Bhavya Aggarwal takes you through India’s rivetting wildlife parks
JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK
Tucked away in the Nainital district of the Sub-Himalayan belt (the southernmost mountains in the Himalayan range), Jim Corbett National Park is one of the most eminent national parks of the country. Ramnagar is the closest town to Jim Corbett National Park. Closest domestic airports to Ramnagar are in Lucknow and Dehradun. International tourists can drive to the national park from Delhi which is 295km away. Jim Corbett National Park prides itself on a whopping 650 species of birds, making bird-watching an absolute delight here. The park is known for its healthy population of 215 tigers that attract more than 70,000 visitors every season. It also has a number of leopards, barking deer, sambar deer, hog deer, sloths, Himalayan black bears, Indian grey mongooses, otters, yellow-throated martens, Himalayan gorals, Indian pangolins and langurs. A number of three- to five-star hotel options available within the park make it convenient to opt for wildlife safaris that take place at odd hours. You could choose a Jeep safari (seats six; timings: 5:45am-9:15am and 3pm-6:15pm;₹4,500 per person) that drives through different zones of the park namely Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhikala, Dhela and Durgadevi. Larger groups can select Canter safaris (seats 16; timings: 6am-11:30am and 12pm-5:30pm; ₹1,500 per person) that take you around the Dhikala zone. Wildlife sightings are reported to be more or less the same across these zones. Apart from safaris, there are a host of activities that can pump up your adrenalin or just help you catch a break. For the latter, try fishing and angling at Ramganga or Kosi rivers. River rafting, bridge slithering (in which an adventurer has to slide from a bridge into the river), rock climbing, mountain biking and rappelling are some of the other options. You can also venture on to a nature trek that takes you across lush terrains by hidden lakes and unending wilderness.
Best time to visit: November to June
Hotel pick: The Gateway Resort Corbett
An upscale resort by Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris with premium amenities, a swimming pool, the signature Jiva spa, a fitness centre and three restaurants. Prices start at ₹6,500 for a Superior room. tajhotels.com
BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK
Once the private gaming reserve of the Maharajas of the Kingdom of Mysore, the deep forests of Bandipur were established as a tiger reserve in 1974. Bandipur National Park is situated 80km from Mysuru airport. For better connectivity, you could also fly to Bengaluru International Airport or Coimbatore Airport and then drive for about four hours to reach Bandipur. The park sits at the union of the Deccan Plateau and the Western Ghats, making it an idyllic getaway for city dwellers craving nature. It is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, an International Biosphere Reserve of South India, along with the adjoining Nagarhole National Park and Mudumalai National Park. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012, it is renowned for its opulent flora and fauna that includes 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles and about 39 species of fish. Some of these include tigers, Indian elephants, Indian rock pythons, four-horned antelopes, sloth bears, sambar deer, panthers, Malabar squirrels and jackals. Safaris take place twice a day (timings: 6:30am-8:30am and 3:30pm-5:30pm; ₹300 per person) in buses for 45 minutes or in Jeeps for three hours. You could see the park unconventionally too by riding on an elephant between 10am to 11am. There are a host of resorts around the park that range from budget to luxury.
Best time to visit: October to May
Hotel pick: The Serai Bandipur
A luxurious 24-key resort by The Serai group Resorts, The Serai Bandipur has a spa, a swimming pool, a gym, a conference room, a restaurant and a bar. Prices start at ₹9,920 for a Mountain View Courtyard room. theserai.in
RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK
The hunting playground of the Maharajas of Jaipur has now been converted into one of the biggest national parks of India. Ranthambore National Park is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, at the junction of the Aravalli and the Vindhya mountain ranges through which flow a number of waterbodies into the park. As it is surrounded by the Ranthambore Fort, ruins dot its circumference, adding a touch of antiquity to this expanse of wilderness. The park is located just 180km away from the well-connected city of Jaipur. A large variety of wildlife, birds and flora is nestled within the park — tigers, sambar deer, striped hyenas, jackals, jungle cats, Indian flying foxes and porcupines are just a few of them. The park is most famous for its diurnal tigers and marsh reptiles including monitor lizards, cobras, Indian pythons and rat snakes. The park is divided into ten zones which are allocated randomly for safaris based. Depending on the number of people, there are two types of vehicles offered for safaris here — Jeeps (seats six; ₹3,100 per person) and Canters (seats 16; ₹1,850 per person). Timings from November until January for both types of vehicles remain the same —7am-10:30am and 2pm-5:30pm. The safaris race you across abundant landscapes set by innumerable waterbodies and bridges as you sit at the edge of your seat hoping to spot the elusive tiger. While visiting the national park, you can make a trip to the nearby Kaila Devi and Mansingh sanctuaries for bird-watching.
Best time to visit: December to April
Hotel pick: The Oberoi Vanyavilas
A five-star luxury resort offering fine-dining, tented accommodation, a bar, a spa and expansive meeting facilities. The hotel curates various experiences on request at the national park. Prices start at ₹45,000 for a Luxury Tent. oberoihotels.com
BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK
This Central India park gets its name from the namesake hillock, which is also home to the Bandhavgarh Fort. The former hunting preserve of royalty enjoys the highest population of Bengal tigers in India. The national park’s lush forest spread all across the Vindhya Hills is home to varied residents of the wild. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds in the park. Common langurs, Asiatic jackals, Bengal foxes, sloth bears, ratels, striped hyenas, jungle cats, leopards and of course the Bengal tigers are only some of them. More than 250 bird species, about 80 species of butterflies and a good variety of reptiles reside here too. Tala zone is known to have an impressive number of leopards and deer. Situated in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, the closest big cities to Bandhavgarh National Park are Jabalpur (four-hours drive) and Khajuraho (five-hours drive). However Varanasi (seven-hours drive) offers better connectivity to international travellers. There are two ways to embark on a safari across the four zones of the park. You could either pick Jeeps (seats six; starts at around ₹2,200 per person) or Canters (seats 12; ₹1,200 per person). Prices differ as per zones, your guide and most importantly — your negotiation skills. Timings (until February 15) are 6am-11am and 2:30pm-5:30pm.
Best time to visit: October to June
Hotel pick: Samode Safari Lodge
A part of Relais & Châteaux, the luxury lodge offers individual chalets with a choice of guest suites and private villas, a swimming pool, a fitness centre, a spa, a business centre, two restaurants and one bar. Price starts at ₹66,550 for a Luxury Villa. samode.com
KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK
Seated on the flood plains of both sides of the Brahmaputra River in east India, Kaziranga National Park has implemented many successful conservation initiatives to protect the one-horned rhino. Their results have paid off as today it is home to more than 70 per cent of the world’s one-horned rhino population. Kaziranga also prides itself on having a high density of tigers among protected areas in the world and was declared a Tiger Reserve more than a decade ago. Though the sighting of this wild cat is difficult because of tall grasses that provide camouflage, its omnipresence is felt through pug marks, signs of kills and territorial markings. The east India national park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild water buffalos, pythons, bears and swamp deer too. Around 25 species of globally threatened and near threatened birds also call Kaziranga National Park home. The most convenient way to reach the park is via Guwahati that’s 239km away. Those looking to land closer to Kaziranga can fly to Jorhat airport that’s connected with Guwahati, Kolkata and Bengaluru by air. It is about two and a half hours away from the park. You can opt for two types of safaris at Kaziranga National Park — Jeep (seats six; timings: 7am-10am and 1:30pm-3pm; ₹1,600 per person) and elephant safaris (timings: 5:30am-6:30am and 6:30am-7:30am; ₹750 per person). Options for accommodation here are modest hotels and homestays.
Best time to visit: November to April
Hotel pick: Kaziranga Golf Resort
Situated in the city of Jorhat, Kaziranga Golf Resort offers a tranquil retreat for travellers who don’t mind staying a bit far from the park. Golf enthusiasts will be thrilled with its 71-hole golf course and golf academy. It has a gym, a swiming pool, a restaurant and bar along with cottages and suites as accommodation. Prices start at ₹4,800 for a Deluxe room. kazirangagolfresort.in
GIR NATIONAL PARK
Besides Africa, Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only place in the world where Asiatic lions roam free in their natural habitat. Leopards, sambar deer, spotted deer, wild boars, blue bulls, Indian gazelles, chowsingas (the world’s only four-horned antelopes), over 200 species of birds and around 40 types of reptiles also reside here. Kamleshwar reservoir in the sanctuary is where marsh crocodiles are spotted in large numbers. As per a census conducted in 2015, Saurashtra Region (consisting of 11 districts of Gujarat) is inhabited by around 523 lions and more than 300 leopards. The wild ones roam carelessly within deciduous forests, scrublands and grasslands, swimming across water-bodies. Equipped with rail links, the city of Junagadh is about two hours driving distance to Gir National Park. However, for air links, you can fly to Rajkot and then drive for about four hours to reach the park. Safaris take place in Jeeps (seats six; timings: 6am-9am, 9am-12pm and 3pm-6pm; ₹883 per person). There are a number of farm-houses and hotels for accommodation here. There is also a bus that plies to Devaliya Safari Park — an enclosed area of the protected Gir Interpretation Zone — where visitors can spot a plethora of wildlife amidst rustic wilderness in a group safari that lasts for half an hour (timings: 8am-11am and 3pm-6pm; ₹150 per person).
Best time to visit: November to January
Hotel pick: The Gateway Hotel Gir Forest
Sasan Gir
The closest hotel to the forest gate (0.5km), this Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris property offers a fitness centre, a swimming pool, meeting rooms, a coffee shop and a restaurant. Rooms and suites are its accommodation types. Prices start at ₹9,000 for a Superior room. tajhotels.com
