Bandhavgarh National Park:
Location: NE Madhya Pradesh:
Area: 105 sq km.
Located in the north east of Madhya Pradesh state, Bandavgarh has one of the highest relative Tiger densities of Indian national parks. Other reasons which make this park an attractive destination for tourists is the chance of trekking or game watching through the park on elephant back and seeing the collection of interesting ruins scattered close to the park and dating back hundreds of years.
Apart from the Tigers, visitors here may enjoy spotting some of the upto 150 bird species here, as well as deer, fox, jackal and hyena. The park is open from November to June, closing for the annual monsoon season.
Accommodation includes safari lodges outside but close to the park gates.
Ranthambore National Park:
Location: Eastern Rajashtan:
Area: 390 sq km.
More frequented by visitors than the quiter parks in Madhya Pradesh [such as Bandhavgarh], Ranthambore is nonetheless worth a visit thanks to its scenic landscapes and Tiger numbers of over 40.
Ranthambore has several rivers feeding into it, some dammed to form small lakes, and this combined with ancient ruins of forts and Rajput palaces, gives this park an especially alluring appearance.
Corbett National Park:
Location: Uttaranchal State, NE of New Delhi:
Area: 521 sq km.
Wildlife: Tigers, Elephants, Crocodiles.
India's first national park, established in 1936 by Jim Corbett and others [a hunter turned conservationist], as Hailey National park, later renamed in his honour, lies 250 kms north east of Delhi, and is one of the premier parks in India.
Spread out over the Kumaon foothills, this forested park was the first Project Tiger reserve in 1973, and is now estimated to have a Tiger population of over 130. Elephant numbers are larger at approximately 600.
Parts of this park are off limits to visitors due to the ongoing conservation measures.
Kanha National Park:
Location: Mandla, Madhya Pradesh:
Area: 940 sq km.
Wildlife: Tigers, Elephants,
Generally regarded as the premier reserve in India, Kanha is home to numerous species of birds and animals, including a protected Tiger population. The park is also very scenic with a mix of forest and savannah vegetation covering rolling hillsides and punctuated by meandering rivers.
