The national parks of India and their geographical features are summarized below:
This section covers the location and basic information about the National Parks of India. All the aspects thoroughly discussed from the competitive exams’ point of view. You can easily learn the locations of National Parks with the help of GIS maps specially prepared for this purpose. It will help you to prepare different MCQs asked in various competitive exams on the topic “National Parks”.
National parks in Ladakh
Hemis
Located in East Ladakh and largest notified protected park in the UT. Situated on the banks of the Indus River. It is home to the snow leopard, Liang, Tibetan deer, and many types of birds. The park offers several trekking routes from mid-June to mid-October.
National parks in Jammu & Kashmir
Dachigam
It spreads over an area of about 140 sq. km. The name of this park means ‘ten villages’. Although this park was a protected area since 1910 and declared as a national park in 1981. Hangul (red buck), Kashmiri deer, antelope in the Himalayas, musk deer, leopard, and poultry found there.
Kishtwar
This national park is located in the Doda district of Jammu block of Jammu and Kashmir UT. Characterized by Rugged trails through narrow valleys & high ridges in a nature reserve sheltering birds & mammal.
Srinagar Salim Ali
It is located near the Srinagar airport. The park named after Indian ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali.
National parks in Himachal Pradesh
Pin Valley
This national park is located in the Spiti Valley of Lahul and the Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. It is home to several extinct species such as the snow leopard and the Siberian ibex. Many Buddhist shrines are there in this park.
Great Himalayan
This national park is located in the Kullu Valley at an altitude of 1500 to 6000 meters. Established in 1984 and covers an area of 1170 sq. km. It is home to 375 types of fauna, which include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, annelids, mollusks, and insects.
National Parks in India
National parks in Uttarakhand
Govind Pashu Vihar
This wildlife sanctuary is located in Uttarakhand in a 1000 sq. km. area and established in 1955. Popular trekking destination with snowy peaks, plus Himalayan wildlife like musk deer & brown bears. The Indian government started the Snow Leopard Project at Govind Pashu Vihar. Black bears, brown bears, leopards, garuda, vultures, snakes, roosters etc. found in the park.
Gangotri National Park
It is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand and spread over an area of 1530 sq. km. The park offers spectacular glacial views and a mix of coniferous forests and green meadows.
Valley of Flowers National Park
The Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi parks jointly declared as a national park in 1982.
Nanda Devi National Park
Situated near Nanda Devi peak (altitude of 7817 meters above sea level). The Valley of Flowers Park seen on its northwest side. The park houses the Nanda Devi Sanctuary – a glacial basin. It drained by the Rishi-Ganga River and located in a protected valley home to rare snow leopards and bears, best known for its abundance of flowers.
Rajaji National Park
Situated in the foothills of Aravali Hills. It comes under the Haridwar district. Elephants, leopards, tigers, deer, bunvillars, barnala boars, and bears found in the park.
National parks in Haryana
Kalesar
This protected park is located in Haryana and is about 150 km away from Chandigarh. It is a famous place for bird watching. Sizable national park with dense & open forests featuring various birds & leopards, and elephants. It is also home to wild red rooster chickens apart from other birds. Currently, it is not a national park. It is an extension of Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, situated across the river Yamuna.
National parks in Sikkim
Khangchendzonga
It is a national park as well as a biosphere reserve, which is in the northern district of Sikkim state. The total area of this park is about 850 sq. km. It is the habitat of Himalayan brown bears. A UNESCO World Heritage site that is known for hiking & the world’s third-highest peak.
National parks in West Bengal
Gorumara
This national park is in the Terai region of West Bengal. It is famous for the Indian Rhinoceros. Floodplain & forest national park spanning nearly 50 sq. mi., home to rhinos, elephants & leopards.
National parks in Assam
Orang
This national park is situated on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River near Tezpur (Assam). Known for grasslands & marshes. Home to animals like Indian rhinoceros, elephants & tigers.
Nameri
This national park is located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in the Sonitpur district of (Assam). It is home to elephants, tigers, leopards, gwal, sambar, dhole (Asiatic wild dog), panda, boar, black buck, langur, and giant squirrel. More than 300 species of birds found here, including the white-winged duck.
Kaziranga
Spread over the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam and is a ‘World Heritage Site’. About two-thirds of the one-horned rhinoceros (rhinoceros) population found in this park. Kaziranga has the world’s densest tiger population and declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park has a good number of breeding elephants, water buffalo, marsh deer, and various species of birds. The specialty of this park is the tall ‘Elephant Grass‘. This park is surrounded by the Brahmaputra River. Many artificial chapories built for the protection of animals with the help of the Indian Army.
Dibru Saikhowa
It is in Tinsukia (Assam) and spread over an area of 650 sq. km. It was established to protect ‘Winged Bad Duck’, Water Buffalo, Tiger, and ‘Captain’ Sir Langur.
National parks in Arunachal Pradesh
Mouling
The park is located in the Shiong district of Arunachal Pradesh. Spread over 500 sq. km. area. The mountainous expanse of thick temperate & tropical forests is home to Bengal tigers & red pandas. The animals found in this park are – wild buffalo, leopard, tiger etc.
National Parks in India
National parks in Meghalaya
Nokrek
It is about 2 km away from Dwara in the Garo Hills district of Meghalaya state. Here you will find fishing cat, Serao, and Tiger etc.
Balaphakram
Situated at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level in the Garo hills. It often referred to as the ‘Abode of Wind’ and ‘Land of Spirits’. This is the habitat of the barking deer, the golden cat, and the monkeys. Rare species ranging from Bengal tigers & Indian elephants to red pandas call this park home.
National parks in Nagaland
Ntanki
The wildlife in this park is Hukluk-Gibbon (Oolak), Black Stock (Surmal), Tiger and Sloth Bear, etc. Protected rainforest habitat for storks, sloth bears & gibbons, popular for camping & trekking.
National parks in Manipur
Keibul Lamjao
Located in the southeastern region of Loktak Lake in Manipur and is the last natural habitat of the Brow Antlered Deer of Manipur. The Wetland reserve known for floating islands of soil & vegetation on Loktak Lake & rare sangai deer. The local name of the deer Sangai is – Dancer of Manipur. It is also home to other endangered species including the python. At present this park is in danger due to Loktak hydroelectric project.
National parks in Mizoram
Murlen
Located in the Champai district of Mizoram state. It is 245 km from Aizawl and covers an area of about 100 sq. km. It is an expansive semi-tropical park offering hiking trails & a wildlife sanctuary with an array of animals.
National parks in Chhattisgarh
Kager Ghati
Situated near the Colaba river in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. Deer, wild boar, wild buffalo, nilgai, and many types of birds found there.
National parks in Telangana
Mrugavani
This national park is about 25 km from Hyderabad city in Telangana. It is a small, modest park area offering a few walking trails & wildlife such as deer. The animals found here are rabbits, wild cats, gorse, ‘Indian rate snake’, viper, black-haired Chital, and woodpecker.
Mahavir Harina
This park is in Vasanthali, Hyderabad district of Telangana state. The park named on the 2500th birthday commemoration (1975) of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. The species inhabiting this park are black bucks, porcupines, water monitors, shot toad eagles, wagullas, kingfishers, cormorants, and other species of birds.
National Parks in India
National parks in Tamil Nadu
Mudumalai
It is located in the westernmost part of the state of Tamil Nadu. Situated in the northwest of Nilgiri district and about 80 km from Coimbatore. Acquired 200-square-mile and opened since 1940 and known for its tiger reserve.
Indira Gandhi (Annamalai)
This national park is located in the Annamalai hills in the Coimbatore district. Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Biosphere Protected Area). The park is under consideration by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site of the Western Ghats. Nature reserve with wildlife like elephants & tigers, plus animal encounters like elephant rides.
Palni Hills
This national park is located in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. Spread over the Palani Hills and located very close to the Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary.
Guindy
This park located in Chennai and is the smallest national park in India. Beautiful forests, shrubs, lakes, and small streams seen in this park. (See Fig. 1.5)
National parks in Kerala
Mukurti
Situated in the southeastern corner of the Nilgiri plateau. Located in the Nilgiri district in Kerala, west of Udyamud Hill Station. This national park is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and its selection as a Vasai Heritage Site is under consideration before UNESCO. It is a mountainous grassland reserve, accessible with a permit, home to wildlife like tahrs & leopards.
Silent Valley
This park is in the Nilgiri Hills in the Palakkad district of Kerala state. Spread over 90 sq. km. and selected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site of the Western Ghats.
Eravikulam
Covers an area of about 100 sq. km and spread over the region of Kerala and Karnataka. The selection of this site as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO is under consideration.
Periyar
It is a protected area and a Project Tiger Reserve located in the Idukki district of Kerala. Elephants, leopards, wild boar, gaur, and various species of birds found here. Reserve with a mountain, forests, and lakes making a habitat for protected tigers and elephants.
Mathikettan Shola
It is in the Idukki district of Kerala. It declared as a national park in the year 2003. The economic and ecological importance of the forest of this park is high. Cardamom cultivated during British rule in some parts of this national park. It is a stunning national park with diverse terrain, hiking trails & varied wildlife, including elephants.
National Parks in India
National parks in Andhra Pradesh
Sri Venkateshwara
This national park is located in the Cuddapah and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh. It is famous for many waterfalls such as Talakona, Gundal Kona, and Gunjana. The animals found here are Bath, Gandvilava, Jackal Black Buck, and Giant Squirrel.
National parks in Karnataka
Anshi
Anshi National Park is in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka near the Goa border. It covers an area of 340 sq. km. Situated near Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. Apart from other wildlife, dark leopards, tigers, and elephants found there.
Kudermukh
Kudermukh is a mountain in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka that means ‘horse face’. This region is rich in wildlife. The origin of important rivers like Tungabhadra and Netravadi is in Kudermukh. Animals found here are Malabar civets, wild dogs, slotted bears, and spotted dear.
Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi National Park)
It is located in the Mysore district of Karnataka. The population of tigers, bison, and elephants is denser here than in Bandipur. Its selection as a World Heritage Site is under consideration before UNESCO.
Bannerghatta
It is a hilly region with a rich natural animal habitat. This park is one of the main tourist attractions of Bangalore.
National parks in Goa
Mollem
It is located in the state of Goa and covers an area of 107 sq. km. Lush Park offers acres of greenery, walking paths, birds, leopards, elephants & other wildlife such as Gaur, Chital, Civet, Flying Squirrel, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Sal (Pangolin), and Venomous Snakes like Nagraj (Cobra), Karat and Viper found in this park. About 200 species are found including black woodpeckers, Indian black woodpecks, Malabar pied hornbill, paradise flycatcher, Ferry bluebird, Angarak (drongo), Wag tail bat, Great Indian hornbill, Caudilla (Kingfisher), Lahog, Padki, and wild chickens.
National Parks in India
