Where to go in India
India has over one hundred national parks, created not only to maintain India’s indigenous flora and habitat, but also to protect her extensive wildlife – much of which is now under serious threat of extinction. Ranthambore, located in Rajasthan, has become deservedly popular in recent years. Although not guaranteed, your chances of tiger spotting can be higher here than elsewhere – as can tourist numbers. Bandhavgarh National Park also has a relatively large tiger population, as well as a large leopard breeding population. Corbett National Park is one of India’s oldest, and its sub-Himalayan topography offers a different experience to the jungle setting of other national parks. Pench, Kanha and Panna National Parks are amongst other popular parks listed below.
Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest national parks in northern India, and one of the best places to see majestic Bengal tigers in their wild, natural habitat. Located about 180 kilometres south-east of Jaipur, the area was established in 1955, declared as one of the Project Tiger reserves 18 years later, finally becoming a national park in 1980. It has a unique juxtaposition of natural and man-made historic richness, with a gigantic feature in the shape of the 700 foot tall Ranthambore Fort, after which the park is named. This ancient fort includes many historical monuments and temples, devoted to Lord Ganesha and Shiva and is a ‘must’ on any itinerary in the area, giving a fabulous viewpoint.
Comprising the former hunting grounds of the maharajas of Jaipur, here you will find an outstanding population of Bengal tigers. The main food source for tigers is the swamp deer, or Barasingha, however there is a huge variety of wildlife that calls the park home. Leopards, jungle cats, palm civets and common yellow bats can be seen, as well as shaggy-haired sloth bears. Carnivorous false vampire bats might be seen hunting at dusk and notoriously fearless ratels (honey badgers) prowl the tracks.
Himalayan Hill Stations
The Himalayas afford India’s most dramatic and spellbinding scenery, combined with an enviable pace of life that contrasts with the chaos of the city. From the green hill stations around Shimla and Darjeeling to the far-flung mountainous extremities of Ladakh, where isolation has preserved a medieval heritage and elusive snow leopards roam the icy terrains, this is a region of pervasive and diverse natural beauty that must be seen – and explored – to be believed. Ladakh, much more remote in the northernmost reaches of the Indian Himalayas, is a hugely rugged and lunar landscape, more than the foothills and is one of the best areas to see the elusive snow leopard. Leh, the capital of Ladakh is the starting point of our highly adventurous safaris to track these majestic big cats and observing the preserved culture of the mountain regions en route. The ruins of the palace on Leh’s hillside and some of the isolated villages are truly fascinating. Husing is one of the key areas and bases for snow leopard expeditions; a place where three valleys meet, all are used by the leopards as they move to lower altitudes following their prey species.
Pench National Park
Pench National Park is one of central India’s lesser known, yet more accessible reserves. A quiet and secluded area for game viewing within a breathtaking landscape of the mild Satpuda Hills, criss-crossed with rivers and streams, the park was the setting for Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’. An area of 758 square kilometres, 299 square kilometres making up the core, the park is roughly divided into east and west, dissected by the Pench River from which it gets its name and runs north to south. Nestled into the Satpuda Hills, it is in the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh, bordering the Maharashta in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara. Dominated by hills, the landscape is a mosaic of lush valleys and dry deciduous forest, with streams and, mostly seasonal, ‘nallahs’.
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