With hundreds of National Parks and nature reserves to explore, India is a paradise for the nature-tourist. The country is virtually bursting at the seams with biodiversity, showcasing some of the most extravagant flora, fauna and wildlife to be found on our planet. So whether it’s fluorescent birdlife, dense tropical jungles or wild tigers that you seek, you can be sure to embark on an incredible journey when you plan a trip to one of India’s incredible wildlife sanctuaries.

There are plenty of options available for enjoying nature in India and with a wide selection of National Parks scattered throughout the land, it seems that you’re never too far away from a forest, mountain range or jungle to explore. India is a big place and some of the best parks are not always the easiest to reach, so be sure to decide what it is you seek before choosing where to go. The obvious draw for many tourists is the Royal Bengal Tiger and India by far remains to be the best destination in the world for spotting these magnificent creatures in their natural environment. I’m a huge fan of tiger safaris in India and have written a separate article here covering this subject in much more detail, but for the sake of introducing you to some of the best National Parks on offer then please see my shortlist below…

Ranthambore gets top of the list in my opinion, for not only have I seen more wild tigers here than any other place in India, but the fact it’s so easy to access (three and a half hours train from Delhi) means it’s a winner every time! Ranthambore is a fascinating blend of history and nature. Inside the park is an impressive ancient fort that’s well worth a visit in between safari trips. The park supports a wide range of plants and animals, including around 30 tigers. Not only is it close to reach from Delhi, but you could easily include a few nights here when following a tour of India’s most popular tourist trail – The Golden Triangle.

Many people are surprised to learn that lions are indigenous to India. Once upon a time Asiatic lions roamed throughout the Middle East and India but nowadays Gir National Park is the only place left in the world they can be seen living in the wild. The Asiatic lion is different from it’s African cousin in so much as it’s typically smaller in size and lives within a forested area. There are no tigers to be seen in this area, but sightings of leopards are also quite common, making it one of the best parks in India for seeing big cats. The park is situated at quite a distance away from many of the main tourist trails of India, so do factor this in before booking, but I would say a visit to Gir is well worth the long journey.

The swamps and grasslands that form this stunning National Park make it the perfect habitat for the Asiatic one-horned rhinoceros and this sanctuary is home to more of these stunning animals than any other place on earth. Another great appeal for visiting Kaziranga is the option of taking an elephant safari, where you can get up-close with nature, while experiencing a ride atop one of these magnificent creatures. The park sits on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in India’s remote Northeast region of Assam, approximately six hours from Guwahati.

A canoe cruise on the muddy waters, meandering through thick mangrove forests in pursuit of the Royal Bengal Tiger is sure to thrill you to no end. This park is actually home to one of the largest concentrations of tigers on the planet (estimated at 300), which are particularly elusive in this region and therefore rarely seen. The Sunderbans form a vast network of water channels amidst thick mangrove forests that collectively form the world’s largest river delta. The place is beautiful and highly recommended to visit if you get the chance.

The Valley of Flowers has a limited viewing time and involves a bit of a trek to get to, but you’re sure to feel on top of the world if you ever get to this enchanting place! The high altitude alpine valley is a glacial corridor that comes alive during the monsoon season with around 300 different varieties of flowers. They appear as a bright carpet of colour against a mountainous snow capped background. Best time to visit is between mid-July and mid-August, when the majority of flowers are in full bloom.

Divided by the Kabini River are two of South India’s most famous National Parks. Bandipur is located on the popular route from Mysore to Ooty and therefore gets visited more often, but both parks form part of a wider protected area known as the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The area is home to some tigers (although they’re rarely sighted) and is more famous for seeing south Asia’s largest population of wild elephants. It’s not uncommon to sight the elephants bathing on the banks of the river and even treading through the surrounding tea plantations that border onto the parks’ forests.