INCREDIBLE DESTINATIONS TO VIST FOR THE ULTIMATE WILDLIFE TOUR IN INDIA

The famous American professional zoologist and wildlife television documentary host Jim Fowler had once said, “The continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is important to the quality of life of humans.”

Thanks to the efforts of several Governments, India fortunately recognized the importance of wildlife conservation. From just five national parks half a century ago, India today has more than 100 national parks. There is abundance of wildlife from the towering Himalayans to the mesmerizing lush green settings of the Western Ghats; plains of Central India; and the world’s largest mangrove forests in Eastern India.

The stats says it all; India is home to over 70 percent of the world’s tigers; 60 percent of Asian Elephants; over 600 reptiles and 400 mammals; 1360 species of birds; and many more, not seen anywhere else in the world.

If you find these interesting, then book your Wildlife Tourism Packages in India from the best luxury tour operators, Exclusive India Journeys; and embark on the ultimate wildlife tour in India.

INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE DESTINATIONS

India offers some of the greatest nature and wildlife tourism destinations in the world.

Book your Wildlife Tour Packages today and make sure that it includes a trip to India’s finest nature and wildlife tourism destinations.

Like,

PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Located in Thekkadi in Kerala, it is a one-of-a-kind nature and wildlife tourism destination that’s open throughout the year, including the rainy season which generally is not the best time to see wildlife in India.

Set on a sprawling 952 square kms of lush greenery high in the Western Ghat ranges, Periyar National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary is among the most protected areas for elephants and tigers.

The park is home to

• Apart from elephants and tigers (over 40 tigers), animals like Sambar, Wild Pigs, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Indian Wild Dog, etc. Besides, it is also home to four species of primates like the rare lion-tailed macaque, Common Langur, Bonnet Macaque, and Niligiri Langur.

• Around 28 species of reptiles 246 species of birds; 49 species of mammals, 112 species of butterflies, 22 species of fishes, and 8 species of amphibians.

• Scenic lake at the heart of the sanctuary. It is an artificial lake that’s 100 years old

• Picturesque valleys that are home to evergreen tropical forest inclusive of extreme thick tree cover. The trees are fully grown to heights of up to 130 to 140 feet.

• Marshy grasslands near the edges of the lake and other water bodies.

For travel within the park, there are safari options like Elephant Safari, Jeep Safari, and Boat Cruises on Periyar Lake, (night safari and full day safari). Boat Cruises are the best option; they offer excellent peek into the wilds of the sanctuary.

The best time to visit would be from the months of October through to June.

RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK

No wildlife tourism packages in India can be complete without a trip to Ranthambore National Park, located near the town of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan; and about 130 kms from Jaipur.

Once a famous hunting ground of the royals of yore, today it is one of the largest and most renowned national wildlife parks in India that is home to some of the finest collection of wild animals like tigers, leopards, sloth bear, etc; 40 species of mammals; 35 species of reptiles; and 320 species of birds.

The park has

• Animals like the Royal Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Sloth Bears, Jackal, Desert Fox, Palm Civet, Striped Hyenas, Sambar Deer, Chital, Nilgai, Common or Hanuman Langurs, Jungle Cats, Black Bucks, Indian Wild Boar, Chinkara, etc.

• Birds like Serpent Eagle, Waterfowl, Sarus Crane, Sandpiper, Nightjar, Painted Spurfowl, Woodpeckers, Indian Gray Hornbills, Cuckoos, Bee Eaters, Graylag Goose, Cormorant, etc. Additionally, a large number of migratory birds make the park their home during the winter season. Most of the birds, can be found in and around three large lakes – Malik Talao, Padam Talao, and Rajbagh Talao.

• Reptiles like Marsh Crocodiles, Desert Monitor Lizards, Banded Kraits, Cobras, Common Kraits, Indian Pythons, Rat Snakes, Russell’s Vipers, Shelled Turtles, Indian Chameleon, etc.

The park also offers safari options like

• Jeep Safari; a 6-seater vehicle open from all sides, is available during mornings and evenings. Considered to be the best option for viewing wildlife and indulgence in photography, around 20 jeeps are allowed at a time; and what more, jeeps are also allowed in 10 eco-tourism zones. To avail JEEP SAFARI, book online at least 90 days well in advance, and the booking will be confirmed successful only after production of essential details and ID proofs. In some cases, last minute online safari bookings can be made.

• Canter Safari; considered to be suitable for large group of tourists; and one of the best ways to explore the rich wildlife of the park; available mornings and evenings. A canter is a 20-seater open bus that operates only in some of the safari zones in the park. To avail the safari option, it needs to be booked well in advance, although there is the option of last minute booking. Finally, canter safaris are available only from 1st October to 30th June in a year.

Apart from a rich collection of wild animals, birds, reptiles, flora, and fauna; the park is also home to several fascinating ruins; and old forts like the 10th century Ranthambore Fort; and Ganesh Mandir.

The best time for a visit is from the months of October through to June, with October to March being the most recommended. Weather will be pleasant with temperatures ranging between 10C and 30℃.

Don’t forget to include Ranthambore National Park in your Wildlife Tour Packages in India.

JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK

When it comes to tigers in India, Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve comes to one’s mind.

Now, if you want to see tigers in India, Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve should be your first destination of India Tiger Tour Package.

A part of the largest Corbett Tiger Reserve, Jim Corbett National Park located in Uttarakhand, is well-known for harboring a large number of tigers, the highest among the national parks in India.

Spread over 1318.54 sq km in the picturesque landscapes of Almora, Nainital, and Pauri Garhwal, Jim Corbett National Park established in 1936, and named after the legendary naturalist and conservationist, Jim Corbett, is India’s first ever national park.

• Is known as the place where Project Tiger was first launched in the year 1973.

• Comprises of six major different tourism zones with separate gates, manifested as buffer areas where visitors can enjoy a wildlife safari tour. Three zones are closed during the monsoon season while the other zones are open during the season – this aspect should be noted while booking the trip to the park.

• Harbors apart from tigers, wild elephants, wild boar, sambar, nilgai, sloth bears, and a number of bird species.

To see the wild animals including tigers up-close in their natural habitat, take a Jeep Safari. You will also get to enjoy the lush green forest sceneries cutting across streams, rivers, and waterfalls.

There are accommodations available inside the park for overnight stay. The best time for a visit is from the months of October through to February.

GIR NATIONAL PARK & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Spread over 1,412 sq km of which 258 km forms the core area of the National Park, Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary is a forested hilly terrain that is sandwiched halfway between Veraval and Junagadh, in Gujarat. What makes it a must visit part of your Wildlife Tour Packages in India is it is the last refuge of the majestic Asiatic Lion; and the only wildlife sanctuary in the world outside Africa where a lion can be seen in its natural habitat.

Founded in 1965 under the Project Tiger initiative, GIR National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary was once home to thousands and thousands of lions. It was the only indiscriminate hunting by the people of Junagadh that led to decline in their population over the years. At the same time, lions were completely wiped out from other parts of Asia. The compassionate efforts of the Nawabs of Junagadh brought a halt to indiscriminate hunting.

The lions of Gir are majestic in their appearance with a bigger tail tassle, bushier elbow tufs, and prominent belly folds than their African cousins which have a larger mane.

• Is home to over 40 species of mammals, and 425 species of birds like pygmy woodpecker, brown fish owl, black buck, etc.

• Is home to aside from Asiatic Lions, wild animals like Asiatic Wild Ass, Hyenas, Gir Foxes, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Four-headed Antelopes, Gazelles, Crocodiles, etc. There are leopards as well but they are rarely seen.

If you wish to see the lions and leopards up-close in their natural habitat, opt for a 45 minute bus tour that departs along the trails every hour. If you are lucky, you can also get to see other wild animals like mongoose, foxes, blackbuck, etc, in the park. Besides, under the guidance of an expert park guide, you can savor a lifetime experience of a dream sojourn in one of the most renowned wildlife sanctuaries in the world.

Remember, access to the park is strictly through a safari permit, and that too it must be booked well in advance online. In case, you happen to miss out a safari permit, you can fulfill your desire of encountering the lions at the Devalia Safari Park, a fenced-off part of the sanctuary. At this sanctuary, you can sight the lions in their natural habitat, but the sightings will be stage-managed.

It is once in a lifetime opportunity to watch the rare and majestic Asiatic Lions in their natural habitat. Grab the opportunity and fulfill your wildlife fantasies with a trip to Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary as a part of your Wildlife Tourism Packages in India.

The best time to visit Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary, as a part of your Wildlife Tour Packages in India, is from the months of November through to March.

KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

Considered to be one of the last areas in Eastern India that is undisturbed by human presence, Kaziranga National Park is inhabited by the world’s largest population of the famed one-horned Rhinoceroses.

Covering a massive 42,996 hectares, the park located on the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots – Golaghat and Nagaon districts in the heart of Assam state, was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.

In the year 2006, Kaziranga was also declared as Tiger Reserve as the tiger population had increased by leaps and bounds by then. Then, a few years later, the Park was declared as an important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species.

• Is sprinkled with elephant-grass meadows, swampy lagoons, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests.

• Is home to the world’s largest population of one-horned Rhinoceroses, as well as other wildlife animals like Tigers, Elephants, Panthers, Bears, Wild Water Buffalo, Hog Deer, Capped Langurs, Indian Bison, Swamp Deer, etc.

• Is home to thousands of bird species including White-Fronted Goose, Ferruginous Duck, Baer’s Pochard Duck, etc; and several migratory bird species like Black-Necked Stork, Asian Openbill Stork (they migrate from Central Asia during the winter season).

• Is home to aquatic species like Ganges River Dolphins (also called as South Asian River Dolphins – a rare species), etc. They can be best seen during a cruise journey downstream. During the cruise, you can also see an 11th century Hindu Temple.

• Is home to several exotic fauna that can be seen in lakes, ponds and along the river shores.

• Is home to several tree species. There are four types of vegetation like alluvial inundated grasslands, alluvial savanna woodlands, tropical moist mixed deciduous forests, and tropical semi-evergreen forests. Some popular trees that can be found in the park include Elephant Apple, Cotton Tree, Indian Gooseberry, etc.

Aside from the above attractions, the presence of the mighty Brahmaputra enhances the Park’s beauty and charm.

The park offers Jeep and Elephant Safari Tours. They can be leveraged in Mornings and Afternoons.

Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, special permission is required to enter the park. If granted, it is best to hire the services of an expert naturalist to guide you through the park’s varied flora and fauna. During this expedition, you can also spot resident elephants bathing with their mahouts in the River Brahmaputra.

The best time to visit is from the months of November through to April. From the months of May through to October end, the park will remain closed.

KANHA NATIONAL PARK

If you have booked Central India Wildlife Tour Package, then make Kanha National Park a part of your wildlife tour.

Nestled in the Maikal range of Satpuras in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India, it forms the part of the central Indian highlands. Spread over an area of 940 sq km in the Maikal chain of hills, Kanha National Park was declared as a reserve forest in 1879 and later in 1933, was revalued as a wildlife sanctuary. In 1955, its status was upgraded to a National Park.

The Park also has an additional buffer and core zone with the Kanha Tiger Reserve occupying a total area of 1945 sq km. Today, it is known as one of the finest wildlife areas in the world.

• Is home to luxurious meadows, wooden strands, crystal clear steams, and dense maroons of forests. They provide superb sightseeing experiences for nature lovers.

• Is home to several wildlife animals including Tiger, Panther, Sambar, Chital, Black Buck, Barking Deer, Gaur Langur, Wild Pig, Jackal, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, etc.

• Is home to over 300 bird species including Blossom-Headed Parakeets, Grey Hornbill, Luttle Grebes, Serpent Eagle, Indian Roller, Common Teal, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Ilbis, Bee-Eaters, Cattle Egret, Pond Heron, Pigeon, Woodpecker, Jungle Fowl, Steppe Eagle, White-Breasted Kingfisher, etc.

• Is home to reptiles like Python, Indian Cobra, Indian Krait, Russell’s viper, Common Rat, Rat Snake, Common Skink, Indian Garden Lizard, Throated Lizard, etc.

• Is home to fishes, like Mud Perches, Danio, Common Rasbora, Brown Snakehead, Green Snakehead, etc.

• Is home to several flora species. There are three types of forests, namely – Moist Peninsular Sal Forests, Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Forest, and Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Mixed Forest. These varieties boast over 200 species of flowering plants and major floras like Dhawa, Lendla, Palas, etc. Additionally, there are several species of Climbers, Forbs, and Grass,

• Is home to the most abundant variety of Barasingha, known as the ‘Jewel Of Kanha’.

The best location to enjoy seeing wildlife and the park’s famed beauty is the Bammi Dadar, known as the ‘Sunset Point’. One can also get the best view of the sunset from this place.

The best time for a visit is from the months of October through to March.