaloes, swamp deer etc,.  Over the years, the tiger population has also increased. As a result, the park was declared a tiger wildlife sanctuary in India in 2006. One of the best ways to explore the area is by doing a jeep safari in Kaziranga National Park, where you can spot wildlife up close across its grasslands and forest zones. The park is also famous for the vegetation of Apple trees, cotton trees, the Indian Gooseberry, and many other aquatic species. The park remains closed from May to 31st October due to annual floods from the Brahmaputra. 

• Best Time to Visit: November to February

• Location: Within Golaghat and Nagaon districts, Assam

• Nearest Railway Station: Furkating Junction (FKG)

• Nearest Airport: Rowriah Airport in Jorhat (96km)

• Famous For:  One-horned rhinoceros, Tigers, Elephants, Water Buffaloes, etc

• Safari Timings: NA

• Nearby Attractions: Tea estates, Kakochang Waterfalls, Kaziranga Orchid & Biodiversity Park 

3. Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is one of the top 10 wildlife sanctuaries in India. Located in Rajasthan, the park is a famous tiger reserve in the country. It is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, black bucks, spotted deers etc. What makes this park special is not only that it is world famous for its tigers, but also that some of the tigers here are world famous. Here, each tiger has a story of bravery. This uniqueness attracts tiger lovers from all over the world. One of the best things to do in Ranthambore National Park is to go on a day safari, where you can often spot tigers in their natural habitat.

• Best Time to Visit: October to March

• Location: Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

• Nearest Railway Station: Sawai Madhopur Station

• Nearest Airport: Jaipur Airport

• Famous For: Tiger Spottings

• Safari Timings: 6 am to 9:30 am and 3:30 pm to 7 pm

• Nearby Attractions: Ranthambore Fort, Jogi Mahal, Kachida Valley, Trinetra Ganesh Temple

4. Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary

It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India, with an area of 7506.22 sq. km. Established in 1986, the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its seasonal saline wetlands of the Great Rann of Kutch and flamingoes. It is popularly known as the ‘ Flamingo City’.  It has thick wetlands, which dry up after October, leaving the sanctuary a saline desert and a perfect nesting spot for migratory birds. Since it is also one of the most unique places to visit in Kutch, many travellers include it in their itinerary for both wildlife and landscape views. The sanctuary is also popular amongst historians and archaeologists, as here lie the remains of the Harappan Civilisation.

• Best Time to Visit: November to February

• Location: Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

• Nearest Railway Station: Bhuj Railway Station

• Nearest Airport: Bhuj Airport

• Famous For: Indian Wild Ass( Ghor), White Sand, Flamingoes

• Safari Timings: 6 am to 6 pm

• Nearby Attractions: White Rann of Kutch, Aina Mahal, Mandvi, ruins of Dholavira, etc.

5. Kanha National Park

Established in the year 1955, Kanha National Park is one of the most famous wildlife sanctuary in India, attracting tourists from all over the world. It stretches over 940 sq km. The sanctuary is famous for Bengal Tigers, an almost extinct variety of swamp deer called Barahsinghas, elephants, sloth bears, etc. The sanctuary is popular amongst the locals for cycling trails, watching sunsets(Bamni Dadar), nature walks, etc. The best time to visit Kanha National Park is from October to February, when the weather is pleasant and wildlife sightings are usually better.

• Best Time to Visit: October to February

• Location: In the Balaghat and Mandla districts of Madhya Pradesh

• Nearest Railway Station: Jabalpur Station (160-170 km)

• Nearest Airport: Jabalpur Airport ( 170 km)

• Famous For: Barahsingha, Bengal Tigers, Bamni Dadar(sunset point), Bush Dinners

• Safari Timings: 6 am - 11 am, 3 pm - 7 pm

• Nearby Attractions: Amarkantak, Kanha Museum, Jabalpur

6. Sunderbans National Park

Located in the Ganges delta, West Bengal, the Sunderbans National Park is the world’s largest Mangrove Forest, located at the delta formed by the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Park is famous for the Bengal Tiger, saltwater crocodiles, Ganga River Dolphins, etc. Here, you can watch tigers, crocodiles, and a huge variety of birds while sitting in a boat. Boat safaris are an experience of a kind.

• Best Time to Visit: September to March

• Location: West Bengal

• Nearest Railway Station: Howrah Junction

• Nearest Airport: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport

• Famous For: River Dolphins, Tigers, Boat safaris, saltwater crocodiles, etc. 

• Safari Timings: 8 am to 4 pm

• Nearby Attractions: Netidhopani, Kolkata, Bhagatpur Crocodile Project, etc.

7. Gir National Park

Sasan Gir or Gir National Park is famous for the Asiatic lions that have been saved from extinction. Established in the year 1965, it is the world’s only habitat of Asiatic Lions. The average length of lions here is 2.75m. The park is also home to wild boars, nilgais, and around 300 different species of birds. Being the sole habitat of the Asiatic Lions, the park attracts tourists and wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world. 

• Best Time to Visit: Nov- March (closed mid june to mid oct)

• Location: Saurashtra peninsula of the Gujarat state

• Nearest Railway Station: Veraval Railway Station

• Nearest Airport: Diu Airport

• Famous For: Asiatic Lions

• Safari Timings: 6 am - 9 am and 3 pm to 6 pm

• Nearby Attractions: Somnath Temple, Junagadh, Diu Fort, Kankai Mata Temple

8. Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

Spread over 5.4 sq km, Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the smallest wildlife sanctuaries in India. It is primarily known for its dry grasslands, wolves, and bird species. The Indian Grey Wolf, Chinkara, Hyena, Indian Fox, etc can also be found here. The sanctuary is 70 km from Pune and is very well-connected by road. As the sanctuary is so small, you can have a fulfilling visit in a day.

• Best Time to Visit: Winter(Oct - Jan)

• Location: Baramati Tehsil, near Pune

• Nearest Railway Station: Pune Railway Station

• Nearest Airport: Pune Airport

• Famous For: The Indian Grey Wolf, Hyena, the Indian Fox, etc.

• Safari Timings: No Safari is available; people usually walk around.

• Nearby Attractions: Mulshi Lake, Sinhagad Fort, Lohagad Fort, Diamond Water Park, etc.

9. Hemis National Park

Located in Ladakh, Hemis National Park is the highest wildlife sanctuary in India. The park lies in the trans-Himalayan Region and focuses on the protection of snow leopards, making it one of the major wildlife sanctuaries in India. The park was established in the year 1981 to protect the fragile Himalayan Ecosystem and its wildlife. It is named after the Hemis Monastery, which is located at its boundary. The monastery attracts spiritual seekers from all over the world. Along with the snow leopard, the sanctuary is also home to the Tibetan Wolf, red fox, bharal, etc. The national park is also an excellent trekking spot from June to August. 

• Best Time to Visit: May to September

• Location: Leh, Ladakh

• Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Tawi

• Nearest Airport: Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport

• Famous For: snow leopard, red fox, the monastery, etc.

• Safari Timings: No Jeep Safaris available

• Nearby Attractions: Hemis Monastery, Markha Valley, Shey Monastery, etc.

 10. Periyar National Park

A 925sq km tiger reserve in Kerala’s Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. It is one of the oldest Tiger Reserves in the country. Along with tigers, the park is also home to elephants, 200+ species of birds, reptiles, butterflies, Gaur, Sambhar, etc. The sanctuary offers boat safaris for spotting and sightseeing. The flora consists of both evergreen and non-evergreen trees. Some of the rarest species, like  Nilgiri Langurs, the lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, fruit bats, etc can also be found.

• Best Time to Visit: October to February

• Location: Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts, Kerala

• Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam

• Nearest Airport: Madurai Airport

• Famous For: Bengal Tigers, Elephants, Nilgiri Langurs, Nilgiri Tahr, etc.

• Safari Timings: 7:30 am - 9:30 am, 3:30 pm - till sunset.

• Nearby Attractions: Periyar Lake, Pullumedu, Chellarkovil, Rose Park, etc. 

Conclusion

When nothing makes sense, and you are tired from life, all you need is to spend some time in the wild. The Wildlife Sanctuaries in India are not only protecting the local wildlife, flora, and fauna but are also offering a recreational space, an adventure spot, and an urban getaway. The Jeep Safaris, Boat Safaris, or even a simple trek make you live in the moment, bring you calm and peace. The Wildlife Sanctuaries are a pride of the country, and their flora and fauna enhance the natural beauty of India. Picturesque views and carefree animals, chirping of birds, the leaves turning gold in sunrays, and the gentle breeze would be something you would carry forward with you through the rest of your lives.