Almost every big city has a zoo, but seeing the animals behind bars and in access-controlled enclosures gets boring after a while. The real fun is still in seeing the animals in their natural surroundings, being wild! Fortunately, there are numerous national parks in India where you can do that. An added benefit about visiting such places is the prospect of camping in the wilderness, under the stars. So, get ready, as we bring to you a list of the best national parks for camping and wildlife tours:

1. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1936, is the oldest national park in India. It was initially named Hailey National Park and later renamed to honor the legendary hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett. This park is renowned for its Bengal tiger population and diverse wildlife.

• Area: 1,318.54 sq km
• Prominent Species: Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, Indian leopard, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild boar, gharial, mugger crocodile, otter, Indian pangolin, various bird species including the crested serpent eagle and the red junglefowl.
• Habitat: The park comprises hills, marshy depressions, riverine belts, grasslands, and a large lake. The Ramganga River flows through it.
• Best Months to Visit: November 15 – June 15 (The park is closed during the monsoon season)
• Entry Fee: ₹200 onwards
• Activities: Jeep safari, elephant safari, bird watching, and fishing.
• Nearest Railway Station: Ramnagar (1 km)
• Nearest Airport: Pantnagar Airport (82 km)

2. Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat

Gir Forest National Park, established in 1965, is the only place in the world where Asiatic lions can be found in the wild. The park has successfully contributed to the conservation of this endangered species.

• Area: 1,412 sq km
• Prominent Species: Asiatic lion, Indian leopard, jungle cat, striped hyena, Bengal fox, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, wild boar, blackbuck, four-horned antelope, Indian pangolin, and various bird species including the crested serpent eagle and the Indian pitta.
• Habitat: The park comprises dry deciduous forests, thorny scrublands, savannah, and grasslands. The Hiran, Shetrunji, Datardi, Shingoda, Machhundri, and Raval rivers flow through the park.
• Best Months to Visit: October 16 – June 15
• Entry Fee: ₹150 onwards
• Activities: Jeep safari, bird watching, and nature trails.
• Nearest Railway Station: Junagadh (77 km)
• Nearest Airport: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (336 km)

3. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

Ranthambore National Park, established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955, is one of the largest national parks in northern India. It became a national park in 1980 and is known for its significant tiger population.

• Area: 1,334 sq km
• Prominent Species: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, sloth bear, striped hyena, rhesus macaque, langur, mugger crocodile, and over 300 species of birds.
• Habitat: The park consists of dry deciduous forests, open grassy meadow, and several lakes and rivers. The Banas River and the Chambal River flow around the park.
• Best Months to Visit: October 1 – June 30
• Entry Fee: ₹100 onwards
• Activities: Jeep safari, canter safari, bird watching, and nature trails.
• Nearest Railway Station: Sawai Madhopur (14 km)
• Nearest Airport: Jaipur International Airport (182 km)

4. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Bandhavgarh National Park, established in 1968, is known for its high density of Bengal tigers. The park has a rich history and is home to the Bandhavgarh Fort, believed to be 2,000 years old.

• Area: 1,536 sq km
• Prominent Species: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, sloth bear, dhole, striped hyena, langur, rhesus macaque, and over 250 species of birds.
• Habitat: The park features a mix of tropical forest, moist deciduous forests, grasslands, and bamboo groves. The park is dotted with hills and has numerous streams.
• Best Months to Visit: October 25 – June 30
• Entry Fee: ₹250 onwards
• Activities: Jeep safari, elephant safari, bird watching, and trekking to Bandhavgarh Fort.
• Nearest Railway Station: Umaria (33 km)
• Nearest Airport: Jabalpur Airport (177 km)

5. Kaziranga National Park, Assam

Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was established in 1908. It is famous for its population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros and is a prime example of successful wildlife conservation.

• Area: 430 sq km
• Prominent Species: Indian one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo, gaur, swamp deer, hog deer, sambar, barking deer, leopards, otters, and various bird species including the great Indian hornbill and the Bengal florican.
• Habitat: The park comprises grasslands, tropical moist mixed forests, marshes, and numerous water bodies.
• Best Months to Visit: November 1 – April 30
• Entry Fee: ₹50 onwards
• Activities: Jeep safari, elephant safari, bird watching, and boat rides on the Brahmaputra River.
• Nearest Railway Station: Nagaon (74.5 km)
• Nearest Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati (213 km)

6. Hemis National Park, Ladakh

Hemis National Park, established in 1981, is the largest national park in South Asia. It is renowned for its population of snow leopards and its high-altitude biodiversity.

• Area: 4,400 sq km
• Prominent Species: Snow leopard, Himalayan wolf, Eurasian brown bear, red fox, blue sheep, Asiatic ibex, Tibetan argali, and various bird species including the golden eagle and the Himalayan griffon vulture.
• Habitat: The park consists of high-altitude deserts, alpine meadows, and steep mountains. It is located in the rain shadow of the Himalayas.
• Best Months to Visit: May – October
• Entry Fee: ₹20 onwards
• Activities: Trekking, bird watching, and wildlife spotting.
• Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Tawi (736 km)
• Nearest Airport: Leh Airport (5 km)

7. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, part of the Terai Arc Landscape, was declared a tiger reserve in 2014. It is characterized by its diverse habitats, including dense forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

• Area: 730.24 sq km
• Prominent Species: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, swamp deer, hispid hare, Bengal florican, Indian grey mongoose, and various bird species.
• Habitat: The reserve comprises sal forests, grasslands, riverine forests, and swamps. The Sharda River forms its eastern boundary.
• Best Months to Visit: November – April
• Entry Fee: ₹200 onwards
• Activities: Jeep safari, elephant safari, bird watching, and nature trails.
• Nearest Railway Station: Pilibhit Junction (10 km)
• Nearest Airport: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow (250 km)

8. Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh

Dudhwa National Park, part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, was established in 1977. It is known for its dense forests, rich wildlife, and wetlands.

• Area: 490.29 sq km
• Prominent Species: Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, sloth bear, swamp deer, leopard, hispid hare, and various bird species including the Bengal florican and the great Indian hornbill.
• Habitat: The park comprises sal forests, grasslands, swamps, and marshes. The Suheli and Mohana rivers flow through it.
• Best Months to Visit: November 15 – June 15
• Entry Fee: ₹100 onwards
• Activities: Jeep safari, elephant safari, bird watching, and nature trails.
• Nearest Railway Station: Dudhwa (4 km)
• Nearest Airport: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow (238 km)

9. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal

UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for the Bengal tiger and swamp forests.

• Area: 1,330 sq km
• Prominent Species: Tiger, leopard cat, fishing cat, fox, spotted deer
• Best Months to Visit: November – March
• Entry Fee: ₹60 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Sealdah Station (115 km)
• Nearest Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata (119 km)

10. Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala

Known for its lush Western Ghats scenery and diverse wildlife.

• Area: 305 sq km
• Prominent Species: Tiger, gaur, dhole, elephant, Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur
• Best Months to Visit: Year-round
• Entry Fee: ₹155 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Madurai (138 km)
• Nearest Airport: Madurai airport (151 km)

11. Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh

UNESCO World Heritage Site, embodies the Himalayan ecosystem.

• Area: 754 sq km
• Prominent Species: Snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, bharal, Himalayan tahr, goral
• Best Months to Visit: October – June
• Entry Fee: ₹150 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Shimla (196 km)
• Nearest Airport: Shimla airport (205 km)

12. Blackbuck National Park, Gujarat

Created to protect the blackbuck, features tall golden grasslands.

• Area: 34.08 sq km
• Prominent Species: Blackbuck, Indian wolf, striped hyena, golden jackals, wild boar
• Best Months to Visit: Year-round (October – March recommended)
• Entry Fee: ₹20 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Bhavnagar (45 km)
• Nearest Airport: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (151 km)

13. Bannerghatta Biological Park, Karnataka

Located near Bangalore, home to a variety of wildlife including Royal Bengal tigers.

• Area: 27 sq km
• Prominent Species: Royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, leopard, jackal, fox, wild boar
• Best Months to Visit: Year-round (November – June recommended)
• Entry Fee: ₹80 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Bangalore City Railway Station (24 km)
• Nearest Airport: Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore (72 km)

14. Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu

Located on the Nilgiri plateau, known for its tiger population The Mudumalai National Park .

• Area: 321 sq km
• Prominent Species: Tiger, leopard, monkeys, grey langurs, golden jackal, sloth bear
• Best Months to Visit: Year-round (February – June recommended)
• Entry Fee: ₹30 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Coimbatore Junction (128 km)
• Nearest Airport: Coimbatore International Airport (128 km)

15. Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka

Known for its lush greenery, trekking trails, and diverse wildlife.

• Area: 600 sq km
• Prominent Species: Tiger, Malabar giant squirrel, sloth bear, barking deer, gaur
• Best Months to Visit: Year-round (October – February recommended)
• Entry Fee: ₹200 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Bantawala Railway Station (28 km)
• Nearest Airport: Mangalore International Airport (91 km)

16. Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand

Known for its meadows of endemic flowers and trekking route.

• Area: 87 sq km
• Prominent Species: Himalayan black bear, grey langur, red giant flying squirrel, Himalayan weasel, red fox
• Best Months to Visit: June – October (July – September recommended)
• Entry Fee: ₹150 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh Railway Station (264 km)
• Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant International Airport, Dehradun (281 km)

17. Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan

Formerly Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, known for bird watching.

• Area: 29 sq km
• Prominent Species: Chital deer, nilgai, blackbuck, wild boar, Indian porcupine, leopard
• Best Months to Visit: Year-round (August – November recommended)
• Entry Fee: ₹75 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Bharatpur Junction (26 km)
• Nearest Airport: Kheria Airport, Agra (56 km)

18. Sariska National Park, Rajasthan

Known for successful tiger relocation, diverse bird species, and rocky landscapes.

• Area: 881 sq km
• Prominent Species: Jungle cat, Indian leopard, golden jackal, nilgai, small Indian civet
• Best Months to Visit: Year-round (October – May recommended)
• Entry Fee: ₹80 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Alwar Junction (40 km)
• Nearest Airport: Jaipur International Airport (128 km)

19. Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka

Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, features rich forest cover and a healthy tiger population.

• Area: 642 sq km
• Prominent Species: Indian leopard, slender loris, mongoose, leopard cat, dhole
• Best Months to Visit: Year-round (April – June recommended)
• Entry Fee: ₹250 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Mysore Railway Station (64 km)
• Nearest Airport: Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore (236 km)

20. Manas National Park, Assam

UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for the pygmy hog and golden langur.

• Area: 500 sq km
• Prominent Species: Tiger, Indian leopard, wild water buffalo, capped langur, Assamese macaque
• Best Months to Visit: November – April
• Entry Fee: ₹50 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Barpeta Road Railway Station (32 km)
• Nearest Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati (150 km)

21. Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book,” known for its wildlife population.

• Area: 758 sq km
• Prominent Species: Tiger, wild dog, chital, striped hyena, nilgai
• Best Months to Visit: October – June
• Entry Fee: ₹100 onwards
• Nearest Railway Station: Nagpur Railway Station (90 km)
• Nearest Airport: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur (132 km)

Notes:

• Best Months to Visit: Seasonal variations and specific timing for certain wildlife spotting.
• Entry Fee: Varies, often higher for non-Indians and additional for camera equipment.
• Accessibility: Confirm transport options and proximity to major cities for better planning.