Home > 10 Amazing Wildlife Sanctuaries in India for encounters with the wild
- VBee
- August 20, 2022
- 6:28 am
The term Wildlife Sanctuary is composed of two words. Wildlife means the species of flora and fauna, and sanctuary means a place ensuring safety. Wildlife Sanctuary, in simple words, is defined as a place of animal safety. It is a protected area of land created to protect wildlife in its natural habitat.
In India, there are around 553 wildlife sanctuaries. These sanctuaries are set up around different parts of the country to preserve different endangered species. Meanwhile, a wildlife sanctuary is preserved and protected by the authorities. On the other hand, killing and capturing wild animals within the premises is strictly prohibited.
To experience the beauty of wildlife and its behavior in its natural habitat, one should visit wildlife once in his lifetime. Yeah, VBee knows how difficult it will be for you to choose a particular wildlife sanctuary from the available 553 sanctuaries. But that’s why I am here, right? To help you to plan your journey in the best possible way. Here is the comprehensive and well-researched list of India’s 10 amazing wildlife sanctuaries for encounters with the wild.
Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
Are you wondering what the desert region of Kutch got for you? Well, the answer is Kutch desert wildlife sanctuary. Part of Gujarat tourism and Bhuj tourism, Kutch desert wildlife sanctuary is one of the top tourist destinations in Kutch.
Location: Rann of Kutch, Dholavira, Kutch, Gujarat
Year of establishment: 1986
Flora found: Wild grasses and dry thorny scrub, including Apluda aristata, Dichanthium annulatum, and Panicum antidotale.
Fauna found: Some rare flamingos, including the Greater Flamingo, Indian porcupine, spiny-tailed lizard, hyenas, black-necked storks, foxes, wild ass, and the Indian cormorant.
How to reach: The sanctuary is located a 4-hour drive from the nearest Bhuj railway station. It is located approximately 260 km from Kutch.
Nearest airport: Bhuj IAF airport
Nearest railway line: Bhuj Railway Station
Entry price: INR 250 for Indians and INR 1200 for foreigners
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm
Best time to visit: October to March (favorable for Flamingo watching too)
Significance: Kutch wildlife sanctuary is also known as the Flamingo City of India.
Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh
Located in the beautiful state of Ladakh, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the easternmost region of the Karakoram ranges of Leh district of Ladakh. It is rated as one of the most peaceful places in Ladakh.
Location: Leh District, Ladakh
Year of establishment: 1987
Flora found: Medicinal plants including Arnebia euchroma, Ephedra gerardiana, Hyoscyamus Niger, and Bergenia stracheyi.
Fauna found: Tibetan Antelopes (Chiru), Tibetan Gazelle, Red Fox, Himalayan Mouse Hare, Himalayan Marmots, Common Otters, Wooly Hare, Himalayan Ibex, Shapo, Bharal, Wild Yaks, Snow Leopards, Lynx, and Wolves.
How to reach: You can simply reach here by getting a bus from Leh.
Nearest airport: Leh Airport
Nearest railway line: Jammu Railway Station
Entry price: INR 100 onwards
Timings: 5 am to 5 pm
Best time to visit: October to March
Significance: One of the few regions in India where migratory Chiru can be seen is Tibetan Antelope.
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
Located around the Western Ghats, you can enjoy the views of Anamalai Hills at Chinnar wildlife sanctuary. It is the best destination for wildlife explorers who want to get lost in the dense woods of Kerala.
Location: Idukki, Kerala
Year of establishment: 1984
Flora found: Around 963 flora species are found inside Chinnar Sanctuary, including Acacia arabica, Prosopis juliflora, and Opuntia stricta.
Fauna found: Indian leopard and spotted deer, Indian elephant, gaur, Bengal tiger, sambar deer, common langur, bonnet macaque, gray langur, Nilgiri tahr, rusty-spotted cat, grizzled giant squirrel, yellow-throated bulbul, Indian star tortoise, snakes, and butterflies.
How to reach: You can simply reach here by getting a local bus or cab from Pollachi, Aluva, or Munnar.
Nearest airport: Cochin Airport
Nearest railway line: Pollachi Railway Station
Entry price: INR 10 for Indians and INR 100 for foreigners.
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm
Best time to visit: November to March
Significance: An excellent spot for hiking and trekking. You can also visit Thoovanam Waterfalls located here.
(Are you searching for the places to celebrate Janmashtami in India?)
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
The lush green Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is mainly famous for its tiger species. It is the top wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. You can enjoy your entire day with nature and fun here.
Location: Banks of Artificial Periyar Lake, Thekkady, Kerala.
Year of establishment: 1982
Flora found: You can find tall trees of teak, rosewoods, sandalwoods, jacarandas, mangoes, Jamun, tamarind, banyans, sacred fig, bamboo, and medicinal plants, including gloriosa lily.
Fauna found: Lion Tail, Mouse Deer, Leopards, Barking Deer, Sambar, Gaur, Mongoose, Bison, Foxes, King Cobra, Indian Elephants, and Nilgiri Langurs.
How to reach: You can reach by bus or Volvo from Madurai.
Nearest airport: Madurai Airport
Nearest railway line: Kottayam Railway Station
Entry price: INR 25 onwards.
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm
Best time to visit: March to June
Significance: Spice Garden is also located within the sanctuary, where you can take a walk and enjoy the aura of spices like cardamom, clove, nutmeg, pepper, and cinnamon.
Chilka Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Pride of Odisha, Chilika wildlife sanctuary proudly provides shelter to several threatened flora and fauna.
Location: Near Kaliji Temple, Puri, Odisha.
Year of establishment: 1987
Flora found: Seagrasses, Mangroves, aquatic plants, and a family of Fabaceae.
Fauna found: White-bellied Sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, flamingos, white ibis, spoonbills, brahminy ducks, shovellers, pintails egrets, gray and purple herons, Indian roller, and storks.
How to reach: You can reach by booking a private cab or bus from Bhubaneswar.
Nearest airport: Bhubaneswar Airport
Nearest railway line: Balugaon Railway Station
Entry price: INR 50 onwards.
Timings: 6 am to 7 pm
Best time to visit: November to February
Significance: Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest sanctuaries in India. It was the first site to be considered under Ramsar Convention.
(If you are looking to plan a stay in Odisha, here is the list of top 5 hotels in Bhubaneswar, Odisha)
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is an excellent destination for adventure seekers, a fusion of dry, deciduous, and semi-evergreen forests. It is the habitat of all rare and common flora and fauna.
Location: Tarikere, Chikmagalur, Karnataka.
Year of establishment: 1974
Flora found: Indian trees like Kadam, teak, kindal, Indian-laurel, rosewood, Indian, Jamba tree, axlewood, slow match tree, thorny bamboo fig tree, mangosteen, Lydia calycina, indigo, toddy palm, Ceylon oak, kino tree, white teak, jalario, and clumping bamboo.
Fauna found: White-bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, flamingos, white ibis, spoonbills, brahminy ducks, shovellers, pintails egrets, gray and purple herons, Indian roller, and storks.
How to reach: You can find plenty of options to reach here from Chikmagalur.
Nearest airport: Mangalore Airport
Nearest railway line: Kadur Railway Station
Entry price: INR 200 onwards.
Timings: 6:30 am to 8:30 am and 4 pm to 6 pm
Best time to visit: March to June
Significance: In 1951, the region was known as Jagara Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam
Deriving its name from the Manas River, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 950 km in Assam. You can even enjoy river rafting at Manas wildlife sanctuary.
Location: Manas Road, Govardhana, Assam.
Year of establishment: 1928
Flora found: Common trees including Syzygium oblatum, Bauhinia purpurea, Mallotus philippensis, Aphanamixis polystachya, Anthocephalus Chinensis, Syzygium cumini, Syzygium formosum, and Cinnamomum Tamala.
Fauna found: Indian Tigers, Hoolock Gibbons, Capped Langurs, Asian Water Buffaloes, Asian Elephants, Assamese Macaques, Indian Rhinoceros, Chital, Otters, Black Panther, Gaurs, Macaques, Asian Golden Cat, Hog Deer, Sambar Deer, and Barasingha.
How to reach: You can reach here by booking a cab from Govardhana
Nearest airport: Guwahati Airport
Nearest railway line: Barpeta Railway Station
Entry price: INR 20 onwards.
Timings: 6 am to 3 pm
Best time to visit: Throughout the year
Significance: Manas wildlife sanctuary enjoys the status of a UNESCO heritage site.
Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
The Nauradehi wildlife sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh has spread in around 4 districts of the state.
Location: Madhya Pradesh
Year of establishment: 1975
Flora found: You can find trees like teak, saja, dhawda, sal, bhirra, and mahua.
Fauna found: Bengal Fox, Gray Langur, Kingfishers, Mugger Crocodiles, Snakes, Nilgai, Indian Leopard, Monitor Lizards, Owls, Tortoises, Kites, Doves, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackals, Rhesus Macaque, and Vultures.
How to reach: Book a cab or get a local bus from Sagar.
Nearest airport: Jabalpur Airport
Nearest railway line: Sagar Railway Station
Entry price: INR 50 onwards.
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm
Best time to visit: November to June
Significance: The sanctuary gets its water supply from Ganga and Narmada rivers.
Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh
The grizzled squirrel wildlife sanctuary was established with the idea to protect the famous Grizzled squirrel of Tamil Nadu. It shares its borders with the Periyar Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu. Together these two sanctuaries form the most reserved area of Tamil Nadu.
Location: Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu.
Year of establishment: 1988
Flora found: All kinds of dry deciduous and evergreen forest trees.
Fauna found: Bengal tiger, bonnet macaque, palm civets, porcupine, sambar, slender loris, sloth bear, spotted deer, tree shrews, wild boar, common langur, elephants, flying squirrels, gaur, Indian giant squirrel, leopard, lion-tailed macaques, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur, Nilgiri Tahrs, Grizzled squirrel, and wild cats.
How to reach: You can find an accessible vehicle to reach the sanctuary from Madurai.
Nearest airport: Madurai Airport
Nearest railway line: Virudhunagar Railway Station
Entry price: INR 10-15 onwards.
Timings: 5 am to 6 pm
Best time to visit: Throughout the year.
Significance: The Grizzled squirrel wildlife sanctuary is also known as the Srivilliputhur wildlife sanctuary.
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
Wildly known for its variety of birds, Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary is the best choice for you if you are a bird lover.
Location: Cona, Shannan, Arunachal Pradesh
Year of establishment: 1950
Flora found: Along with some significant trees, the region is well known for poisonous elephant nettles plants.
Fauna found: Around 454 species of Avifauna, including cormorants, herons, black stork, Oriental white (black-headed) ibis, ducks, hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and vultures, falcons, pheasants, junglefowl, quail, and peafowl, black-necked crane, rails, sparrows, etc. and mammals including leopard, Asian cat, and red panda.
How to reach: You can find plenty of options to reach here from Guwahati or Tezpur.
Nearest airport: Tezpur Airport
Nearest railway line: Bhalukpong Railway Station
Entry price: INR 500 onwards.
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm
Best time to visit: November to May
Significance: Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is the best bird-watching hotspot in India.
Can you tell the difference between a wildlife sanctuary and national park? Ok, try to put your thoughts in the comment section below 😊