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Wildlife Parks of North India

Corbett National Park
Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary (Bharatpur)
Sariska Tiger Reserve
Sawai madhopur National Park (Ranthambhor)
Kanha
Bandhavgarh

Map of Major Wildlife Parks in India

Corbett National Park
Cradled in the foothills of Himalayas, Corbett is India's first national park and also one of her finest. The park is named after the famous Jim Corbett, the legendery hunter turned naturalist author and photographer who was largely responsible for demarkating boundaries of the park and setting it up.

Spread over a large forest area of 520 sq. km.(201 sq. miles), its dense forests teem with wildlife, the famous tigers of Kumaon, of which Jim Corbett wrote so much, panthers, wild boar, sloth bears, elephants, deer, python, crocodiles among others. (A rich variety of over 50 mammals, 580 birds and 25 reptile species have been listed in Corbett. The insect life in itself is astounding.)

Corbett is a haven for Tigers. Other species of the cat family found in the park are Leopard, Leopard Cat, the Jungle Cat and the rare Fishing Cat. Sloth Bear is found in the bijrani area of the park, the Himalayan Black Bear is seen on the higher hills, the Dhole or the Wild Dog is rare and can be seen in the Bijrani area, the Jackals are commonly seen in the park. The Yellow Throated Marten, the Himalayan Palm Civet, the Indian Grey Mongoose, the Common Otter and the Blacknaped Hare are some of the smaller mammals found in the park. The Pocupine can be spotted at night. Elephants are one of the main attraction of the park, the whole jungle belongs to them. Sighting a entire herd crossing the road could be a lifetime experience. There are about four species of deer in the park , Chital (Axis Axis), the well known spotted deer and considered one of the most beautiful in the world. A smaller cousin of Chital is the Para (Axis porcinus), The Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Kakkar (Muntiacus muntjak) also known as the barking deer.

Within the park, an area of 123.5 sq.miles is the core where no kind of disturbance is permitted. Through this valley run three forested ridge systems roughly parellel to one another and in the same direction. In between the northern ridge and the median ridge run the Ramganga river and lake which attracts more than 500 species of water birds both migrant and others mainly in winter. Some of these are: Greylag and Bar headed Goose, Ducks of many kind, Great creseted Grebe, Snipe, Sanpiper, Plover, Gull,and Wagtails. Some of the residents areDarters, Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, the blacknecked Stork and the spurwinged Lapwing. The commonly seen raptors in Corbett are Osprey, Crested Serpent Eagle, Blackwinged Kite, Shikra, Pallas fishing Eagle, Grayheaded fishing Eagle, Spotted Eagle and Harrier. Some of the other birds found in the forest are Minivets, Shrikes, Babblers, Doves, Drongos, Cuckoos, Parakeets, Barbets, 17 kinds of Woodpeckers, Thrushes, Peafowl, Khalij Pheasant and Red junglefowl. The rare Chir pheasant is found in the higher hills. The vultures commonly found are the Indian White -backed, Himalayan longbilled, and the King or Black Vulture. The nocturnal birds are the Nightjars, Thich-knees, Owls and the Owlets. By the river, the Great Stone Plover and Stone Curlew hunt at night.

Crocodiles- both the Gharial and Mugger can be sighted when they come out on the sand banks to bask in the sun. Sporting fish such as Masheer ( barbustor) and Malee (wallago attu) abound in the water.

Reptiles found in the area are the India Phython, Viper, Cobra, Krait and the dreaded King Cobra and various type of lizards.

110 species of trees, 51 species of shurbs and over 33 species of bamboo and grasses are found. The park is known for its almost pure Sal ( Shorea robusta) which stands in the lower hill ridges and flat valleys. The river area is clothed in Sesham ( Dalbergia sissoo), Khair ( Acacia catechu). On the higher ridges Bakli ( Anogeissus latifolia) which enriches the hue of the park with its reddish leaves and pale bark, Chir (Pinus roxburghi), Anauri ( Legestroemia). The savannah grasslands are covered with variety of grasses like Thaemeda arundinacea, Vetiveria zizanioides and Thysanulena maxima.

Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary (Bharatpur)
A wonder of the natural world no less worth seeing than the marble tomb of Shah Jahan's queen. Over 350 species of birds find refuge in the 11sq miles ( 29 sq Km) of shallow lakes and woodland which make up the park. A third of them are migrants many of whom spend winter in Bharatpur before returning to their breeding grounds as far away as Siberia and Central Asia. Some 120 species nest in the park and heronry at Keoladeo Ghana is said to be one of the finest in the world.

While many of India's parks have been developed from the hunting preserves of Princely India, Keoladeo Ghana is perhaps the only one where the habitat has been created by a Maharaja. The Maharaja developed the area in the late 19th Century. Until then it was no different from arid scrub woodland of the surrounding countryside except that it formed a slight depression which collected rainwater during the monsoon and attracted wildfowl for the period before it dried up. The Maharaja recognized the area's potential and augmented the water supply by diverting the water from nearby irrigation canals. In a few years the new ecosystem so flourished that it was able to support thousands of water birds. The Maharaja celeberated his success with extravagant shooting parties for the dignitaries of British and princely states. Their exploits are recorded to this day on a sandstone incription in the park.

Perhaps surprisingly , the birds survived this depradations and still came to Bharatpur in huge numbers. In 1956 the hunting preserve became sanctuary. The name Keoladeo Ghana was given when the sanctuary was upgraded to National Park in 1981. Keoladeo is the name of the ancient Hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva which stands in the centre of the park. "Ghana" means dense, referring to the thick forest which used to cover the area.

Keoladeo Ghana lies 1214 feet above sea level and, besides the wetland for which it is famous, contains various other habitats from woodland, scrubs and pasture to denuded saline patches. The lake is fed entirely by rain and river water brought by canal from Gambir and Banganga rivers. The Ghana canal, bisects the park, running northeast to northwest. One main metaled road runs through the centre of the park from the northern entrance, through the main wetland area on the eastern side of the park where it follows the course of the Ghana canal. Babuls are the dominant trees in the area and undergrowth along them provide excellent blinds for bird watching. There are many good paths in the park and several trails, beginning and ending at various points on the road which are highly recommended for gameviewing.

Keoladeo Ghana contains a bewildering variety of Flora representing 64 families, 181 general and 227 subspecies. Beside Babul, other native species of the trees include Ber, Kalam, Khajur, Khejri. Dozen of species of grasses and reeds abound providing rich grazing for birds and mamals alike.

Among the fishes are Rohu ( labeo rohita), Bata (labeo bata), Calbasu (labeo calbasu), Mrigal (Cirrhina mrigal) and Sarana (Barbus sarhana). Predatory fish include Murrel (ophocephalus strictus) and frehwater Shark (wallago attu).

At the start of the peak season in October the heronries are still occupied, although breeding starts shortly after onset of monsoon. Thousand of bird nest together in mixed heronries, dominated by different species in different parts of the sanctuary. Some of the most spectacular heronries are situated near the road and can be approached by the raised paths running off it. The crowded and noisy colonies are constructed on the babul trees which stand half submerged in water. As many as 8 to 9 species of birds may nest on one tree. Painted Storks, White Ibis, Openbills, Spoonbills, Egrets, Herons, Cormorants and Shags are in abundance, while thousand of Moorhens and Jacanas breed in floating vegetation on the water surface. In October migratory birds from far off places begin to arrive in the park.

Among the ducks, geese and waders that come to the park are Gadwal, Wiegon, Shovlers, Garganey, Marbled, common and white-eyed Pochard. Greylag and Bar-headed Geese also appear in large numbers and waders include various species of Plover, Sandpiper and Snipe. Two species of Pelican, the rosy and dalmatian join the resident gray pelican.

Migratory birds are known to travel as far as 3635 miles (5850 km). The most sought after is the Siberian Crane. They arrive in December from Siberia and stay till March. The journey to Bharatpur takes them 3977 miles(6400 km).

Sariska Tiger Reserve
Dominated by sharp cliffs of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravali mountain ranges, the forests are dry and decidious. The grassy glades and woodland covers are excellent niches for the prey species, sambar, cheetal, nilgai, four horned antelope, wild boar and common langur, tiger, leopard and their followers jackal, hyena and jungle cat. Porcupines, being nocturnal are conspicois after dark. One can easily count 200 peafowls at Kalighati any day. The ruins of temples of Garh - Rajor of the 10th and 11th centuries remind of the past glories of the area. A castle on a sharp hill top stands as a sentinal of its mediaeval heritage.

Ranthambhor National Park (Sawai Madhopur )
History and natural history blend inproper proportion in this National Park, a famous tiger reserve under Project Tiger. Here samber, chital, chinkara, nilgai, wild boar and common langur provide a good spectrum of prey for the tigers it is a 392 skq km of unique habitat of dry decidious forests with over 300 species of bird - like peafowl, parakeets, partridges, storks, egrets, flycatchers, eagles, owls and migratory varieties in winter monts that include the black eagle, greylag goose and ruddy shelduck and pintails.

Kanha
In Madhya Pradesh, has sometime been called the N'Gorongoro of India. The simile is apt, Kanha is far greener and its cordon of hills far more densely wooded. The horse shoe shaped valley, which accounts for nearly a third and the oldest part of Kanha National Park, is bound by two distant spurs emanating from main Mekal ridge, forming its southern rim. Kanha's sal bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq. km. in dramatic natural splendor. This original Kipling country, of which he wrote so vividly in " The Jungle Book." The same abundance of wildlife species exists today in Kanha National Park which forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger.

The range of elevation from 1480 ft to 2950 ft gives it a rich habitat diversity. The rims of the plateaus have steep rocky slopes and often, escarpments. The latter provide a rare stance for breathtaking views of the valleys below and hills beyond. The drive down these plateaus is through exquisite wild country. Huge trees of Bija ( pterocarpus marsupium), haldu (Adina cardifolia) and Dhaora (Anogeissus latifolia) along with host of large and small trees comprise the thick forest n the slopes. Sighting the red Jungle fowl, the painted spur fowl or a shy barking deer pausing at theroadside glade and some Gaur and Sambar, is common. What may distinguish such a drive is the Leopard hurtling down a tree or one simply walking along the road.

The swamp deer or Barasingha is the jewel of Kanha. The best area are the meadows around Kanha, where Blackbuck, Chital and Barasingha can be seen through out the day. Bamni Dadar known as the Sunset point, this is one of the most beautiful areas of the park , from where a spectacular sunset can be watched. the dense luxuriance of Kanha's forest can be seen from here. Animals that can be sighted around this point are typical of mixed forest zone: sambar, barking deer, gaur and the four horned antelope.

Kanha has some 22 species of mammal. The most easily spotted are the striped palm squirrels, common Langur, jackal, wild pig, chital. The raw beauty of the Kanha wilderness is satisfying because of diverse miscellany of mammal and bird life. So much is seen in so short time.

Kanha is known as the best place in the world to see Tigers. Sighting Tigers on drives is not uncommon, but seeing and photographing tigers from elephant back, sometimes after a thrilling systematic track, is a memorable experience. The game tracking is thrilling and affords a real feel of the dynamic wilderness, something happening or expected to happen all the time. Many a time leopard can be seen; other rare sightings may include a monitor lizard or a porcupine or a python.

Kanha's birdlife is rich, the tally of species being close to 300. Mornings are full of rich bird calls. Peafowl, sometimes dancing peacocks can be seen. The Indian roller, racket-tailed drongo, red and yellow wattled lapwing, green bee- eater, 5 speceis of doves, gray hornbill, tree pie, myna, munia, bushcaht, warbler, flycatcher, babbler and woodpecker are commonly seen. Blackheaded and golden oriole, paradise fly catcher, pied malabar hornbill, Indian pitta, Indian stone curlew, common gray and painted patridge and green pigeon are seen often on drives and elephant rides. Water birds such as Black ibis, white-necked and lesser adjutant storks, white-breasted and pied kingfisher are also abundant. The main birds of prey seen around the park swooping down on and catching or feeding on small mammals, snakes and birds are: crested serpent eagle, crested honey buzzard, white eyed buzzard, blackwinged kite, shikra, laggar and shaheen falcon and a number of owls also occasinally one can see black and longbilled vultures.

Bandhavgarh
This is a small National Park; compact, yet full of game. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India. Situated in Shahdol district among the outlying hills of Vindya Range covering 448 Sqkm. This is also White tiger country. Bhandhavgarh is densely populated with other species ; the great Gaur or the indian Bison can be seen with ease as they come onto the meadows to graze at dusk. Sambar and Barking Deer are common sight, Neegai are seen in the more open areas of the park.The terrain is of great rocky hills rising sharply from swampy and densely- forested valley bottoms. The finest of these hills is Bhandhavgarh, sided with great cliffs and eroded rocks and on its higest point stands Bandavgarh Fort, thought to be more that 2000 Years old. Scattered throughout the park , and particularly around the fort are numerous caves containg shrines and ancient Sanskrit inscriptions. The vegetation is chiefly of Sal forest in the valleys and lower slopes, gradually changing to mixed decidious forest on the hills and in the hotter, drier areas of the park in the south and west. Bamboo is found throughout.

There are three well defined seasons - the cool ( From October till February) , - the hot ( from March till middle of June) and the wet ( from middle of June till end of September). The mean annual rainfall in the area is 1173mm. The temprature is known to rise to 42 degrees in peak summer month and goes down in Winters to 4 degrees.

There are more that 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaque represent the primate group. Carnivores include the Asiatic Jackals, Bangal Fox , Sloth Bear, Ratel, Grey Mongoose, Stripped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard and Tiger. The artiodactyls frequently sighted are wild pigs , Spotted Deer, Sambar, Chausingha, Nilgai, Chinkara and Gaur. Mammals such as Dhole, The small Indian Civet,Palm Squirrel and lesser Bandicoot Rat are seen occasionally. The Bird viewing in this area is a treat. The common ones are little Grebe, Egerts, Sauras Crane, Black Ibis, Buzzards, Serpent Eagle, Kingfisher, Dove, Black Vulture and many more. Reptilian fauna include King Cobra, Krait, Viper, ratsnake, Python, Turtle and number of lizard varities.

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