NATIONAL PARKS AND SANCTUARIES IN INDIA

NATIONAL PARKS
Depending on the area and terrain National Parks provide ample
opportunities to the visitors to have a close encounters with the wilds. But
what is so exquisite about the Indian National Parks is the variance that
they are equipped with. Whether it comes to the flora, avifauna, and
aquafauna, or witnessing various wild forms in their natural surroundings
on an elephant or inside a jeep, wild ventures in are simply amazing!

Some of the best jewels of Indian wilderness include the Great Himalayan
National Park, Dachigam National Park near Srinagar, Corbett National Park
in Uttar Pradesh, which is also a famous tiger reserve, Ranthambore
National Park in Rajasthan, and Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal.
Worth visiting in the east indian part in "The Land of Rhino" Assam is
Kaziranga.

FAMOUS NATIONAL PARKS IN INDIA

BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK
Check out the place where firstly and formostly the white
Tigers of Rewa were discovered Bandhavgarh. This park
is some of the left out preserved wild pockets of Madhya
Pradesh of what were once splendid forests that
extended across the whole of Central India.

About Bandhavgarh National Park

The thick forest of Bandhavgarh National Park sits in a bowl encircled by
cliffs and wooded Vindhyan mountains, and its plains have a number of

1|Page
grass and reed covered wetlands where Kingfishers dive and Egrets sit
poised, hunch-backed, in the shallows. Up above, vultures nestle in holes in
the sheer cliffs.

The Bandhavgarh jungle, when it is large enough, becomes a living self-

sustaining organism providing its own climate, atmosphere, water and
nutrition through its recycling systems. It even has a sleep wake cycle. As
more light fills the sky, Bandhavgarh begins to awaken.

Flora In Bandhavgarh
Initially just 105.40-sq-kms in area, Bandhavgarh with 25 resident tigers,
was noted for its high-density tiger population. Today, it has been extended
to an area of 437-sq-kms. About half the Bandhavgarh park is covered with
fine trees of Sal, while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches of the
hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands extend to the north. The main
wildlife viewing is still done in the core of the park with its 32 picturesque,
wooded hills.

Major Wildlife Attractions - Bandhavgarh

Once a hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa in more recent times,
Bandhavgarh was declared a park in 1968. This is also the site where the
fanmous White Tigers of Rewa were discovered.

Wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an Elephant Back,

the chances of seeing a tiger are quite good. Among the other wild
attractions include, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and
sometimes a Fox or Jackal.

2|Page
Other Attractions in Bandhavgarh
Kalchuri Archeological Remains: Beside the wildlife, Bandhavgarh is also
famous for the archaeological remains of the Kalchuri period that have been
found here.

Bandhavgarh Fort: The Bandhavgarhpark area is hilly and is dominated by

the majestic Bandhavgarh fort, built in 14th century. The fort and the
adjacent hills have a large number of caves belonging to the pre-historic
period.

Jeep & Elephant Safari: One can enjoy viewing the wildlife by two ways in
Bandhavgarh - Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari.. Jeep safaris are undertaken
during the early morning hours till evening. A forest department guide is
always their with the visitors on these jeep trips taken inside the park.
Elephant safari trips are organised for tiger tracking early in the morning.

Best Time to Visit - Bandavgarh National Park

The visiting season of Bandhavgarh national park starts from Mid-
November to June, as the park remains closed during the monsoon months
from July to early November.

RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK

A nearby attraction of Sawai Madhopur, in the state
of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is an
outstanding example of Project Tiger's efforts at
conservation in the India.

3|Page
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 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

4|Page
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

The best visiting season of Ranthambore national park is during the months
of October - March and April to June.

KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

The land of Rhino is counted among the two major wild pockets, the only
surviving habitats of this prehistoric survivor in India.

About Kaziranga National Park

Located on the banks of the mighty
Brahmaputra River in the far North East of
India, Assam, Kaziranga National Park
covers an area of approximately 430-sq-
kms with its swamps and tall thickets of

5|Page
elephant grass making it the ideal habitat for the Indian One-Horned Rhino.
Due to limitless poaching of this prehistoric survivor, the Kaziranga
National Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1940.

Major Wildlife Attractions of Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary

Beside ofcourse the great one horned Indian Rhino, the other major wild
attractions include a large population of Indian Elephants, Indian Bison,
Swamp Deer or Barasingha, Hog Deer, Sloth Bears, Tigers, Leopard Cats,
Jungle Cats, Otters, Hog Badgers, Capped Langurs, Hoolock Gibbons, Wild
Boar, Jackal, Wild Buffalo, Pythons, Monitor Lizards, etc.

Kaziranga National Park is a birding paradise; the grasslands are a raptor

country that can be seen on safari makes a remarkable experience. These
include the Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black-Shouldered Kite, Black Kite,
Brahminy Kite, Pallas's Fishing Eagle, White Tailed Eagle, Grey-Headed
Fishing Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, etc. Huge numbers of migratory birds
descend on the parks lakes and marshy areas during winters, including
Greylag Geese, Bar-Headed Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Falcated Duck,
Red-Crested Pochard and Northern Shoveller.

Other Attractions In Kaziranga

Elephant Safari : The vast open country makes Kaziranga National Park very
accessible and wildlife viewing fairly pleasurable. Here one can leave in the
early hours of the dawn for an elephant-back-ride. Authorized and trained
Mahouts who guide visitors through the park train the Elephants. One could
see wild Elephant herds roaming around or Indian Rhinos browse past
visitors unconcernedly. Since Kaziranga wildlife Sanctuary is easily
accessible, its provides a chance to see animals in the wild at such close

6|Page
quarters, thus making a trip to this National Park a very rewarding
experience.

Sightseeing in Kaziranga : Tourists can stroll through the lush coffee and
rubber plantations of the nearby Karbi Anglong. Or visit the Karbi villages,
meet the Karbi people and observe their way of living. Yiu can also venture
through the tea gardens that Assam is so famous for and watch how one
gets one's daily cup of tea. Film shows on wildlife can be arranged at the
various tourist lodges in Kaziranga, on request.

Best Time to Visit Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga's visiting season is from mid-November to early April months.
During the monsoons, the Brahmaputra River bursts its banks, flooding the
low-lying grasslands and causing animals to migrate from one area to
another within the Kaziranga National Park.

KANHA NATIONAL PARK

Ever though what it feels like to visit a tiger country, then visit the state of
Madhya Pardesh, check out the wilds of Kanha and see for yourself why this
place is called a wild hideout taken straight from the famous "Jungle Book".

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

7|Page
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

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.

8|Page
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.

SUNDARBANS NATIONAL PARK

Come to Sundarbans where adventure awaits
you at every corner. Known as the largest
estuarine delta in the world, this Tigerland
vibrates with countless forms of colourful life.

About Sundarbans National Park

The vast swampy delta of the two great Indian
rivers, Brahamaputra and the Ganges extends over areas comprising of

9|Page
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.

10 | P a g e
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.

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

11 | P a g e
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.

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.

MANAS NATIONAL PARK

Assam is the state of the Great One Horned Rhino. Beside the Kaziranga
there's Manas another habitat of the Rhino's, located in one of the remotest
region among the foothills of Himalayas.

About Manas National Park

Manas National Park is situated on the foothills of the Himalayas and a part
of it extends to Bhutan. It was declared a sanctuary on October 01, 1928 and
was designated a World Heritage site in December 1985. The sanctuary is
home to a great variety of wildlife, including tiger, Golden Langur, Wild
Buffalo, Hispid Hare, Pigmy Hog, Capped Langur, Indian one-horned
Rhinoceros, Elephant, Gaur, Hog Deer, etc.

Manas known for its Project Tigers, Rhinos & Elephants, and is Assam's one
of the two Tiger projects. The scenic beauty and rare wealth of wild life

12 | P a g e
combine with this unique world heritage site to offer one of the most
enthralling experiences.

Best Time to Visit Manas National Park

The ideal time to visit the Manas national park is during the months of
November to April.

SULTANPUR NATIONAL PARK

Sultanpur national park was a stretch of marshy land that has been
remodeled and converted into a water body. The park is home to a large
range of birds, both resident and migratory.

About Sultanpur National Park

Sultanpur, 46 kms to the south-west of Delhi, is a green haven with a lake
and wild birds. Sultanpur was declared a water-bird reserve in 1972 and its
grounds are lush with lawns and trees and shrubs
and masses of bougainvillea. It is recommended to
spend some time in the small museum and library
in the reserve, as one gets a fair idea of the birds
and creatures you are likely to see during your
visit to the reserve. A good pair of binoculars is a
must to clearly observe the wildlife from a safe
distance, without disturbing them.

Sultanpur is essentially a bird watching place with few trees obscuring the
visitor's view of the lake. The birds can be easily spotted wading, swimming
or flying. All this is possible, because the visitors are not allowed to paddle
around in boats in this water bird sanctuary, thus allowing the birds to

13 | P a g e
continue with their activities without human interference. One can very
easily spot grey pelicans, cormorants, grey and pond herons, egrets, painted
storks who tend to congregate and preen. The black-necked storks, white
ibis, spoonbills, etc can also be spotted.

Best Time to Visit Sultanpur National Park

The ideal time to visit the Sultanpur National Park is during the months of
December and January because it is the main period for migratory birds..

ROYAL CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK (NEPAL)

Established in 1973, provides a great wildlife experience with its rich flora
and fauna. Short grass makes the months of February-May the best game-
viewing season, but the autumn months are perfect for visiting, with
Himalayan views, and in winter months of December-January, Chitwan has
quiet a pleasant climate compared to Kathmandu.

About Royal Chitwan National Park

Royal Chitwan National Park (‘Chitwan’ means "in the heart of the jungle’)
covers 932 sq. km. in the flat lowland region of southern Nepal. It is one of
the most important sub-tropical parks on the Indian subcontinent with
populations of the endangered Royal Bengal tiger, Greater One-horned
rhinoceros, Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica), Wild Asian elephant,
Gaur, Golden Monitor lizard, Gharial crocodile and many more.

The Chitwan region has had a long history of conservation. For many years
it was the Royal hunting grounds for the Kings and dignitaries of Nepal and
therefore was not hunted by the general public. It did however become a
favorite spot for big game safari hunters in the late nineteenth and early to

14 | P a g e
mid-twentieth centuries. This was coupled with a surge in local human
populations following the development of anti-malaria medicines in the
mid-twentieth century. The long-term effect was a drastic decrease in jungle
habitat and animal populations in the Chitwan valley as jungles were
converted to farmland and big game were hunted and poached to
dangerously low numbers. The falling rhino (less than 200) and tiger (less
than 30) populations in the present park region, focused attention on the
Chitwan region and in 1963 the southern two-thirds of the park were
declared rhino sanctuary. With sanctuary status came the relocation of
22,000 people from the Chitwan valley and a moratorium on hunting. Since
1963 wildlife populations and ecosystems have been rebounding. In 1973
Chitwan became Nepal’s first National Park. The relatively pristine state of
the modern park and its unique ecosystems prompted UNESCO to declare
the park a World Heritage site in 1984.

ROYAL BARDIA NATIONAL PARK (NEPAL)

Largest and most undisturbed wild area of the Terai region of the Nepal
Himalayas. Simialar to Chitwan park, but with a drier climate and a more
remote location, Bardia encompasses 1,000-sq-kms of riverine grassland
and sal forests.

About Royal Bardia National Park

Royal Bardia National Park is the largest park in the lowland Terai covering
an area of 968 sq. km. The park situated in Nepal’s Western Terai was
established to protect representative ecosystems and conserve tiger and its
prey species. Initially, a small area was gazetted as the Royal Karnali
Wildlife Reserve in 1976. When this area was protected, approximately
1500 people of the Babai valley were resettled outside the park allowing the

15 | P a g e
vegetation and wildlife to flourish. In 1982, it was renamed as Royal Bardia
Wildlife Reserve, and in 1984 it was extended to its current size. The
reserve was given the status of a National Park in 1988. Greater One-horned
Rhinoceros were translocated from Royal Chitwan National Park in 1986,
1991, and 1999.

Fauna in Bardia National Park

What makes a visit to Nepal's Royal Bardia National Park particularly
special is not just its large and intact habitat area and its isolated location,
but also the presence here of one of the
last known herds of wild Elephants in
South Asia. The herd, numbering less
than two dozen, roams these remote
jungles in western Nepal.

Bardia also boasts the greatest number

of deer species in Nepal. The six deer species found in the park are: Chital or
spotted Deer with its ubiquitous white spots on a brown coat; Hog Deer;
similar to but smaller than Chital; Sambhar, the largest Deer on Indian
subcontinent with a shaggy coat and thick antlers; Swamp Deer;
Barasingha; and reddish-colored Barking Deer, the park's smallest Deer.

Other large mammals are: Gaur, the largest wild oxen in world; wild Boar,
an omnivorous black-coated creature with large tusks; the agile sloth Bear,
a shaggy black bear with a distinctive white "V" on its chest; Blue Bull or
Nilgai, the largest Antelope on the Indian subcontinent; and Himalayan
Tahr. Serow and Goral, two goat-Antelope members, are also found. Small
mammals include: Langur Monkey, Rhesus Macaque, Jackal, three species of

16 | P a g e
cats (jungle, leopard, and fishing); yellow-throated Marten; Mongoose; and
Indian Otter.

Two species of crocodiles swim in the Karnali, Girwa, and Babai Rivers - the
blunt-snouted Marsh Mugger and the fish-eating gharial with its long thin
snout. These creatures share the water with the fresh-water Gangetic
Dolphin. The Karnali also supports the great mahseer, which weigh up to 90
lbs, an angler's prize catch.

Birds are the park's most conspicuous fauna with over 300 resident and
migratory species. Avid bird-watchers will want to visit the park in
November or from February to April when migrants arrive, depart or pass
through.

17 | P a g e
 NATIONAL SANCTUARIES

INDIRA GANDHI SANCTUARY

Indira Gandhi Sanctuary situated amidst dense forest landscape in the
Anamalai range of Western Ghats, in Tamil Nadu, is a preferred destination
of nature lovers. Pollachi is the main town situated nearest to the Indira
GandhiSanctuary. The animal reserve is both a sanctuary (958 sq km) and
national park (108 sq km).

Flora and Fauna in Indira Gandhi Sanctuary

This beautiful wildlife sanctuary is located in the Anamalai ranges of
Western Ghats, which are covered with heavy evergreen forests. Anamalai
hill forest is known for its dense growth of trees, and evergreen shoals. This
geographically rich region is home to a
variety of wild beasts like elephant, gaur,
tiger, panther, sloth bear, wild boar, wild
dog, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque,
sambar, four, horned antelope, chital,
Pangolin, Sambar, and many other animals
including several endemic species.

Avian Population in Indira Gandhi Sanctuary

For bird watchers Indira Gandhi Sanctuary is the perfect location. A large
number of birds have their habitation here, which includes Green Pigeon,
Tickell's Flower Pecker, Rufus Wood Pecker, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Black
Eagle, Racquet Tailed Drongo, Black Headed Oriole, Paradise Fly-catcher,
Whistling Thrush, Great Indian, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Fairy Bluebird, and
Emerald Dove.

18 | P a g e
When to Visit Indira Gandhi Sanctuary
The weather in the region is pleasant throughout the year. The best time to
visit the park is from January to February, but avoid during June to August.

MUDUMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Mudumalai wildlife reserve is a continuation
of the Bandipur National Park. The river
Moyar that flows along the border or Tamil
Nadu and Karnataka separates the two. The
Mysore - Ooty highway runs through the
park. The 321 sq. km . reserve is situated in
Tamil Nadu.

Mudumalai wildlife reserve was the first sanctuary in south India. The
terrain is extremely varied with hills, valleys, ravines, watercourses and
swamps. The vegetation comprises of tropical moist deciduous forests, dry
deciduous forests and scrub forests. Compared to the nearby reserves, the
climate is warmer in Mudumalai.

Langur, bonnet macaque, tiger, leopard, wild dog, hyena, jackal, sloth bear,
elephants, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, Indian muntjac, mouse deer, wild
boar, rodent and flying squirrel are part of the wildlife in Mudumalai. It has
a rich bird life that includes Malabar trogan, Grey hornbill, crested hawk
eagle, crested serpent eagle, etc.

The best time to visit the reserve is from February to June. The sanctuary
can be reached by road. The nearest railway station is Udakamandalam. The

19 | P a g e
nearest airport is Coimbatore. Accommodation can be arranged at forest
rest house, guesthouses at Masinagudi, Kargudi, Abhayaranyam and
Theppakkadu.

Flora (Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary)

The vegetation is quite varied in this region. The hilly terrain of the Western
Ghats, clothed in dense mixed and moist deciduous forests, make
Mudumalai (the ancient hills) a most attractive wildlife reserve. Bamboos
(Bambusa Arundinacea) Natural teak (Tectona Grandis), Anogeissus
latifolia, Terminalia, Crenulata/Terminalia Tomontosa, Grewia, and
blooming trees like Indian Labumusum, Aredesia, Solanancea are some of
the flora.

Fauna (Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary )

The fauna include Elephants, Gaur, Banner, Macaque, Common Langur,
Tigers, Leopards, Chital, Panther, Sloth Bear, Python, Barking Deer, Four
Horned Antelope, Otter, Crocodiles (Mugger), Giant Flying Squirrel, Sambar,
Hyena, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Mouse Deer, Spotted Deer, Jackal, Hare,
Porcupine and Mongoose.

The birds listed in this sanctuary are

Peacock-our National bird, Grey Jungle
Fowl, Red Spur Fowl, Grey Partridge Quails,
Goggle Eyed Plower, Malabar Whistling
Thrush, Large Racket-Tailed Dronge, The
Magpie-robin, Spotted Babbler, Small Green Barbet, Green Pigeons, Brown
Dove, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Bulbuls, Mynahs, etc. Among birds of prey,
Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, Harriers, Falcons and King Vulture are
predominant, besides some migratory water birds.

20 | P a g e
Tourist Information Centre (Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary)
The drive from Bangalore to Mudumalai runs over wellmaintained State
highways. The first stretch between Bangalore and Mysore is a reasonably
smooth run. Once you cross the towns of Ramanagaram and Chennapatna,
the drive gose through avenues of bougainvillaea which form natural
archways. If you are thirsty, you can stop at any of the coconut vendors
lininig the road.

Passing through Mysore is a honk - and - crawl affair till the city limits.
Beyond Nanjangud, for about 20 km, the road is a narrow concrete strip
with shoulders of tar. You need to be very careful on this road as the tar has
eroded, leaving huge potholes. There may be times when you will be forced
to go onto the tar shoulders to avoid oncoming traffic. Remember, utmost
care should be taken then to avoid damage to the underbody.

Once the road enters the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary limit, it is almost
straight with dense forest on both sides. Seven - and - a half kilometers after
the Bandipur reception centre, the road crosses over into Tamil Nadu and
the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

The scenery along the road is varied with a clutter of small towns on the
outskrits of Bangalore. These give way to light forest and fields till Mysore.
If you have time with you, a stop at the fantastic Mysore Palace is worth the
extra hour to get to Mudumalai.

The accomodation and hotels for Mudumalai are on the road that runs from
the reception centre to Masinagudi. Though there is a sign warning that the

21 | P a g e
road is very steep and that you have to strain your car much with the kind
of cars that we have today, it is redundant.

There is actually more to do at the places to stay than in the park itself.
Consider yourself lucky if you see bison and deer. Should you happen to see
a tiger, take a quick look around for the saint who performed the miracle to
make it appear.

VALLANADU BLACKBUCK SANCTUARY

Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary, located in Thoothukudi district, is a
biodiversity rich and ecologically diverse region. Maintained in the hills of
Vallanad, this sprawling sanctuary houses innumerable animals, birds, and
other wild creatures.

Flora and Fauna in Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary

The great diversity of flora and fauna in
Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary is simply
amazing. This dense scrub forest area
houses Spotted Deer, Macaques, Jungle cat,
Mongoose, wild hares and several other
animals. The sanctuary was founded with
the aim of protecting and nurturing
Blackbucks in the country. As a consequence of extensive poaching and
habitat loss, blackbuck populations have been reduced drastically. Today,
blackbuck is an endangered species in India, and is included in Schedule I of
Indian Wildlife Act.

22 | P a g e
Avian Population in Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary
For bird watchers there are many options in and around Thoothukudi. A
major attraction just 22 km northwest of Thoothukudi is Mayura Thottam.
It is a peacock farm situated at Ottapidaram. Mayura Thottam is spread over
an area of 55 acres. A large number of migratory birds also visit this place
every year during the breeding season.

When to Visit Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary

You can visit Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary during any part of the year.
However prior permission to visit is required from the DFO, Tirunelveli
Division, KokirakulamYou can stay comfortably in Tirunelveli, which has a
good number of hotels.

VEDANTHANGAL WATER BIRDS SANCTUARY

About Vedanthangal Water Birds Sanctuary
One of the most spectacular breeding grounds in India. Cormorants, herons,
storks, pelicans, grebes and many others.The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
has been protected by the local people for well over 250 years. The
sanctuary gets its name from a nearby
village and is only 75 Km from Chennai.
The bird life (resident & visitors) includes
Cormorants, Darters, Herons, Egrets, Open
billed Stork, Spoonbill and White Ibis,
Little Grebe, Indian Moorhen, Black
Winged Stilts, a few migratory ducks and
occasionally Grey Pelicans. November to
February is the ideal season to visit the
sanctuary.

23 | P a g e
Vedanthangal is a home not only to migratory birds but also to many
ornithologists who camp here for weeks observing the birds at close
quarters. With a powerful pair of binoculars, you can spot a Cormorant or a
Snake Bird dive under the water to gobble up a nervous fish which is its
staple diet. Soon after the hunt, the Cormorant must come up to the shore to
dry its feathers as nature has not endowed it with oil-glands to water-proof
the feathers.

The Spot-Billed Grey Pelican, on the contrary, moves in groups lashing the
water with powerful wing strokes driving the fish to a shallow corner for
the ultimate assault. The Spoon Bill, however, prefers to devour frogs and
insects in the muddy water with its bills half open.

The winged visitors regulated by biological clocks land at Vedanthangal

after the monsoon with amazing clock-work precision and get into the
breeding act quietly. The population of the migratory birds swells to around
40,000 by the middle of January.

GUINDY NATIONAL PARK

Guindy National Park, probably the smallest national park in the country is
located within the city limits of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu.

The park with an area of 2.82 sq. km has a strong historical background.
Originally a game reserve of 400 hectares, it was owned by Gilbert
Rodericks, a British citizen. When Gilbert died, in 1821 the Tamil Nadu
government purchased it and the surrounding wooded property for a sum
of Rs. 35,000/. The place was declared as reserved forests in 1910. The then

24 | P a g e
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru allotted a portion of the Guindy forest as a
park for children. In 1958, it was handed over to the Forest department and
in 1978 the entire forest area was declared as Guindy national park.

Guindy National park consists of various vegetation zones mainly tropical

dry evergreen flora with over 350 species of plants including trees, shrubs,
climbers, herbs and grasses. 24 varieties of trees including Amona
Squamosa, Atlanta Monoplylla, Feronia Limonia, Azadirachta India and
many others are found in this park.

The animals found

here include
spotted deer, black
bucks (also known
as Rare Indian
Antelope found
only in India),
white bucks, river
otter, hyena,
bonnet monkey,
civet cat, jackals, pangolin, hedgehog and common mongoose. Birds which
can be seen here are the black winged kite, the buzzard, olden Backed
Woodpecker, Crow Pheasant, Yellow Wattled Lapwing, Red Wattled
Lapwing, Blue Faced Malkoha, Shrikes, Koels, pariah kite, Minivets, Munias,
Barkets, Parakeets, Grey Partridge, Tailor Birds, Robins, Drongos, Quails,
Beak Paradise, Flycatcher, Stone Curlew and so on.

The Children's Park here has playgrounds, swings, mini-railway, elephant

and pony rides (weekends) etc for the kids. There is also a mini zoo with a

25 | P a g e
sizeable collection of birds, deer's, peacocks etc. which gained statutory
recognition as a medium zoo from the Central Zoo Authority in 1995. In
addition there is a Snake Park established in 1972 with king cobras,
pythons, vipers etc. Apart from snakes, certain species of tortoise and
turtles- especially the endangered star turtle can be found here. There are
also lizards, geckos, chameleons and the common Indian monitor lizard, as
well as a large variety of insects and butterflies. Raj Bhavan, the Governor's
residence occupies one of the corners of the park. The beautiful forest area
continues to the adjacent campus of the famous Indian Institute of
Technology.

Surrounding the park there are several other famous institutes such as the
Anna University of Technology, Central Leather Research Institute, Cancer
Institute and the Chennai race course. There are also memorials to India's
great leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, K.Kamaraj and C.Rajagopalachari,
Bakthavatchalam in the vicinity. The park organizes Lecture-
demonstrations regularly in languages like Tamil, Hindi and English.
Though the park itself offers nothing much for a real wildlife enthusiast, the
Snake Park is interesting. The park sums up a favourite picnic destination
for the entire family especially school going children.

PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK

Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in God’s Own Country, Kerala, is
the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Periyar wildlife sanctuary has
a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of
a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded
hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Though

26 | P a g e
its a Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the Indian elephants in the
act of ablution and playfulness by the Periyar lake.

Major Wildlife Attractions in Periyar National Park

Apart from Elephants, the other
animals to be seen in the Periyar
sanctuary are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar,
Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or
Indian Wild Dog and very rarely, a
Tiger. There are, now, an estimated 40
tigers here. Four species of primates
are found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur,
Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque. Periyar also happens to be the
habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be seen.

The birdlife comprises of Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, the great

Malabar Hornbill and racket-tailed Drongoes. The reptilian population
boasts Of Monitor Lizards that can be spotted basking in the sun, on the
rocks along the lakeshore. Visitors who trek into the Periyar national park
often see a Python and sometimes even a King Cobra.

In the lap of the mountains, the Periyar wildlife sanctuary's environ is like a
canvas of many shades. The fresh air of the moist deciduous forest gives one
a chance to experience the peace and serenity and long to return for more.

Other Attractions in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Kumily : Situated just 4-kms from Periyar, Kumily is a growing town where
tourism is fastly catching up just like the spice trade, the major occupation

27 | P a g e
of this small town. The town is also well equipped with the excellent hotels
and resorts for accommodation.

Cradomom Hills : Periyar and Kumily are the most convenient points from
which visitors can easily explore Kerala's beautiful Cardamom hills. Guide
will approach you at offers of trips via jeep or taxi to the hills and if you can
get a group together, these trips work out as a good travel value.

Boat Cruises : Boat cruises make the best option to check out the wilds of
Periyar Sanctuary.Today the Periyar lake presents an excellent boating spot
for tourists. Although it is unusual to see many animals from the boats, still
you spot a family of Elephants, Wild Boar, and Sambar Deer by the water's
edge. The upper deck is best for wildlife viewing when taking a boat cruise,
but better turn up half an hour early to get the best seat. To maximise you
chances, take the 7.00 am boat. You can also consider renting your own
boat.

Best Time to Visit Periyar

The best season to visit Periyar wildlife sanctuary is from the months of
October and June.

28 | P a g e