The diversity of the wildlife in India is as rich as those of flora and fauna. The great wealth of Indian wildlife can be imagined with sight the majestic elephant, the dance of the peacock, the camel stride, the roar of the tiger are unparalleled acts of beauty.

Watching birds and animals in their natural habitats is an experience in itself. The ease with which they adapt themselves to the nature, their instincts are fascinating. The vastness of the wildlife and wilderness in India is unparalleled in the world. This accounts for the immense opportunities for wildlife tourism in India. Amidst the destruction of nature people are becoming aware of the importance of trees and wildlife for life on our planet.

The immense heritage of wildlife in India comprises of 75 national parks and another whooping 425 wildlife sanctuaries including the bird sanctuaries. The magnificence of the geographical area under them is parallel to paradise for the nature lovers.

These forest areas are crucial as regions for the conversation of the endangered species too. Bengal tiger, the Asiatic Elephant, Lion, the Snow Leopard and Siberian Crane are amongst the birds and animals that feature in the list. India is home to remaining population of the Asiatic lion. These reserves and forest areas are spread across the length and breadth of India, right from the foothills of Himalayas, the Jim Corbett National Park to six national parks in Andaman. From the Ranthambor National Park in Rajasthan to the Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar. India also boasts of the unique ecosystems at Sunderbans. Sunderbans is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is home to the largest number of wild tigers in the world.

The Himalayan region is renowned for being the natural habitat for a variety the wildlife. The list of animals you can spot in the area comprise of the Elephant, Deer, Panther, Wild buffalo, Wild ass, the one horned Rhinoceros, Porcupine, Snow leopards etc. It is important to state that India harbors eighty percent of the entire population of the one horned rhinoceros in the world. The Kaziranga Game Sanctuary is an ideal habitat for the rhino that the naturalists and environmentalists fascinate. The Great Indian Bustard and blackbuck of the Karera Sanctuary attract a lot of tourists. The Madhav National Park originally called the Shivpuri National Park is another rich habitat for the wildlife. These National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are promoters of wildlife tourism in India.

India has its fair share of Tiger Reserves, the national animal. The poaching and trade statistics of tigers in India are shocking. The royal animal, tiger happens to be a symbol of strength and speed. India boasts of two-dozen Tiger Reserves. The fastest mammal on Earth, the tiger happens to be the joy and pride of India. The Royal Bengal tiger is amongst the most majestic species of the tiger. Sixty percent of the total population of the wild tigers in the world resides in India. Amongst the best-known tiger reserves in India is the Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh. It is often referred to as the crown in the wildlife heritage of India. Tourists at Bandhavgarh spot the Royal Bengal Tigers, cheetals, leopard, gaur, sambhar, and many more faunal species.

The variety of birds in India is astounding too. Several hundred species of birds can be spotted across India. Indian wildlife has its share of native birds along with the migratory birds. The region of Andaman is home for the rare species of birds like the Narcondum hornbill, Nicobar Pigeon and the megapode. The Himalayan region is well known to be the natural habitat for the Pheasant, griffon vulture and ravens. At the Dudhwa wildlife reserve migratory birds like Egrets, herons, storks and cormorants share space with the ducks, gees and teals. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park or the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in the Indian state of Rajasthan is home to indigenous water birds, waterside birds, migratory water birds, land migratory birds, and domestic land species. Tourists from far and wide are attracted to the Bird Sanctuary.

There are a number of national parks in India. Amongst the most popular national parks in India are:

Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
Bandipur National Park is a beautiful forest reserve located in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. This national park occupies a special place in India's efforts towards natural conservation. It was created in the 1930s from the local Maharaja Voodiyar's hunting lands, and named Venugopal Wildlife Park.

Bhitar Kanika National Park, Orissa
Located in the Indian state of Orissa, the Bhitar Kanika National Park is one of the few marine parks in India. The flora and fauna of this park has a lot of similarity to the Sunderbans in West Bengal except that there are no tigers here. The park was established to protect the saltwater crocodile and other marine inhabitants of the region. The park has special status of Crocodile Sanctuary and it was notified in 1975.

Corbett National Park, Karnataka
The Corbett National Park is a primal jungle as Rudyard Kipling put it. Despite extensive tourism, the park has managed to retain its primeval ambience, where man must walk timorously, in awe and with a strong sense of his own insignificance.

Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir
Dachigam National Park enjoys a proximity to the beautiful city of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir state. Its forests and picturesque landscape have always attracted tourists. The park is divided into two large sectors-the Lower and Upper Dachigam regions with altitudes of 1700 and 4300 meters, respectively.

Eravikulam National Park, Kerala
The Eravikulam National Park was established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered specie of the wild goat and the only one to be found south of the Himalayas. Rich in forest and grasses, this park is relatively new as it was in 1978 that the area was notified as a park.

Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
Great Himalayan National Park is located in the upper ranges of Himalaya It is a kaleidoscope of alpine flora and fauna. A major part of the national park is permanently under glaciers and ice.

Hazaribagh National Park, Bihar
Nestling in low hilly terrain, at an average altitude of 615 meters in the Indian state of Bihar, the Hazaribagh National Park has an abundance of wild animals like the wild boar, sambar, nilgai, chital, sloth bear, tiger and panther.

Hemis High-Altitude National Park, Jammu & Kashmir
Hemis High-Altitude National Park is the largest high-altitude reserve of India. Very close to Leh, in the area of Markha and Rumbak Valleys, the area in general is rocky and sparsely covered.

Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Situated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the picturesque Kanha National Park was the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's unforgettable classic Jungle Book. The romance of the Kanha National Park has not reduced over time-it is still as beautiful.

Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Kaziranga National Park, situated in the northeastern state of Assam, is one of the most picturesque wildlife parks in India. The natural habitat of the one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), Kaziranga lies on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra River, northeast of Assam's capital Guwahati.

Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka
Nagarhole National park derives its name from the combination of two Kannada words-'Nagar,' meaning snake, and 'hole,' meaning streams. True to its name, quite a few serpentine streams fork through the rich tropical forests of the park.

Nanda Devi National Park, Uttar Pradesh
In the vicinity of Nanda Devi (7817 m), the second highest peak in India, is situated the Nanda Devi National Park, which has some of the most unique high altitude flora and fauna in the world. The park has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and in its vicinity are the Valley of Flowers, Badrinath Temple, and Hemkund Sahib.

Palamau National Park, Bihar
Palamau is situated within the lndo-Malayan realm and is rich in flora and fauna, though the area is prone to severe droughts. The park was brought under Project Tiger in 1973 and is among the first nine Tiger Reserves of the country. The core area was declared a National Park in September 1989.

Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Situated in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh at a distance of around 57 km from Khajuraho is the Panna National Park. The park is known worldwide for its wild cats, including tigers as well as deer and antelope.

Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh
The Pench National Park on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra has been known through the ages for its rich flora and fauna. Many writers like Captain Forsyth, A.A.D. Brander, R.A. Strendale, and Rudyard Kipling have all mentioned Pench in their books as the place with rich and beautiful flora and fauna.

Periyar National Park, Kerala
Situated within the confines of the Western Ghats in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world. Periyar (also known as Thekkady) is a park where one can witness playful pachyderms, whose population is currently around 800.

Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh
The Rohtang Pass, in the northern parts of India, is a site where one can view the most drastic of landscape variances - the lush green head of the Kullu Valley; awesome vista of bare, brown mountains; hanging glaciers, and snowfields that dazzle in the crisp light. Placed in the district of Lahaul and Spiti (Himachal Pradesh) this region has been untouched by the onslaughts of time. Pin Valley National Park is part of this beautiful land and showcases the best of floral and faunal species that these high hills of Himalayas can offer.

Rajaji National Park, Uttaranchal
The Rajaji National Park is named after the first Indian Governor General of India and well-known freedom fighter, C. Rajagopalachari or Rajaji, as he was popularly known. The park was established in 1983 after amalgamating three wildlife sanctuaries, namely, Rajaji, Motichur, and Chilla in the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Today, the park boasts of the highest concentration of wild elephants in the entire Uttaranchal.

Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
Ranthambore National Park is situated in India's northwestern state of Rajasthan, near the town of Sawai Madhopur, midway between Bharatpur and Kota townships. Originally a hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park was declared a game sanctuary in 1955. In 1980, it became a national park and listed among the reserves protected under Project Tiger (1973). Ranthambore National Park is famous for its tigers.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Uttaranchal
The Sanjay Gandhi National Park or Borivali National Park has the distinction of being the only National Park in Mumbai. Notified in 1974, it is set in hill ranges around the suburb of Borivali in Mumbai. It plays host to various wildlife species like the panther, antelope, mouse deer and wild bear.

Sariska National Park, Rajasthan
Sariska National Park (near Alwar) is situated in the state of Rajasthan in the backdrop of the Aravali Hills. This park, which is quite near to Rajasthan's capital Jaipur, was declared a sanctuary in 1955. It came under the Project Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982.

Madhav Shivpuri National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Madhav Shivpuri National Park was established in the year 1958 at the time of the creation of the state of Madhya Pradesh after independence. It received its present name in 1959. Before this it was known as Madhya Bharat National Park that originated as a private game preserve of the rulers of Gwalior. Today it enjoys further protection under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

Silent Valley National Park, Kerala
Located in the Kundali Hills of the Western Ghats, the Silent Valley National Park holds a valuable reserve of rare plants and herbs. The park is rich in its wildlife, and elephants, lion-tailed macaques and tigers are the most common denizens of this park.

Simlipal National Park, Orissa
Simlipal national park originated primarily as a hunting ground for the royalty. It was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 under Project Tiger in May 1972. It was elevated to a national park status in 1979.

Sultanpur National Park, Haryana
If one is an avid wildlife enthusiast and happens to be in Delhi, the Sultanpur National Park could be the ideal destination. The sanctuary, located at a distance of 45 km on the National Highway No 8, is a birdwatcher's paradise with a sizable population of resident and migratory birds.

Sunderbans National Park, West Bengal
Situated south of Kolkata, Sunderbans is one of the most unique ecosystems in this part of the world and is dominated by mangrove forests. A UNESCO world heritage site, Sunderbans is home to the largest number of wild tigers in the world.

Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttaranchal
Valley of Flowers National Park or Bhyundar Valley National Park is situated in the Garhwal Himalayas in the newly formed state of Uttaranchal. It is near Joshimath, which, from time immemorial, has been a revered place of pilgrimage for the Hindus.

Wandur National Park, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Wandur National Park comprises about 12 islands and is located about 30 km southwest of Port Blair-the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Comprising of 300 islands, this archipelago is amongst the most far-flung regions of India.

The safaris through the forests areas are experiences in themselves for the natural beauty is at its densest best. When the adventure of being amid the wild and the charm to spot your favorite animal combine, the trip becomes unforgettable. The safari to any of the forest areas can be enjoyed either riding a motor vehicle or on the back of an elephant. The later being a more exciting way of achieving the same. It is noteworthy here that half of the Asian elephants can be found in India. Machaans and elephant rides add to the adventure in the wildlife holiday. Most of the wildlife sanctuaries in India have tourist lodges that make the stay for the wildlife freaks comfortable. With the well-experienced guides, meticulously planned safaris and facilities at hand wildlife tourism has got a boost in India. Intensive efforts at have been made for conservation of wildlife in India. The wildlife sanctuaries in India are home to several species of animals, birds and insects that fear extinction. The awareness created through the wildlife tours adds to knowledge of the rich wildlife heritage of India.

In case you are planning to take a wildlife safari into then the best period lies between the months of October and March. Since the weather during this period in India is pleasant. Even the humidity does not act as an obstacle. The Indian summers are known to be the best time for wildlife tourism and especially for spotting the tiger. The hot weather conditions and the decrease in the water-bodies forces the animals to come out even during the daytime. The animals flock to the water bodies to keep themselves cool and to quench their thrust. This provides an excellent opportunity for wildlife viewing and wildlife photography as well.

While on a wildlife safari it is noteworthy that the animals in the surrounding areas tend to hide after feeling insecure in case of loud or rapid movements. To catch a view of the lion having water or the small herd of deer contemplating, it is best to be patient and let the animals be at home. The forest guide can be contacted for the description of the animals and their habits. The animals are most active and can be spotted easily either early in the mornings or late in the evenings.

The State Government Tourism Corporations are known to cater to the needs of the tourists to the Wildlife Sanctuaries and the national parks in the various Indian states. Amidst the green grasslands and the wild vegetation with no modern gadgets at your disposal a stay in the Wildlife Sanctuaries across India is an unforgettable experience. Besides the active participation of the government of India there are other organizations like the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), and Society for Environment, Wildlife Action and Awareness (SEWAA).

The whirlwind tour through any of these beautiful wildlife parks is bound to spell bind you with the variety of flora and fauna of India. Watching the fascinating wildlife like the white tiger is much more exotic than playing with your pet dog.