7 Best Wildlife Sanctuaries to Take Your Little Ones on World Wildlife Day
India is a land of varied flora and fauna. You can even find several hamlets in the country where spotting animals like elephants, leopards, jackals, foxes is not a big deal. This is a perfect country for people who are nature lovers. And if your kids want to witness Asiatic lions, Royal Bengal tigers, panthers, one-horned rhinoceros at their natural habitat, you must take them to the wildlife sanctuaries here. You can plan a road trip to these wildlife sanctuaries since you can also explore the nearby cities. So let us take a look at the popular wildlife sanctuaries in India.
7 Best wildlife sanctuaries in India
- Kaziranga National Park
- Ranthambore National Park
- Kanha National Park
- Sundarbans National Park
- Bandhavgarh National Park
- Govind Wildlife Sanctuary
- Sariska National Park
1. Kaziranga National Park
One World Wildlife Day 2022, you must plan a road trip to Kaziranga National Park. Covering a vast area, dotted by tall elephant grass, this is one national park that you must not miss out on visiting. This is a World Heritage Site where you can witness the beautiful and unique one-horned rhinoceros. On the swamps here, you can also find wild Asiatic water buffalo. The nearest city to this national park is Gauhati.
- Distance from Gauhati: 193 km
- Best time to travel: November to February
- Nearby destinations to visit: Gauhati, Shillong
- Things to do: Elephant safari, jeep safari, bird watching, visit Kakochang waterfall, tea estate tour, etc.
2. Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park is also one of the popular wildlife destinations in India which is frequented by many wildlife enthusiasts. This national park is surrounded by Chambal and Banas Rivers and has gained popularity for housing majestic tigers. However, you will also be able to find several other animals here such as wild boar, nilgai, leopard, hyena, and sambar.
- Distance from Jaipur: 190.7 km
- Best time to travel: November to February
- Nearby destinations to visit: Trinetra Ganesh Temple, Ranthambore Fort, Jogi Mahal, Hammir Palace,
- Things to do: Jungle safari
3. Kanha National Park
It is the grassy fields and bamboo forests of Kanha National Park that inspired Rudyard Kipling to write The Jungle Book. The area is large here and is perfect for the animals to live. From giant antlers to barasingha, you can find several types of animals here well protected. The other animals that you can spot here are mongoose, hyenas, peacocks, tigers, jungle fowls, panthers, sloths, and langurs.
- Distance from Jabalpur: 129 km
- Best time to travel: December to February
- Nearby destinations to visit: Kanha Museum, Kawardha Palace, Mandla, Amarkantak, Jabalpur, etc.
- Things to do: Wild safari, Elephant safari, Night safari, Trekking, Nature walk, etc.
4. Sundarbans National Park
One of the most interesting and famous places to visit for wildlife lovers is Sundarbans National Park. It is the largest mangrove forest in the world that covers an area of over ten thousand kilometers. In the delta of the Bay of Bengal, these forests are located between two countries, India and Bangladesh. This is the home to the very popular and majestic Royal Bengal Tiger. However, you can also find a huge population of various types of snakes and crocodiles here.
- Distance from Kolkata: 97.8 km
- Best time to travel: December to February
- Nearby destinations to visit: Kolkata, Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower, Netidhopani, Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary
- Things to do: Bird watching, Canopy walk, etc.
5. Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the lesser-known wildlife places in India that once upon a time was used by the maharajas of the land for hunting. In the present day, the area is highly protected and home to several wild animals. Bandhavgarh has the maximum number of tigers and it is also the breeding ground for panthers. You can even spot nilgai and deer here.
- Distance from Jabalpur: 166 km
- Best time to travel: November to February
- Nearby destinations to visit: Jabalpur, Amarkantak, Kanha National Park, etc.
- Things to do: Open jeep safari
6. Govind Wildlife Sanctuary
One of the hidden wildlife destinations that not many people know about is Govind Wildlife Sanctuary. Covering an area of 953 sq. km, the sanctuary is dotted by thick forests. While you can certainly spot Himalayan black bear, musk deer, tragopan, Himalayan serow, Himalayan Monal, etc. here, this sanctuary is not all about fauna. The snow-laden peaks here are equally beautiful and something to witness.
- Distance from Dharkadhi: 17 km
- Best time to travel: April to June; September to November
- Nearby destinations to visit: Kedarnath Trek, Marinda Tal, Sankri, Borasu Pass, etc.
- Things to do: Trekking, nature walk
7. Sariska National Park
Declared as a wildlife reserve in 1955, Sariska National Park is one of the Tiger Reserves and parks that is frequented by wildlife lovers to get a sight of the large cats. It is the first national park in the world that was adopted by the royal Bengal tigers as a natural habitat. The other animals that you can find here include jungle cats, Golden jackals, striped hyenas, and leopards.
- Distance from Alwar: 41.6 km
- Best time to travel: October to February
- Nearby destinations to visit: The Sariska Palace, Siliserh Lake, Bhangarh Fort, Kesroli Hill Fort. etc.
- Things to do: Spotting wild animals, bird watching, trekking, etc.
If you are planning a road trip in India with your kids to the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, then you can choose any of the options from the list mentioned above. And to make your trip super convenient, you can go for a self-drive car rental service from Revv. To get a car on rent from Revv, you can download the Revv app on your phone and start checking out the cars available on the site.