National Parks In India - A Guide

Mar 18
09:16

2010

Chaman Thakur

Chaman Thakur

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Nagarhole National Park (now also known as the Rajiv Gandhi National Park) is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India's largest stretch of protected forest, including besides, neighbouring sanctuaries of Bandipur, Mudumalai and Wynaad. Established in 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary, Nagarhole was designated a national park in 1975. The park today stretches in a series of gentle hills and valleys, over an expanse of 640 sq km, north of the river Kabini. The park is centred around a perennial water reservoir formed in 1974, when the Kabini River was dammed.

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Nagarhole National ParkNagarhole National Park (now also known as the Rajiv Gandhi National Park) is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve,National Parks In India - A Guide Articles India's largest stretch of protected forest, including besides, neighbouring sanctuaries of Bandipur, Mudumalai and Wynaad. Established in 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary, Nagarhole was designated a national park in 1975. The park today stretches in a series of gentle hills and valleys, over an expanse of 640 sq km, north of the river Kabini. The park is centred around a perennial water reservoir formed in 1974, when the Kabini River was dammed. Nagarhole's vegetation is different from Bandipur's dry scrub- moist deciduous forests, including bamboo, teak, eucalyptus and cassia, cover much of the sanctuary, providing a refuge for a wide range of animals and birds. Nagarhole has all the resident wildlife of the Nilgiri hills: Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, bison, leopard, Asian elephant, wild boar, deer, dhole (wild dog) and porcupine, besides tigers. A high canopy of trees- up to thirty metres tall in some places- harbours rare birds such as the endangered Malabar trogon, the Malabar pied hornbill and the crested hawk-eagle. Area : 640 sq kmBest time to visit : October to MarchProminent Fauna : Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, bison, leopard, Asian elephant, wild boar, deer, dhole (wild dog) and porcupine, besides tigers. How to Reach : The major railhead closest to Nagarhole is Mysore, 80 km away, with train connections to a large number of towns and cities across India. Bangalore, with excellent air and rail links to the rest of the country, is 220 km from Nagarhole, Ooty is about 240 km from the park. Buses connect Nagarhole to Bangalore (about 6 hours) and to a network of other towns across Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala. You can hire a vehicle in one of the town - Bangalore is very convenient to reach Nagarhole. Game viewing in the park, You can hire jeep or ride on an elephants back for to view wildlife.   Elephant is best way to get deep into the jungle. Where to stay : Nagarhole has variouse accommodation options available.

Bandhavgarh National ParkBandhavgarh National Park is one of the largest national parks in India located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968 with an area of 105 km². The buffer is spread over the forest divisions of Umaria and Katni and totals 437 km². The park derives its name from the most prominent hillock of the area, which is said to be given by Hindu Lord Rama to his brother Laxman to keep a watch on Lanka (Ceylon). Hence the name Bandhavgarh (Sanskrit: Brother's Fort).

This park has a large biodiversity. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is one of the highest known in India. The park has a large breeding population of panthers, bisons and various species of deer. The region once had a large population of white tigers. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa captured the last known in 1951. This white tiger, Mohan, is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajas of Rewa.

Bharatpur Forest The government run Bharatpur Forest Lodge is located within the vicinity of Keoladeo National Park that lies 190-kms from Delhi and 55-kms from Agra in Rajasthan.

Accommodation Facilities17 excellent air conditioned rooms with attached bathrooms as well as hot and cold running water facility.

Other Services» Cycle-rickshaws and bicycles for park trips.» Guides for bird watching are provided at an extra cost.» A stand-by generator.

Periyar National Park Periyar is a protected area, and a Project Tiger nature reserve in the South Indian State of Kerala, set high in the mountains of the Western Ghats at the border to Tamil Nadu. It lies in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta. The protected area covers an area of 777 km², out of which a 350 km² part of the core zone was made into the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, sometimes dubbed the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is often called by the name thekkady also. Thekkady is located four km from Kumily, approximately 100 km east of Alappuzha, 110 km west of Madurai and 120 km southeast from Kochi.

Pench National ParkThe Pench National Park is located in northwestern Maharastra in India, about 70 km from the city of Nagpur. Spread over an area of 275 km², 10% area of the park is in Maharastra rest 90% of area is in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh. The vegetation here is typical of the southern tropical deciduous forest. The best time to visit the park is between February and April. The common animals which can be seen are the gaur, sambhars, blue bulls, macaque, langur, wild boar, bears and wild dogs and the Park is well-known for its deers and leopards. A few tigers and civets can also be spotted sometimes.

The Park is open to visitors between 6 AM to 10:30AM in the morning and 3 PM to 6 PM in the evening. The park remains closed during the months of July, August and September. It can be accessed by road as well as railway. The nearest rail-head is at Ramtek and a bus can be taken for the next 35 km to the Park. Other important natural forests in Maharashtra like the Nagzira Sanctuary and the Navegaon National Park are also close to Pench.

Rajaji National ParkRajaji National Park is an Indian national park that encompasses the Shivaliks, near the foothills of the Himalayas. It is spread over 820 sq. km.[1], and three districts of Uttarakhand: Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal. In 1983, three wildlife sanctuaries in the area namely, Chilla, Motichur and Rajaji sanctuaries were merged into one [1].

Rajaji National Park has been named after C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), a prominent leader of the Freedom Struggle, the second and last Governor-General of independent India and one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (in 1954).

Kanziranga National ParkKaziranga situated in Assam State of North India is a title of a remarkable success of conservation of the One Horned Rhinoceros and a number of other wild animals in the North East India. It is homeland of the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros and other wild lives.Kaziranga is one of the significant natural habitat for in situ conservation of biological biodiversity of universal value and this made Kaziranga National Park to get inscribed in the World Heritage Site List 1985. The Kaziranga National Park area consists of 429.93 Sq.Km. with an additional area of 429.40 Sq.Km. and situated in the two districts of Assam, namely Golaghat and Nagaon. The total area of the park within Nagaon district is 175 Sq.Km., out of which 135 Sq.Km. falls under Bagori Forest Range office and 40 Sq.Km. falls within Ghorakati Forest Range office. Ranthambore National ParkRanthambore National park in Rajasthan is famous for its tigers and is one of the best places in the country to see these majestic animal in wild. A good time to visit between October and May when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes sightings common. The Park covers an area of nearly 400 sq. km. and is set between the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges. The varied topography of the national park is home to animals like the jackal,mongoose, sloth bear, leopard, and of course, the tiger. Ranthambore can offer you a lot more than the wild life Holiday excursions and vacations to Ranthambore National park.There are number of more National Parks in India where you can sight rich wildlife of India.

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