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NATURE PARKS |
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NATIONAL PARKS OF INDIAThe climatic and topographic diversity of India is reflected in the flora and fauna of the country. Nowhere one can enjoy this diversity more intensive and convenient than in the variety of national parks. On foot, elephant back, cycle or Jeep one can observe tigers, deer, elephants, rhinos or different kinds of birds in their natural habitat. The parks are well developed and one can find adequate accommodation in lodges inside the parks or in close vicinity.
Bhitarkanika is situated in the Brahmani - Baitarani Delta at the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. This area of mangrove forests and tidal waters was proclaimed a sanctuary mainly to protect the nesting habitat of more than 300.000 olive ridley marine turtles. It is a fascinating event to see the procession of thousands of these turtles, which can be observe from November to April. It is also the home of the saltwater crocodile. In addition one can find a lot of migratory birds during the winter months. This also the best time to visit the park. The park can be reached from Calcutta and Bhubaneshwar. CORBETT NATIONAL PARK: The Park lies in Uttar Pradesh at the foothills of the Himalayas and is one of the most renowned national parks in India. This historical place was the center of launch of the Project Tiger. With untainted glory and natural splendor, Jim Corbett National Park boasts of a great adventure. It has a wide spectrum of diverse wildlife. Tigers, Leopards and elephants can be observed from watchtowers. Anglers can find an idyllic place at the banks of Ramganga River. The lush green forests, riverine vistas, scenic beauty, pleasant climate and excellent facilities sum to prize this national park as one of the best in India. It can be accessed from Delhi and the best time to visit is from November to May.
JAISAMAND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: This sanctuary of 160 km2 is in Rajasthan and was created in 1957 around a lake of the same name. Here one can find sloth bears, leopards, chital, wild boar as well as many birds. Crocodiles, too, one can observe in their natural habitat. The best time to visit is from November to January. KANHA NATIONAL PARK: One of the most beautiful and scenic wildlife sanctuaries of Asia, Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is responsible for preserving numerous animal species. This national park has bolstered the objectives of the Project Tiger. Situated in a beautiful horse-shaped valley, the park has sal forests and vast grasslands. The increasing habitat of the forest includes 22 mammal species like monkeys and apes, hyena, wild pigs, deer and black bucks. The Indian jackal, jungle cat, leopard, blue bull are also spotted. It also has 200 species of birds. Season is from November to June. KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK: The Kaziranga Park lies in the fertile planes of the Brahmaputra River at the foothills of the Himalayas in Assam. It is famous as the last major home for the one-horned rhino. The rare animals are fast and agile and can reach a height of 2 m. The park also has wild gaur, deer, elephants, tigers, bears and many birds. Park is open from November to June. MUDUMALAI NATIONAL PARK: This NP is in the foothills of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu and with 321 km2 it is part of a much larger reserve (3000 km2) which includes Bandipur and Wynad in neighbouring Karnataka and Kerala. In Mudumalai, which means Old Hill in Tamil, the mostly dense forest is home to chital (spotted deer), gaur (Indian bison), tiger, panther, wild boar and sloth bear. Otters and crocodiles inhabit the Moyar River. The park's wild elephant population is one of the largest in the country. Best time to visit February to June. NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK: Nagarhole ("Snake River") lies in Karnataka in the South of India. It is a hilly park with dense forest - thick jungle with a 30 m high canopy - and is best explored by boat, Jeep or on the back of an elephant. The park is home to the tiger, elephant, panther, sloth bear, bison, barking deer, sambar and a variety of birds Nagarhole is close to tourist spots such as Mysore, Belur, Halebid or Ooty and the best time to visit is October to April.
The exotic and extensive park is in the state of Kerala. A rich flora and fauna has spread around Lake Periyar and the slopes of the Cardamom hills. It has a big elephant population as well as sambar, wild pig, Malaba flying squirrel, gaur, stripe-necked mongoose and many birds. Tigers and leopards can also be found here, but are rarely spotted. The park is best explored by boat. Park is open from September to May.
The beautiful Sariska Tiger Reserve and National Park near Alwar (Rajasthan) is a former maharaja's hunting ground and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958. It is managed since 1979 by Project Tiger. The sanctuary encompasses abundant woodland dotted with evocating ruins, including a popular Hanuman temple and an old fort. Wildlife here includes leopard, panther, hyena, jungle cat, civet, sambar, chinkara, four horned antelope, porcupine, nilgai, chital, wild boar, mongooses, monkeys, peacocks, parrots and other birds. The best prospect of seeing a tiger is around the artificial water holes that have been placed along the main road through the park to attract animals in the dry season. Best time to visit is from November to March.
Simlipal National Park is located in the centre of Mayurbhanj district in the Northeast of Orissa. With its area of 846 km2 it is the core part of the much bigger Tiger Reserve, which is under Project Tiger and spreads over an areas of 2750 km2. It is home to panthers, tigers, gaur, bison, antelopes, sambar, mouse deer - the tiniest of the deer family, mugger or crocodiles, and more than 223 species of birds. The glory of the park is increased by the water falls, tribal settlements and mountain peaks. The park is open for visitors from November to June and can be reached from Calcutta and Bhubaneshwar.
Located in the Ganga delta in West Bengal, spanning the Hooghly in the west and Teulia river in the east, Sunderbans was declared a National Park in 1984. The park covers a vast stretch of mangrove swamp, lush forested islands and small rivers near the Bay of Bengal. Most of the region comprises estuarine mangrove forests and swamps which supports an ecosystem specially adapted to great salinity. Sunderbans is home to the magnificent Royal Bengal tiger, the park holding more tigers than any other tiger reserve. More than 400 tigers were recorded during the mid-1980s. Project tiger has also launched a programme to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles. Crocodiles and the gangetic dolphin are to be found aplenty in the Raimgangal river. The Sajnakhali sanctuary, famous for its rich avian population, is regarded as a part of the Sunderbans National Park. The best time to visit is September to May.
This sanctuary is an 820 hectares large, salty area 12 km from Sujangarh and 170 km from Bikaner on the road from Bikaner to Jaipur in Rajasthan. Here one can see about 400 black bucks - antelopes which are threatened by extinction - before the backdrop of heat-induced mirage. This was originally a game park of the Maharaja of Bikaner before it was declared a sanctuary. In is interesting to see how the males command over their harems and how these animals look after their offspring. VAN VIHAR, RAMNAGAR SANCTUARY: The breathtaking beauty of this sanctuary stretches over an area of 60 km2. It lies in Rajasthan and is divided into two parts Van Vihar and Ramsagar. Van Vihar on the Vindhyan Plateau supports a rather light grow of crippled Dhok- and Khair trees, where as Ramsagar is situated around the picturesque Lake Ramsagar. Wildlife here includes sambar, chital, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena, leopards, as well as crocodiles, birds and a variety of snakes and fish in and around Lake Ramsagar.
VAN VIHAR, DARRAH SANCTUARY: VAN VIHAR, MT. ABU SANCTUARY:
The large desert and sand areas around Jaisalmer were declared a desert national park. For the layman it may appear there is not much to be prodected in a desert. But the desert is a very sensitive ecological system, with an extraordinary multiplicity of animal species, of which some are threatened by extinction. The desert national park is an excellent example of the ecological system of the Thar desert with its fauna. Sand dunes form about 20% of the park, but the largest part of the land consists of cracked rocks, hard salt crusts of former lakes, water holes and dunes. Here live chinkara antelopes and black buck antelopes, which can move with great speed in the barren land. One can also find wolves, desert fox, desert cat, birds and reptiles. 18 km from Jaisalmer lies the Akal Wood Fossils Park, where one can see fossils of tree trunks and shells which are about 180 billion years old. |
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