List of Top 30 Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Possessing rich biodiversity and located at a place with mesmerizing scenic beauty, Kerala’s Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most renowned protected areas in South India. It is known for the Elephants and Tigers that reside here. The name of this sanctuary is derived from the Periyar lake that flows in this area. In addition to the Elephants and Tigers, one can also witness Sambar, Gaur, Mouse Deer, Wild Pigs, Barking Deer, and Indian Wild Dog. Primates like the Rare lion-tailed Macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Gee's Golden Langur, Common Langur, and Bonnet Macaque are also found in Periyar. Nilgiri Tahr can also be found here. There are around 50 species of Mammals, 250 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians, 20 species of Fishes and 110 species of Butterflies found in the Periyar sanctuary.

Located in Kerala - The sanctuary is present in the Pandalam Hills and Cardamom Hills, in the Southwestern ghats. It is present along the border with Tamil Nadu. Kumily, Kottayam, Madurai, and Cochin are important cities near this park. From Bangalore, it is around 500 Kms and it is 9+ hours drive through the lush green forests.

Best Time to Visit- October to June

Things to do- Boat Cruise Ride, Jungle Camp, Spice Garden Tour.
Timings- 6 am to 7 pm
Entry Fees- INR 25
How to Reach- Nearest airport - Madurai Airport. Nearest railway station - Kottayam Railway Station.

By road - NH 220 will take you to Kumily which is 4 kilometers away from the sanctuary.

Find more info at - Kerala Tourism, Periyar National Park

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Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha

Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, close to the famous Chilika lake in Puri. It is one of the most popular sanctuaries in Odisha, and serves as a home to a huge number of migratory birds. It is a famous picnic hotspot in Odisha because of its scenic beauty and serene environment. Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary is included in the list of the Largest Wildlife Sanctuaries in India possessing a huge area of around 1100 sq km as well as harboring an astonishing collection of species of animals. Hyenas, Spot-Billed Pelicans, Golden Jackals, Open Billed Stork, Brahminy Kite, Spotted Deer, Ibis, Blackbuck, Limbless Lizard, Crustaceans, Heron, Pintail, Egret, etc can be found here. Moreover, Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to a wide range of aquatic wildlife which can be seen while boating. A peaceful sunset can be captured while at Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, which is like the icing on the cake. The shades of orange and red adorn the sky are a treat to the eye.

Location- Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the South-west of the Puri.

Best Time to Visit- November to February
Things to Do- Boating, Picnic, Visiting the nearby Kalijai Temple
Timings- 6 am - 7 pm
Entry Fees- No Entry Fees
How to Reach- If you are in Bhubaneswar, you can take a cab to the sanctuary. Bhubaneswar Airport is the nearest airport to the Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, and Balugaon Railway Station is the closest railway station.

Find More Info at- Odisha Tourism

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam

Occupying an area which is almost thrice as much as the area it occupied earlier, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This sanctuary spans across around five to six districts of Assam and has been named after the Manas river that flows near the sanctuary. Due to its location, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary witnesses an amazing climate throughout the year. It serves as a home to Tigers, Elephants, Black Panther, Golden Cat, Otters, Sambar Deer, Indian Rhinoceros, Assamese Macaques, Asian Water Buffaloes, etc. There is a huge variety of birds too like Bulbuls, Ospreys, Pied Harrier, Serpent Eagles, Egret, etc.

Location- Located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, Manas spans over the districts of Chirang, Baksa, Kokrajhar, Darrang, Udalguri, and Bongaigaon in the state of Assam in India.

Best Time to Visit- October to February
Things to Do- Elephant Safari, Tea Plantations Visit, Birdwatching, River Rafting
Timings- 6 am - 3 pm
Entry Fees- INR 20
How to Reach- Guwahati Airport is the closest airport to this sanctuary. Spanning across districts of Assam, buses, and cabs are readily available. The nearest railway station is Barpeta Railway Station.

Find More Info at- Assam Tourism

Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu

This wildlife sanctuary is bordered by the Anaimalai Hills and hence, was called Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary till 1987. It is spread over an area of 958.59 sq km, owing to the climate of the place, this sanctuary comprises teak wood, grasslands, moist deciduous forests, and even scrub forests. The wildlife found in this sanctuary is Lion Tailed Macaque, Bonnet, Nilgiri Tahr, Common Langur, Hornbill, Drongos, Parakeets, Peregrine Falcons, Cuckoos, etc.

Location- Anaimalai Hills of Pollachi, Valparai taluks of Coimbatore district and Udumalaipettai taluks of Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu, India

Best Time to Visit- December to April
Things to Do- Explore the Flora and Fauna of the sanctuary, Jungle Safari, Bird Spotting.
Timings- 7 am - 4:30 pm
Entry Fees- INR 25
How to Reach- Buses are easily available from Coimbatore to Pollachi. The closest airport is Coimbatore Airport and Pollachi Railway Station is the nearest railway station.

Find More Info at- Tamil Nadu Tourism

Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal

Located at a height of around 8,150 feet, this is one of the Oldest Wildlife Sanctuaries in India. A beautiful Lake present in the sanctuary is fed by a mountain spring. This sanctuary comprises a dense forest out of which 60% is man-made and 40% is natural. A diverse flora can be observed here including pines, oak, birch, and a huge variety of flowering plants. This sanctuary was set up in 1915, therefore is one of the oldest in India. Himalayan Black Bears, Barking Deer, Monkeys, Leopards, Scaly anteaters, flying squirrels, etc can be found here at these altitudes. Birds such as hornbills, red jungle fowl, pheasant, etc can also be observed.

Location- Darjeeling, West Bengal

Best Time to Visit- September to December and February to March
Things to Do- Relish the flora, Cycling.
Timings- 6 am - 6 pm
Entry Fees- No Entry Fees but cycling (optional) costs INR 50.
How to Reach- A vehicle can be taken from Darjeeling to reach the sanctuary. Bagdogra Airport is the closest and the nearest railway station is Tung Railway Station.

Find More Info at- Darjeeling Tourism

Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Enriched by the rivers like Solashi, Kandati, and Koyna within, this wildlife sanctuary is located in the Satara District. During the day, the diverse fauna can be seen around the water bodies. The altitude of this sanctuary is around 800 meters on an average, above the sea level. The climate of the place is cool and is renowned for its scenic beauty. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO which has added five stars to the name of this sanctuary and has got it in the list of the Finest Wildlife Sanctuaries of India. The fauna that can be spotted here are Royal Bengal Tiger, India Giant Squirrel, Bison, Crested Goshawk, Mouse Deer, Sloth Bears, India Pythons, King Cobra, etc.

Location- Koyna, Maharashtra

Best Time to Visit- October to November
Things to Do- Safari, Bird Spotting, Picnic
Timings- 7 am - 6 pm
Entry Fees- INR 50 for a vehicle is charged, and INR 20 per head.
How to Reach- Cabs or Buses can easily be taken from Pune and Kolhapur. Kolhapur Railway Station is the nearest train station and Pune airport is the nearest airport to Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary.

Find More Info at- Maharashtra Tourism

Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh

This wildlife sanctuary is a major tourist hotspot, attracting visitors from all around the country and the world. This place is a conglomeration of the best of nature’s creations - dense forests, beautiful streams and streamlets, mountains, deep valleys and gorges along with a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is one of the Best Wildlife Sanctuaries of India. Snow Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Tigers, Red Gorals, Musk Deer, Red Pandas, and numerous other exotic species can be found here. This sanctuary has attracted a huge number of avid bird watchers and nature lovers too.
Moist temperate and alpine type vegetation is observed here.

Location- Dibang Valley located in Roing in Arunachal Pradesh

Best Time to Visit- November to May
Things to Do- Bird Watching, Wilderness Exploration, Enjoying the flora and fauna, Relishing the scenic beauty and climate
How to Reach- Dibrugarh Airport is the nearest airport and Tinsukia Railway Station is the nearest railway station. State buses and cabs connect Anini in Arunachal Pradesh and Tinsukia in Assam with Roing, where this sanctuary is located.

Find More Info at- Arunachal Tourism

Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu and Kashmir

This wildlife sanctuary is famous for its astonishing landscapes and scenery. This beautiful mountain view makes the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary one of the Most Beautiful Sanctuaries in India. It serves as a home to the migratory Chiru, which is the Tibetian Antelope. Tibetian Gazelle, Himalayan Ibex, Himalayan Marmots, Red Fox, Wooly Hare, Wild Yaks, Snow Leopard, etc are found here. Certain plants with medicinal properties like Bergenia Stracheyi, Hyoscyamus Niger, and Arnebia Euchroma, etc are also found among the sparse vegetation that grows here.

Location- Easternmost side of Leh district, Jammu and Kashmir

Best Time to Visit- October as well as the month of May
How to Reach- Leh airport is the nearest airport to the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary. If you are traveling by train, the Jammu Railway Station should be your destination as it is the closest station to the destination. Buses and Jeeps regularly run from Leh to this famous Sanctuary

Find More Info at- Jammu & Kashmir Tourism

Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Andaman

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