August 27, 2023 12 min to read

Top 10 National Parks You Must Visit in India

A National Park is a designated area created by the government to safeguard the natural environment, wildlife, and biodiversity. These protected areas fall under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which prohibits illegal hunting, poaching, and grazing.

India has spectacular 106 national parks, each offering a unique and breathtaking experience for nature lovers. For those seeking the ultimate adventure, we have curated a list of the top 10 national parks that are truly worth visiting at least once in your lifetime.

These exceptional destinations are sure to leave you in awe with their stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unforgettable experiences.

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• History of National Parks in India
• Number of National Parks State Wise
• Top 10 National Parks in India
  • Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
    • Entry Fee for Jim Corbett National Park
  • Kaziranga National Park, Assam
    • Entry Fee for Kaziranga National Park
  • Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
    • Entry Fee for Ranthambore National Park
  • Periyar National Park, Kerala
    • Entry Fee for Periyar National Park
  • Gir National Park, Gujarat
  • Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
  • Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
  • Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
    • Entry Fee for Bandhavgarh National Park
  • Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh
    • Entry Fee for Dudhwa National Park
  • Silent Valley National Park
    • Entry Fee for Silent Valley National Park
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • 1. How many national parks are there in India in 2023?
  • 2. Which is the largest national park in India?
  • 3. Which is the smallest national park in India?
  • 5. Which is the oldest national park in India?
• Conclusion

History of National Parks in India

The first national park in India was established in 1936 in Uttarakhand district of India. It was named as Hailey National Park. Later in 1957, it was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park. It was named after the famous hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett. He was the one who played a major role in the establishment of the park.

Number of National Parks State Wise

India has a total of 106 National Parks, distributed across different states. Below is a list of states and the corresponding number of national parks present in each state.

Top 10 National Parks in India

Every national park in India is unique in its way. Here is the list of the top 10 national parks in India that you should visit at least once in your life.

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

One of the most famous and oldest national parks with a lot of biodiversity and wildlife it is one of the best national parks in India. It is located in Uttarakhand and is famous for its tiger safari and situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is spread over 520 sq km.

It was established in 1936 in British India as Hailey National Park making it the first national park in India. Later in 1957, it was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park after the famous hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett. He was the one who played a major role in the establishment of the park.

With a high density(250+) of tigers, it is one of the best places to spot tigers in India. It has 5 zones for safari and each zone has its specialty. You can book safari online on the official website of Jim Corbett National Park.

• Zone 1: Bijrani Safari Zone
• Zone 2: Jhirna Safari Zone
• Zone 3: Dhela Safari Zone
• Zone 4: Dhikala Safari Zone
• Zone 5: Durga Devi Safari Zone

Apart from tigers, you can also spot elephants, leopards, deer, and many other animals. It is also a beautiful place for bird watching. You can spot many birds like peacocks, kingfishers, eagles, etc.

Entry Fee for Jim Corbett National Park

• Indians: INR 200 (approx.) per person
• Foreigners: INR 900 (approx.) per person

Kaziranga National Park, Assam

Famous National park for unique and rare one-horned rhinoceros made in the top second position in our list. It is located in the Northeastern state of Assam and is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The jeep safari and elephant safari are available to explore the beauty of Kaziranga national park.

Apart from one-horned rhinoceros, you can also spot water buffalo, elephants and other animals will make your trip memorable. Park is divided into 4 safari zone. you can take a safari in any zone whichever you like.

• Zone 1: Western Safari Zone, Bagori Kaziranga
• Zone 2: Central Safari Zone, Kohora Kaziranga
• Zone 3: Eastern Safari Zone, Agaratoli Kaziranga
• Zone 4: Burapahar Range Safari Zone, Ghorakati Kaziranga

Entry Fee for Kaziranga National Park

• Indians: INR 100 (approx.) per person
• Foreigners: INR 650 (approx.) per person

Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

With the royal history of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is in the top third position on our list. It is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. With an area of 1334 sq km, it is one of the biggest national parks in India.

It was esatblished in 1955 and named as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary. Later in 1973, it was renamed as Ranthambore National Park and declared as a tiger reserve. Dated back to 10th century, Ranthambore Fort is also located in the Ranthambore National Park.

Apart from Ranthambore there are also 4 tiger reserve in the Rajasthan. Dhoulpur-Karauli, Sariska, Mukundra Hills and Ramgarh Vishdhari are the other tiger reserve in Rajasthan. Dholpur-Karauli is the latest addition to the tiger reserve in Rajasthan created in October 2023.

You can spot many wild animals like:

• Bengal Tigers
• Indian Leopard
• Caracal
• Indian Elephant
• Hog Deer
• Chinkara

Entry Fee for Ranthambore National Park

• Indians: INR 100 (approx.) per person
• Foreigners: INR 600+ per person

Periyar National Park, Kerala

With the beautiful western ghats, famous for tiger safari and elephant safari, Periyar National Park is in the top fourth position in our list. It is located in the Idukki district of Kerala. It has a beautiful lake where you can enjoy boating as well.

Entry Fee for Periyar National Park

• Indians: INR 50 (approx.) per person
• Foreigners: INR 500 (approx.) per person

Gir National Park, Gujarat

The only place in India where you can spot Asiatic lions established in 1965, Gir National Park is placed in the top fifth position in our list.

It is located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. Apart from Asiatic lions, you can also spot leopards, deer, and many other animals. Gir National Park has a wide variety of deer like Chital, Nilgai, Sambar, and Chinkara.

you can also visit bird-watching points in Gir National Park. You can spot many birds like Flamingoes, Woodpeckers, eagles, etc.

Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Famous for its Barasinghas, located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is placed in the top sixth position in our list. It is a protected area for Barasinghas and a rare species of Swamp Deer. The best time to visit Kanha National Park is from April to June.

Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal

It’s not possible to complete the list of the top 10 national parks in India without mentioning Sundarbans National Park. Famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers, Sundarbans National Park is placed in the top seventh position on our list. It is located in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

The best time to visit the Sunderbans National Park is from October to March. You can spot endangered species like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Deer and other animals. Boat safari is the best way to explore the beauty of Sundarbans National Park.

Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

With more than 50+ tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park is placed in the top eighth position on our list. It is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh.

It is famous for its tiger safari. You can spot tigers, leopards, deer, and many other animals. There are 4 safari zones in Bandhavgarh National Park. You can book safari online on the official website of Bandhavgarh National Park.

Entry Fee for Bandhavgarh National Park

• Indians: INR 75 per person
• Foreigners: INR 500 per person

Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh

With a wide variety of wildlife species and the only national park in Uttar Pradesh, Dudhwa National Park is placed in the top ninth position on our list.

It is located in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. It’s famous for Gangetic Dolphins, Tigers, Hog Deers, alligators, and many other animals which make it unique and one of the best national parks in India. If you are planning to visit Dudhwa National Park, then you should visit between November to May.

Entry Fee for Dudhwa National Park

• Indians: INR 50 per person
• Foreigners: INR 300 per person

Silent Valley National Park

Famous for its Lion-tailed, macaque, Nilgiri langur, and many other animals, Silent Valley National Park is placed in the top tenth position on our list.

It is located in the Palakkad district of Kerala. December to April is the best time to visit Silent Valley National Park with the availability of a Jeep Safari.

Entry Fee for Silent Valley National Park

• Indians: INR 50 per person
• Foreigners: INR 200 per person

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many national parks are there in India in 2023?

There are 106 national parks in India in 2023. The latest addition to the list of national parks in India is Raimona National Park in 2023.

2. Which is the largest national park in India?

Famous for its snow leopards, Hemis National Park is the largest national park in India located in the Ladakh State of India.

3. Which is the smallest national park in India?

One of the most famous national parks in India, South Button Island National Park is the smallest national park in India located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

5. Which is the oldest national park in India?

The oldest national park in India is Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand. It was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park and was renamed in 1957 after Jim Corbett, a famous hunter and conservationist.

Conclusion

India is a country with rich biodiversity and wildlife. There are many national parks in India that you should visit at least once in your life. I hope this article helps you to know about the top 10 national parks in India. Comment down below which national park you have visited and which one you want to visit in the future.