New Delhi: Winter has arrived, rather it is taking a peek right now before making a full-fledged appearance. India has no dearth of wildlife sanctuaries and the winter is one of the best seasons to visit these places and catch a glimpse of the diverse flora and fauna that the country has to offer. It is a glorious time for travellers who love a wide range of flora and fauna in the national parks in India. In this article, we take a look at the wildlife sanctuaries that one must visit this winter.
Top 7 Wildlife Sanctuaries for Your Indian Winter Getaway
Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park is a national park in Uttarakhand’s Nainital. It was established in 1936 and is the first national park in India. In 1956, it was renamed Corbett National Park after the hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett, who had played a leading role in its establishment and had died the year before. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative. Mammals in the park are represented by the Indian elephant, Indian leopard, Bengal tiger, jungle cat, fishing cat and leopard cat, barking deer, sambar deer, hog deer and chital, among others.
Gir National Park
Also called Sasan Gir, it is a forest, national park, and wildlife sanctuary near Gujarat’s Talala Gir. It was established in 1965 in the erstwhile Nawab of Junagarh’s private hunting area. It is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion. Today, it is the only place in Asia where Asiatic lions are found and because of its diversity, it is considered one of the most important protected areas in Asia. The Gir ecosystem with its diverse flora and fauna is protected due to efforts of the government forest department, wildlife activists and NGOs.
Ranthambore National Park
The Ranthambore National Park is a national park in Rajasthan. It is named after the historic Ranthambore Fort within the park and is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. The park is home to more than 270 species of birds, including painted francolin, Indian paradise flycatcher, and crested serpent eagle. However, it is famous for its population of Bengal tiger. There are over 300 species of trees, including over 100 of medicinal importance.
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam’s Sonitpur, Golaghat, Nagaon and Biswanath districts. The park hosts two-thirds of the Indian rhinoceroses of the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2006, it became a Tiger Reserve. The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. Also, Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species. Since it is located on the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot’s edge, the park combines high species diversity and visibility.
Kanha Tiger Reserve
Also called the Kanha-Kisli National Park, it is a tiger reserve and the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. The present-day Kanha area is divided into two protected areas, Hallon and Banjar, respectively. On June 1, 1955, the Kanha National Park was created and in 1973, it became a tiger reserve. Today, it encompasses the two districts Mandla and Balaghat. The park hosts the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, barasingha and dhole. It is also India’s first tiger reserve to officially introduce a mascot, Bhoorsingh the Barasingha.
Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria. Bandhavgarh became a national park in 1968 and in 1993, it became a Tiger Reserve. The current core area is spread over 716 square kilometres. Bandhavgarh has a terrific biodiversity with a large breeding population of leopards and several species of deer. In 1951, the first white tiger in this region was captured by Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa. One of the biggest attractions of this national park is the Bengal tiger and it is present in high density within its jungles. Bandhavgarh has one of the highest density of tigers known in the world and is home to some well-known tigers which are large.
Pench National Park
Pench National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh. It was established in 1975 and is part of Pench Tiger Reserve. The park gets its name from the Pench River that flows through the park from north to south dividing the park. In 1965, it became a sanctuary. In 1975, it became a national park and was enlisted as a tiger reserve in 1992. Pench National Park hosts the Bengal tiger, chital, sambar, nilgai, wild boar golden jackal, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, dhole, porcupine, Semnopithecus entellus, Rhesus monkey, jungle cat, striped hyena, gaur, four-horned antelope and barking deer and is home to more than 200 species of birds.
India’s wildlife sanctuaries offer unparalleled beauty during winter. This article highlights seven must-visit locations, including Jim Corbett, known for its tigers, and Kaziranga, famous for one-horned rhinoceroses. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
