IWas Mowgli, after all, more than a figment of Kipling’s imagination? A recent news article talked about how a wolf-boy was rescued from the Indian jungles by a British
about the time Kipling started writing his legendary book.

Whatever the facts, the truth is that no nation on earth has more varied or spectacular wildlife and nature than India. And few countries have made a more resolute effort to preserve their native species in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Consider this. India has one of the world’s richest natural heritage:65000 species of fauna including 350 of mammals(7.6% of the world’s total), 408 of reptiles(6.2%), 197 of amphibians (4.4%), 1244 of birds (12.6%), 2546 of fish(11.7%) as well as 15000 of flowering plants (6%). ?The country also has some 16 major forest types which can be further subdivided into 221 minor types.

For the nature enthusiast, there are perhaps more than 450 national parks and sanctuaries in India, along with the splendid diversity of its natural wonders.

In fact, plan a trip to experience the Indian wild and you may be inspired to spin a yarn of your own that will become folklore.

Wildlife and Nature Reserves

Dachigam National Park is one of India’s most scenic wildlife reserves. It is located about 22 Kms. From Srinagar and forms almost half of the famous Dal Lake’s catchment area. Dachigam is considered home to some of the unique Himalayan flora and fauna. Primary amongst them is the hangul or Kashmir stag, the most endangered species of red deer in the world. May to August for upper Dachigam and September to December for lower Dachigam.

Corbett National Park is located in the Terai region of the state of Uttaranchal, straddling the undulating shivalik foothills of the Himalayas. Located around 300kms. Away from New Delhi, it is India’s first ever National Park. Over 50 mammals, 580 birds and 25 reptile species have been listed in the Corbett National Park. Leopards as well as lesser cats such as the leopard car, jungle cat, fishing cat are also found here. The sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, dhole, Jackal, Yellow throated marten, Himalayan palm civet, Indian grey mongoose, common otter, porcupine and clacktaped hare are the other attractions of this area. Its is possible to see elephants all over the park.

Rajaji National Park situated at the edge of the sprawling Dehradun valley, the Rajaji National Park was founded in 1966 and covers an area of about 820 sq.kms. The wildlife here includes elephant, tiger, panther, bear, chital, sambar, wild boar, kakar, python, monitor lizard and a wide variety of avian fauna.

Dudhwa National Park covering an area of about 500 sq.kms, Dudhwa National Park, along the Indo-Nepal border in Kheri district of uttar Pradesh, is best known for the Barasingha or swamp Deer. Among the big cats, tigers about at Dudhwa. There are also a few leopards. The other animals found in large numbers, are the Indian one-horned rhinoceros and then Wild Elephant. Other animals that are found in Dudhwa are jungle cats, leopard cats, fishing cats, jackals, civets, sloth bears, sambar, otters, crocodiles and chital.

Bharatpur National Park situated in estern Rajasthan, about 176 kms. Away from Delhi, and 50 kms west of Agra, is the Keoladeo Ghana or Bharatpur National Park, one of the most spectacular bird sanctuaries in India, nesting indigenous water-birds as well as migratory water birds and water side birds. It is also inhabited by sambar, chital, nilgai and boar. More than 300 species of birds are found in this small park of 29 sq. Kms., of which 11 sq.kms. are marshes and the rest, scrubland and grassland. Crane of all the exotic migrant birds that arrive in Bharatpur every year.

Ranthambore National Park is near the township of Sawai Madhopur, in the state of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National park is an outstanding example of project Tiger’s efforts at tiger conservation in the country. Sariska Tiger Reserve is located at Kankwari fort, near Alwar, on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway. The terrain is predominantly hilly, as it lies in the Aravalli range. It has total area of 788 sq. kms., with a core area of approximately 474 sq. kms. The beautiful siliserh Lake runs along the edge of the reserve, with a quaint hunting lodge overlooking it.

Gir National Park And sanctuary it is the only remaining habitat of the Asiatic lion, which has been confined to this forest since 1884(around 300 lions were reported in 1995). The Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African cousin. Nevertheless, a large male lion of the Gir is quite a sight to behold. The chinkara, wild boar, striped hyena, jackal, leopard, fox, musk shrew, India Pangolin, deer, common langur, porcupine, hare, black buck and crocodiles are the other animals that can be found in this sanctuary.

Marine National Park 30kms. From jamnagar, Gujarat, in an area of 458 sq.kms., main attractions here are the coral Reef formations, unique feature is this is India’s first marine national park. Main park population is the Turtles, Shrimp, Spinge, eels, and sea urchin lurk among the corals and huge schools of fish create a brilliance of colours that are unknown, unseen and unimaginable.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park was established in 1974 towards north of central Mumbai, which is now covering 94 sq.kms. The area includes a safari park and a Deer Park. The park has two small Lakes and the Kanheri caves A large variety of birds can also be seen here. Bandhavgarh National Park where 22 species of mammals and 200 species of birds are found. Some of the inhabitants of this park are the rhesus macaque, the black faced langur, jungle cats, chinkara, black buck and the chital. The park attracts many migratory birds in the winter months that include the steppe eagle and a variety of water birds. Reptilian fauna includes cobra, krait, python, turtle and a variety of lizards. Kanha National Park boasts of about 22 species of mammals. Some of the inhabitants of this park are the gaur, the sambar and the chausingha, Other frequent visitors include the nilgai antelope, the sloth bear, the dhole or Indian wild dog and an occasional panther, Some 200 species of birds inhabit the park that include the cattle egret, black ibis, hawk eagle and the red-wattled lapwing.

Bandipur National Park is about 874.20 sq. kms. Bandipur situated in the Mysore district which is also a Tiger Reserve with its open grassy woodland, lies to the south of the Kabini River while Nagarhole, 643.39 sq.km. in area to the north of the river, has taller and denser forests. Bandipur, lying in the shadow of the Western Ghats, is one of the finest habitats of the Asian elephant. Drained by the moyar River , its open forest makes it easy for visitors to see the elephant and gaur in natural surroundings. Bhadra wildlife sanctuary is in the Chikmangalur and Shimoga districts, is the most fascinating sanctuaries. The jungles shelter some exquisite flora and fauna. The great Indian gaur, barking deer, flying fox, mongoose, elephant, panther, babbler, barber all have their home in the forests of Bhadra wildlife sanctuary.

Nagarhole National Park once an exclusive hunting preserve of the erstwhile rulers of Mysore, the terrain of this park is gently undulating with lush green vegetation, swamps and numerous water resources, rendering it an ideal habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. The forest is home to the animals like the four-honed antelope, sloth bear, jungle cat, civet, spotted deer, elephant, wild dog, flying fox, tiger, panther, gaur (Indian bison), sambar, wild boar, black-napad hare, bonnet macaque and pangolin.. Cobras, crocodiles, kraits, pythons, vipers, and several species of lizards are also found here.

And yet many more National Parks across the country is found with different species of different ranges of mammals , birds, fauna and flora are found across the country. Thus the challenging trucking places, water, lakes, rivers and green thick forests across the place is found.