India's wildlife is rich and diverse. Almost 4 % of India's land is under forests. The popular animals found in India are Apes, Asiatic Lions, Monkeys, Snakes, Crocodiles, Buffaloes, Elephants, Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Swamp Deer, One-Horned Rhinoceros, Sloth Bears, Blue Bull (Neelgai), Indian Gazelle (Chinkara), Goats and Tigers. Elephants provide maximum excitement while exploring India. India is also famous for its incredible tigers and has the largest number of bird species. There are at least 500 wildlife sanctuaries in India, which attract travelers and tourists from all parts of the world. Some of the major wildlife sanctuaries are Corbett National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctury, Kaziranga National Park, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Sanctuary, Blackbuck National Park, Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary and so on. There are some hotels, resorts or guesthouses to cater to the lodging needs of tourists. One can see these sanctuaries accompanied by a guide, which will be provided by the local travel agents.

PROTECTED AREAS OF INDIA

As of May 2004, the protected areas of India cover 156,700 km², roughly 4.95% of the total surface area. India has the following kinds of protected areas, in the sense of the word designated by IUCN..

Classification

NATIONAL PARK

National Parks (IUCN Category II): India's first National Park was Hailey National Park, now Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1935. By 1970, India had 5 National Parks; today it has over 90.

India's first national park (an IUCN category II protected area) was established in 1935 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National Park. By 1970, India only had five national parks. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard the habitats of conservation reliant species. Further federal legislation strengthening protections for wildlife was introduced in the 1980s. As of April 2007, there are 96 national parks. All national park lands encompass a combined 38,029.18 km², 1.16% of India's total surface area.

A total of 166 national parks have been authorized. Plans are underway to establish the remaining scheduled parks. All of India's national parks are listed below alongside their home state or territory and the date that they were established. For an overview of Indian protected areas in general, please see protected areas of India.

ANIMAL SANCTUARY

Animal Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV): India has over 500 animal sanctuaries, referred to as Wildlife Sanctuaries. Among these, the 28 Tiger Reserves are governed by Project Tiger, and are of special significance in the conservation of the tiger. Some wildlife sanctuaries are specifically named Bird Sanctuary, e.g. Keoladeo National Park before it attained National Park status. Many National Parks were initially Wildlife Sanctuaries.

1: - India has over 551 animal sanctuaries, referred to as Wildlife Sanctuaries (IUCN Category IV Protected Area). Among these, the 28 Tiger Reserves are governed by Project Tiger, and are of special significance in the conservation of the tiger. Some wildlife sanctuaries are specifically named Bird Sanctuary, eg. Keoladeo National Park before attained National Park status. Many National Parks were initially Wildlife Sanctuaries. + ojq - - Wildlife sanctuaries of national importance to conservation, usually due to some flagship faunal species, are named National Wildlife Sanctuary, like:

National Chambal (Gharial) Wildlife Sanctuary for conserving the Gharial (1978)

National Chambal Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary near Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, India. It was founded in 1979 and constitutes a large eco-reserve co-administered by the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is also called the National Chambal (Gharial) Wlidlife Sanctuary.

About 400 km of the Chambal river cuts picturesque ravines through the reserve, which covers 5,400 sq.km. In earlier times, the labyrinthine ravines were under the sway of a tradition of banditry by colourful figures like Man Singh and Phoolan Devi. The last notable dacoit, Nirbhay Gujjar was killed in 2005. Today a tourist lodge and other facilities promote eco-tourism.

Wildlife

Apart from the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), the other inhabitants of the sanctuary include magar (crocodile) and gharial (Gavialis gangeticus). This stretch of clear water also supports Marsh Crocodile, Smooth-coated Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata), and six species of Terrapins/Turtles.

More than 250 species of birds may be seen in the sanctuary. Migratory birds from Siberia form part of its rich avian fauna. An endangered bird species that can be spotted here is the Indian skimmer[1]. Winter visitors include Black-bellied Terns, Red-crested Pochard and Ferruginous Pochard, Bar-headed Goose, etc. Other species include Sarus Crane, Great Thick-knee, Indian Courser, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Greater Flamingos and Lesser Flamingos, Darters, and Brown Hawk Owl. The sanctuary is protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The sanctuary is administered by the Department of Forest under the Project Officer with headquarter at Morena, Madhya Pradesh.

Part of the sanctuary is under heavy illegal sand mining, which is endangering its fragile ecosystem.

BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO designation roughly corresponding to IUCN Category V): The Indian government has also established Biosphere reserves, which protect larger areas of natural habitat, and often include one or more national parks and/or preserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses.

The Indian government has established 15 Biosphere Reserves of India, (categories roughly corresponding to IUCN Category V Protected areas), which protect larger areas of natural habitat (than a National Park or Animal Sanctuary), and often include one or more National Parks and/or preserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses. Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and their ways of life.

Seven of the fifteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list[2].

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Sundarbans national park Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Simlipal Biosphere Reserve

The last three are among the 22 new sites recently added by UNESCO to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Their inclusion raises the number of Indian sites on the World list to seven, from a total of 15 Biosphere Reserves across the subcontinent.Recently India has added one more area as bsr namely cold desert of Himachal Pradesh taking the total count to 16.

RESERVED FOREST AND PROTECTED FOREST

Reserved Forest and Protected Forest (IUCN Category IV or VI, depending on protection accorded): These are forested lands where logging, hunting, grazing and other activities may be permitted on a sustainable basis to members of certain communities. In reserved forests, explicit permission is required for such activities. In protected forests, such activities are allowed unless explicitly prohibited. Thus, in general reserved forests enjoy a higher degree of protection with respect to protected forests.

A reserved forest (also called reserve forest) or a protected forest in India are terms denoting forests accorded a certain degree of protection. The terms were first introduced in the Indian Forest Act, 1927 in British India, to refer to certain forests granted protection under the British crown in British India, but not associated suzerainties. After Indian independence, the Government of India retained the status of the existing reserved and protected forests, as well as incorporating new reserved and protected forests. A large number of forests which came under the jurisdiction of the Government of India during the political integration of India were initially granted such protection.

Land rights to forests declared to be Reserved forests or Protected forests are typically acquired (if not already owned) and owned by the Government of India. Unlike national parks of India or wildlife sanctuaries of India, reserved forests and protected forests are declared by the respective state governments. As of present, reserved forests and protected forests differ in one important way:

Rights to all activities like hunting, grazing, etc in reserved forests are banned unless specific orders are issued otherwise

In reserved forests, rights to activities like hunting and grazing are sometimes given to communities living on the fringes of the forest, who sustain their livelihood partially or wholly from forest resources or products. Thus, typically reserved forests enjoy a higher degree of protection with respect to protected forests. However, it is possible that certain protected forests may enjoy more protection with respect to certain reserved forests.

Protected forests are of two kinds - demarcated protected forests and undemarcated protected forests, based on whether the limits of the forest have been specified by a formal notification.

Typically, reserved forests are often upgraded to the status of wildlife sanctuaries, which in turn may be upgraded to the status of national parks, with each category receiving a higher degree of protection and government funding. For example, Sariska National Park was declared a reserved forest in 1955, upgraded to the status of a wildlife sanctuary in 1958, becoming a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Sariska became a national park in 1992, though primary notification to declare it as a national park was issued as early as 1982.

CONSERVATION RESERVE AND COMMUNITY RESERVE

Conservation Reserve and Community Reserve (IUCN Category V and VI respectively): These are areas adjoining existing PAs, which are of ecological value and can act as migration corridors, or buffer zone. Conservation reserves are designated government owned land from where communities may earn a subsistence, while community reserves are on mixed government/private lands. Community reserves are the only privately held land accorded protection by the Government of India.

Conservation reserves and community reserves in India are terms denoting protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India. Such areas are designated as conservation areas if they are uninhabited and completely owned by the Government of India but used for subsistence by communities, and community areas if part of the lands are privately owned. Administration of such reserves would be through local people and local agencies like the gram panchayat, as in the case of communal forests. (See Communal forests of India)

Community reserves are the first instances of private land being accorded protection under the Indian legislature. It opens up the possibility of communally owned for-profit wildlife resorts, and also causes privately held areas under non-profit organizations like land trusts to be given protection. (See Private protected areas of India)

These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 - the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.[1] These categories were added because of reduced protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land, and land use. A case in point was the Melghat Tiger Reserve where a large area was left unprotected due to private ownership.

Amendments to the Wild life protection act in 2003, provided a mechanism for recognition and legal backing to the community initiated efforts in wildlife protection. It provides a flexible system to achieve wildlife conservation without compromising community needs. Tiruvidaimarudur Conservation Reserve, declared on February 14, 2005, is the First Conservation Reserve to be established in the country. It is an effort of a village community who wanted to protect the birds nesting in their village.[2]

These categories roughly correspond to IUCN Category V (conservation reserves) and VI (community reserves) protected areas.

Keshopur Chhamb Community Reserve in Gurdaspur District of Punjab, declared in 2007, is the first Community Reserve in the country.

VILLAGE FOREST AND PANCHAYAT FOREST

Village Forest and Panchayat Forest (IUCN Category VI): These are forested lands administered by a village or a panchayat on a sustainable basis, with the habitat, flora and fauna being accorded some degree of protection by the managing community.

A Important common Forsts in India is a specific term which refers to forests governed by local communities in a way compatible with sustainable development, and can be of various types. Such forests are typically called village forests or panchayat forests, reflecting the fact that the administration and resource utilization of the forest occurs at the village

and panchayat (an elected rural body) levels. Hamlets, villages or a community of villages may actually administer such a forest. [1] Such community forests are usually administered by a locally elected body, usually called the Forest Protection Committee, Village Forest Committee or the Village Forest Institution. Such committees are known as Van Panchayats in the Kumaon Division of Uttarakhand, Forest Co-operative Societies in Himachal Pradesh and Van Samrakshan Samitis in Andhra Pradesh. Legislation pertaining to communal forests vary from state to state, but typically the state government retains some administrative control over matters like staff appointment, and penalization of offenders. Such forests typically conform to the IUCN Category VI Protected Areas, but protection may be enforced by the local communities or the government depending on local legislation.

History of communal forests

Many village communities in India have traditionally used forests on a sustainable basis. However, the British Rule in India introduced several legislations in the 19th century curtailing the rights of local people from using forest resources. These included the Forest Act, 1865 and Forest Policy, 1894. While some of the legislation was enacted in a bid to enact restrictions on forest usage for the purpose of sustenance, it was also motivated partly because such legislation provided a legal basis for the British Raj to acquire valuable forest resources like timber for crucial initiatives like the Indian Railways.

Such abrupt curtailment of rights caused protests in forest-dwelling communities in India, especially in the heavily forested Kumaon region, and in what is present day Himachal Pradesh. The issues of such communities were addressed in the Indian Forest Act, 1927, which initiated the development of village forests for sustainable use by villagers dwelling in or on the fringes of the forest. The Van Panchayat Act of 1931 further expanded the idea of local administration and management of forests, even though the first Van Panchayats were formed as early as 1921. [2]

Following the independence of India in 1947, the Government of India instituted the National Forest Policy, 1952 which classified forested areas into: Protected forests areas, National forests, Village forests and Tree lands'Common Trees Between living places of People . Laws regarding village forests were based on the state legislature. Numerous state laws and acts regarding communal forests were enacted before 1990, including the UP Van Panchayat Rules in 1976, and the Orissa Village Forest Rules in 1985.

However, such communal forest development and management came to the forefront only after the National Forest Policy, 1988. The National Forest Policy strongly suggested the idea of empowering and involving local communities in the protection and development of forests. A direct outcome of the National Forest Policy, 1988 was the Joint Forest Management Program (JFM or JFMP) instituted in 1990 by the Government of India. It was started on a pilot project basis in West Bengal as early as 1971, and again in the late 1980s with considerable success. [3]

The JFPM calls for the existence of an elected village level organisation (VLO) which would actively administer and maintain the communal forest. Such an organization is sometimes an existing elected body, like the gram sabha, or gram panchayat. However, a new body is usually elected for administrative purposes, usually referred to as the Forest Protection Committee (FPC), but known as the Van Panchayat in the Kumaon region. [4]

As of September, 2003 all 28 state governments had initiated the JFPM, and many had passed appropriate legislation as well. According to the 2002-03 Annual Report of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, there were 84,000 JFM committees which controlled 170,000 square kilometres of forest in India. [5]

The introduction of the protected area category community reserves under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 has introduced legislation for providing government protection to community held lands. While this does not pertain to communal forest sites, communally owned forests may be candidates for protection under such legislation. (See Conservation reserves and community reserves of India)

Types of communal forests

Typically, communal forests are formed in two ways:

Joint forest management program: Designation of marked areas in reserved forests and protected forests of India as a communal forest for villages inside the reserved or protected forest or in the fringe areas. More infrequently, an existing forest may be directly designated as a communal forest.

Social forestry program: Afforestation schemes in disused farm lands, degraded forests or other wasteland. Such community afforestation schemes are referred to as social forestry in India. See Social forestry in India for details.

Other forms of communally managed forests exist in India, but do not enjoy any form of legal protection if the Government of India is not a collaborator. [6] The two major forms of such communal forests are:

Community forest management programs: These are typically collaborations between local villagers and non-governmental organizations for the purposes of according protection to a tract of forest. The responsibility of the participants are increased without legislation protecting such areas. However, as the government is not involved in such work directly, a much larger share of the proceeds from the forest resources go to the villagers. Recently, the Government of India has also acknowledged and legally protected several such communal forests. In such collaborations, the Government retains a far smaller and less powerful role with respect to the role in the Joint Forest Management Program. The new Rajaji National Park is being built on such a model.

Indigenous forest management programs: These are indigenous initiatives taken by local villagers alone to save forested lands. Typically, these lands are protected on a religious basis. Responsibility for the protection is often shared by the community in turns [7] The most famous communal forests of this type are the "sacred groves" of India, which are protected for local deities and contain great biodiversity and many rare flora in small forested regions. See sacred groves of India for details.

External funding

Funding for such communal forest management and staff training usually comes from the Government of India, but often comes from external non-governmental agencies. Notably, the World Bank has put forward several large loans for the purposes of accomplishing such projects, including a state-wide co-operative drive in Andhra Pradesh in 2002. This project was, however, criticized for lacking transparency and focus.

PRIVATE PROTECTED AREAS

Private protected areas: These are regions which are owned by an individual or an organization / corporation not affiliated to the government or a communal body. Even though Indian legislation does not provide for protection of such areas, some NGOs are using land trusts to help in the conservation effort, and providing limited means of protection.

Private protected areas of India refer to protected areas inside India whose land rights are owned by an individual or a corporation / organization, and where the habitat and resident species are offered some kind of protection from exploitative activities like hunting, logging, etc. The Government of India did not provide any legal or physical protection to such entities, but in an important amendment introduced by the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002, has agreed to protect communally owned areas of ecological value.

PRIVATE OWNERSHIP

In pre-British India, and erstwhile British India and associated suzerainties, large tracts of wilderness were under private ownership, typically under the ownership of the royal families of the suzerainties. Animals and habitat in these tracts were protected by royal decree and royal forces. Later, after the advent of the British, these lands were protected by personal guards of the royal families.

However, these lands were usually used as hunting grounds for the maharajahs and other noble families, so while the animals and habitat were accorded protection from external entities, hunting for sport by the owners of the land was commonly practised. Even so, some of such hunting was done on a sustainable basis, and some wildlife like the Asiatic Cheetah were trained to hunt in such hunting grounds.

After independence, the political integration of India caused most of the royal families to lose their ownership rights to these lands, and these were converted into reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Some of India's most famous protected areas had their origins in privately owned protected lands. Some of these are listed below.

From the Northern princely states

Dachigam National Park - Once the private hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Kashmir Hari Singh, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1951 after the accession of Kashmir, and was designated a national park in 1981.

From the Western princely states

Gir National Park - These were the private hunting grounds of the Nawab of Junagarh, who by royal decree banned the hunting of the increasingly rare Asiatic Lion in 1900. It was only in 1966 that the region was protected as the Gir Forest Area, and the region received national park status in 1975

Ranthambhore National Park - The area around the Ranthambhore Fort were the private hunting grounds of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur. After integration with India, the Government of India declared the region Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955, making it a Project Tiger reserve in 1973, and a national park in 1980

Keoladeo National Park - These were the private hunting grounds of Maharaja Brijendra Singh of Bharatpur. Upon joining the Union of India, the maharaja kept his hunting privileges at the grounds until 1971, when it was declared a wildlife sanctuary. It was upgraded to the status of a national park in 1982.

Sariska National Park - Sariska was the private hunting grounds of Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar. It was given the status of a reserved forest in 1955 and became a wildlife sanctuary in 1958, before becoming a national park in 1992.

Darrah National Park - These were the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Kota, and were declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 after the merger of Kota with India, and combined with two other sanctuaries a national park in 2004.

From the Central princely states

Bandhavgarh National Park - The area around the overgrown Bandhavgarh Fort were the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Rewa. After the union of Rewa with India, the maharaja still retained hunting rights to the area until 1968, when the Maharaja handed over the hunting grounds (with the exception of the fort) to be declared a national park. A special permit is still required to visit the fort.

Madhav National Park - The area around Shivpuri were the private hunting grounds of the Scindia royal family of Gwalior. Upon accession to India, the grounds were designated to be Madhya Bharat National Park (1959), later being renamed to Shivpuri National Park and finally to Madhav National Park.

From the Southern princely states

Periyar National Park - The region around the Periyar lake was fashioned as a private game sanctuary by the maharaja of Travancore to stop the encroachment of tea plantations. Founded as Nellikkampatty Game Sanctuary in 1934, it was consolidated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1950 after the political integration of India, and designated as a national park in 1982.

Bandipur National Park - These were private hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Mysore. In 1930, Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV declared Bandipur a game reserve of 80 km², and in 1941 expanded it to 800 km², reinventing it as Venugopala Wildlife Park. After the Kingdom of Mysore joined India, the park was made a Project Tiger reserve in 1973, and a national park in 1985.

Rajiv Gandhi National Park - Nagarhole (as it was called initially) and its surrounding regions were the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Mysore. After the merger of Mysore with India, Nagarhole first became a wildlife sanctuary in 1955, and later became a national park in 1988.

Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park - This region was the private hunting ground of the Nizam of Hyderabad. After the annexure of Hyderabad in 1956, it was wildlife sanctuary in 1975, and a national park in 1994.

Among the other former hunting grounds of the Nizam of Hyderabad (once one of the richest persons in the world) are the Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary and the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Wildlife Sanctuary. Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary was also privately owned by the Maharaja of Mysore before he was persuaded by Salim Ali to declare it a wildlife sanctuary in 1940.

From the Eastern princely states

Simlipal National Park - Initially a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Mayurbhanj. After the merger of Mayurbhanj with India in 1949, it became a reserved forest in 1956. It then became a tiger reserve (1973), wildlife sanctuary (1979), national park (1980) and finally a biosphere reserve (1994).

Manas National Park - The area was initially the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar and the Raja of Gauripur. It was declared a protected area - Manas Sanctuary, as early as 1928, but the hunting rights of the royal families were not revoked. The sanctuary finally turned fully protected when it became a Tiger Reserve in 1973, and a national park in 1990.

However, royal families were allowed to keep personal land holdings below a certain threshold area, and hence some small scale privately held protected areas still exist in India.

NON-PROFIT OWNERSHIP

The biggest non-profit private organization which acquires wilderness tracts for development into private protected areas, the Nature Conservancy - does not operate in India, but has shown interest in expanding its operations to the country.

The World Land Trust, another non-profit organization, in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India has funded two significant privately owned protected land holdings in India. The purpose of the holdings are to provide migration corridors to herds of Indian elephants,and the corresponding project is called the Wild Lands Corridor. The two corridors are:

The Siju-Rewak corridor in the Garo Hills in the state of Meghalaya, for connection between the Siju Wildlife Sanctuary and the Rewak Reserved Forest. This is one of only four forded corridors across the Simsang River, which bisects the Garo Hills. This region also contains large omnivores and carnivores like the Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard and the Himalayan Black Bear.

The Tirunelli-Kudrakote corridor in the state of Kerala between the Tirunelli Reserved Forest and the Kudrakote Reserved Forest acts as a migration corridor for India's largest extant elephant population. The region is part of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot which is home to the Nilgiri Tahr, Salim Ali's fruit bat and 13 endemic bird species including the Malabar Parakeet. The trust is in the process of reallocation of villages in the corridor, and is planning to register the corridor as a reserved forest once reallocation is complete, so that standard government protection is obtained. [1]

The introduction of the protected area category community reserves under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 has introduced legislation for providing government protection to community held lands, which could be used for obtaining state protection in non-profit privately held lands of ecological value. (See Conservation reserves and community reserves of India)

CONSERVATION AREAS

Conservation areas: Conservation areas are large, well-designated geographical entities where landscape conservation is undergoing, and usually contains different kinds of constituent protected areas, as well as privately owned land.

Conservation Areas in India refer to well-demarcated large geographical entities with an established conservation plan, and were part of a joint Indo-US project on "landscape management and protection". The project ran from 1996 to 2002. These areas are home to many Conservation reliant species

The Indian peninsula is a continent in itself, whose geographical diversity has encouraged the flourishing of a whole range of wildlife with over 350 species of mammals and 1200 species of birds in the country. While there is an overlap in the habitats of many species, each region has something special to offer the hangul is restricted to the valley of Kashmir in northern India, the rhino is found in North-East states of India and pockets along the Brahmaputra river area, the black langur in the western ghats, and western India is the home of the last remaining Asiatic Lions.

Two of India’s most impressive animals, the Bengal/Indian Tiger and the Asiatic Elephant are found in most regions, The tiger originated in Central Asia and migrated over the great Himalayas to the dense tropical forests, adapting itself well to

the plains.

A herd of elephants in the wild is a breathtaking sight. These huge mammals are respected by all animals, including the Tiger. Widely distributed throughout India, the Indian Elephant is slightly smaller than its African counterpart. Generally, only the males have tusks. Today, most of India’s wildlife finds refuge in over two hundred sanctuaries and parks around the country. The following section gives a brief description of some of the more important of these. The accommodation often needs to be booked in advance, either by direct application to the hotel, rest house etc. concerned, or through the local State TDC or the controlling authority of the respective park. Brochures giving further information may be obtained from Government of India Tourist Offices.

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES AND NATIONAL PARKS

NORTHERN INDIA

Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary (Kashmir). Broad valley; mountain slopes; rare hangul deer, black and brown bear, leopard; heronry. Airport: Srinagar 22km. Railhead: Jammu Tawi 311km. Season: June - July. Accommodation: Srinagar: Houseboats on Dal and Nagin Lakes.

Govind Sagar Bird Sanctuary (Himachal Pradesh). Bird Sanctuary with crane, duck, goose, teal. Airport: Chandigarh 135km. Railhead: Nangal 13km. Accommodation: available at Bhakra.

Corbett National Park (Uttar Pradesh). Himalayan foothills near Dhikala; Sal forest and plains; tiger, elephant; leopard and rich bird life. Excellent fishing in Ramganga river. Airport: Pantnagar 115 km. Railhead: Ramnagar 51km. Season: November-May. Accommodation: Within the Park.

Dudhwa National Park: (Uttar Pradesh). Nepal border; tiger, sloth bear and panther. Airport: Lucknow 251km. Railhead: Dudhwa 4kms. Season: November-May. Accommodation: Within the Park. November - May. Accommodation: Within the Park: Sawai Madhopur.

Flower Valley National Park (Uttar Pradesh). When in bloom this "roof garden" at 3,500 metres is a glorious blaze of colour. Location: Badrinath 44km. Railhead: Rishikesh 280km. Season: June-July.

Sariska National Park (Rajasthan). About 200km from Delhi. Forest and open plains: sambar (largest Indian deer), cheetal (spotted deer), nilgai (Indian antelope), blackbuck, leopard, tiger; good night viewing. Airport: Jaipur 160km. Railhead: Alwar 35km (bus connections). Season: February-June. Accommodation: Within the Park.

Ranthambhor (Sawai Madhopur- Rajasthan). Hill forest, plains and lakes; simbar, chinkara (Indian gazelle), tiger, sloth bear, crocodiles and migratory water birds. Location: Railhead: Sawai Madhopur 11km. Airport: Jaipur 162km. Season :

Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh). Situated in the Vindhya Mountains, this park has a wide variety of wildlife including panther, sambar and gaur. Airport: Jabalpur 166km. Railhead: Umaria 34km. Accommodation: Forest Lodge in the park.

Bharatpur National Park (Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary) (Rajasthan). India’s most outstanding bird sanctuary; many indigenous water birds; huge migration from Siberia and China; crane, geese, stork, heron, snake bird, etc. Airport: Agra 52km Railhead: Bharatpur 5km. Road: Jaipur 176km, Delhi 177km. Season: September - February. Accommodation: Within the Sanctuary.

Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh). Sal forest and grassland; only home of barasingha (swamp deer), tiger, cheetal, gaur (Indian bison), monkey. Airport: Nagpur 270km. Railhead: Jabalpur 170km. Season: November - March. Accommodation: Within the Park; Kanha and Kisli.

Shivpuri National Park (Madhya Pradesh). Open forest and lake; chinkara, chowsingha (four-horned antelope), nilgai, tiger, leopard, water birds. Airport: Gwalior 120km. Railhead: Jhansi 95km. Season: February-May. Accommodation: Forest Rest House, Motel.

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WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES AND NATIONAL PARKS

EASTERN INDIA

Kaziranga National Park (Assam). Elephant grass and swamps; one horned Indian rhinoceros, water buffalo, tiger, leopard, elephant, deer, rich bird life. Elephant transport available within the park. Airports: Jorhat 96km, Guwahati 217km. Railhead: Furkating 78km. Season: February-May. Accommodation: Within the Park.

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam). On the Bhutan border, rain forest and grassland and river banks; rhino, water

buffalo, tiger, elephant, golden langur, water birds; fishing permitted. Airport: Gauhati 176km. Railhead: Barpeta 40km. Season: January-March. Accommodation: Within the sanctuary.

Palamau Tiger Reserve (Bihar). Rolling, forested hills; tiger, leopard, elephant, sambar, jungle cat, rhesus macaque (monkey), occasionally wolf. Airport: Ranchi 155km. Railhead: Daltenganj 19km. Season: February-March. Accommodation: At Betla.

Hazaribagh National Park (Bihar). Sal forested hills; sambar, nilgai, cheetal, tiger, leopard, occasionally muntjac (lager barking deer). Airport: Ranchi 100km. Railhead: Hazaribagh 67km. Season: February-March. Accommodation: Within the Park.

Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (West Bengal). Mangrove forests; tiger, fishing cat, deer, crocodile, dolphin, rich bird life, Transport: access and travel by chartered boat. Airport: Calcutta 48km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: None available in or near the sanctuary.

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary (West Bengal). Tropical forest and grassland; rhino, elephant, rich bird life. Airport: Bagdogra 155km, Railhead: Madari Hat l 1 km. Season: March - May. Accommodation: Rest House at Jaldapara.

Similipal Tiger Reserve (Orissa) Immense Sal forest; tiger, elephant, leopard, sambar, cheetal, muntjac and chevrotain. Airport: Bhubaneshwar 310km. Railhead: Baripada 50km. Season: November- June. Accommodation: Several Tourist Rest Houses in the vicinity.

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WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES AND NATIONAL PARKS

SOUTHERN INDIA Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala). Large artifical lake; elephant, gaur, wild dog, black langur, otters, tortoises, rich bird life including hornbill and fishing owl. Viewing by boat. Airports: Madurai 160km, Cochin 208km, Trivandrum 258km. Railheads: Madurai, Kottayam 110kms, Bodinayakanur 67kms. Accommodation: Choice of several nearby hotels.

Vedanthangal Water Birds Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu). One of the most spectacular breeding grounds in India. Cormorants, herons, storks, pelicans, grebes and many others. Airport: Madras 85km. Railhead: Chingleput 28km. Season: October-March. Accommodation: Forest Resthouse.

Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu). Particularly noted for its flamingos, also for herons, teals, curlews and plovers and black buck and wild pig. Airport: Tiruchchirapalli 200km. Railhead: Point Calimere 0.5km. Season: November-January. Accommodation: Forest Resthouse.

Pulicat Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh). Flamingos, grey pelicans, herons, terns. Airport A Railhead: Madras 60km. Accommodation: Available at Nellore.

Dandeli National Park (Karnataka). Park with bison, panther, tiger and sambar. Easily accessible from Goa. Airport: Belgaum 142km. Railhead: Alnaver 20km. Accommodation: Resthouse at Kulgi Forest and Mandurli, and River View Bungalow at Dandeli.

Jawahar National Park (This includes Bandipur and Nagarhole National Parks (Karnataka), and the Wildlife Sanctuaries of Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu) and Wayanad (Kerala). Extensive mixed forest; largest elephant population in India, leopard, gaur, sambar, muntjac, giant squirrel. Birds include racquet-tailed drongo, trogon & barbet.

Bandipur (Karnataka) : Airport: Bangalore 190km. Railhead: Mysore 65km. Approachable from Coimbatore and Ootacamund. Accommodation: Within the Park.

Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu) : Location: Airport: Coimbatore 16km. Railhead: Ootacamund 68km.

Nagarhole (Karnataka) : Airport: Bangalore, Railhead: Mysore. Accommodation: 2 Traveller’s Bungalows.

Wayanad (Kerala) : Airport: Cochin 300km. Railhead: Calicut l l 1 km. Accommodation: Forest Rest House.

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WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES AND NATIONAL PARKS

WESTERN INDIA Wildlife Sanctuaries Holiday: With effect from Nov 2001, all the Wildlife Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh, will be closed

on Tuesdays.

Krishnagiri Upavan National Park (Maharashtra). Formerly known as Borvili, this park protects an important scenic area close to Bombay. Kanheri Caves and Vihar, Tulsi and Powari Lakes; water birds, smaller types of wildlife. Outdoor movie, nearby Lion Safari Park. Airport: Bombay 20km. Railhead: Borvili 3km. Season: October-June. Accommodation: Tourist Cabins.

Tadoba National Park (Maharashtra). Teak forest and lake; tiger, leopard, nilgai, gaur. Viewing by night. Airport: Nagpur 208km. Railhead: Chandrapur 45km. Season: March-May. Accommodation: Within the Park.

Sasan Gir National Park (Gujarat), Forested plains and lake; only home of Asiatic Lion, sambar, chowsingha, nilgai, leopard, chinkara and wild boar Airport Rajkot 153km. Railhead: Sasan Gir 0,5km. Season: January-May. Accommodation: Within the Park.

Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary (Gujarat). Lake; migratory water birds; indigenous birds include flamingos. Airport: Ahmedabad 64kms. Railhead: Viramgam 40km. Season: November-February. Accommodation: Available near the lake.

Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary (Gujarat). Desert; herds of khur (Indian wild ass), wolf, caracal. Airport: Ahmedabad 195km. Railhead: Dhrangadhra 25km. Season: October-June. AccommodationWithin the Sanctuary / Dhrangadhra. Arrange access at Bhuj.

Velvadar National Park (Gujarat). New Delta grasslands, large concentration of blackbuck. Airport A Railhead: Bhavnagar 65km. Season: October- June. Accommodation: Within the Park.