Dudhwa National Park Travel in India
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has two core areas- Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. These are 15 km apart, with agricultural land in between. Dudhwa National Park is situated on the Indo-Nepal border in the Lakhimpur-Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh. The Mohana river flowing along the Indo-Nepal border constitutes the northern boundary of the Park whilst the southern boundary is formed by the river Suheli. The Kishanpur Sanctuary lies in the Lakhimpur-Kheri and Shahajahanpur districts in Uttar Pradesh.The area of the Park is a vast alluvial plain, the doab of the Mohana and Suheli rivers, interspersed with numerous rivulets, lakes and pools. The rich and extremely fertile Indo-Gangetic plains support a luxuriant growth of forests and diversity of fauna.
Other inhabitants include the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig and the lesser cats - the fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and civet. Dudhwa has also an abundance of birds. Its marshes are home to a range of water birds both local and migratory. There are spectacular painted storks black and white necked storks, sarus cranes and varied night birds of prey, ranging from the great Indian horned owl to the jungle owlet.
Best Time to Visit: November to May.
Gir National Park
Located in the south west of the Saurashtra peninsula, the Gir National Park is a haven to about 300 Asiatic lions. The 1,412.13 sq. km. Park has a rugged terrain and the steep rocky hillsides are covered in mixed deciduous forests. There are teak, ber, and flame of the forest and banyan trees. Streams run through the deep ravines. The lions, a smaller more compact version of their African cousins, are best viewed at dawn or dusk when they are on the move.
Gir also has nearly 210 leopards and numerous chital, nilgai, chinkara, the four homed antelope and wild boar. Marsh crocodiles are often seen along its rivers.
The forest is rich in bird life and the paradise flycatcher black headed cuckoo shrike woodpecker, Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, painted sand grouse, bush quail and grey partridge are among the variety that is found here. Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary where large numbers of water-birds can be seen; the bare saline flats of the Rann of Kutch, incredibly the home of the Indian wild ass and the spectacular Flamingo Island where nesting colonies of flamingoes are to be seen, make Gujarat an exciting place for wildlife enthusiasts.
Best Time to Visit: December- Mid- June (Closed during Monson till mid October).
Kanha National Park
Kanha Tiger Reserve comparieses parts of the Mandla, Balaghat, Kwardha and dinodor distrcts fothe Indian state fo Madhya Pradesh. It is located in the Malkal hills of the Satpura hill range Kanha is internationally renowned for its rich floral and faunal attributes. The Reserve is an excellent interspersion of the Dadars garassy expanses, dense forest and riverine forest. It is very rich in floral largely due to the combination of land forms and soil types apart from the most character of the regaion. The rich habitat diversity of the Reserve suuports abundant animal communities and the lesser life forms, The Reserve is the sanctum sanctorum of typical Central Indian Fauna.
Kanha has distinguished itself in saving the endangered Centeral Indian Barasingha (Cervus duvauceli branderi) from extinction and harboring the only population of this deer species in the World. Phen Wildlife sanchary (Phen WLS) in the North East of Kanha has been made the mini satellite core of the Reserve.
Best Time to Visit: October to April
Bandhavgarh National Park Tour
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is located between the Vindhyan hill range and the eastern flank of Satpura hill range, and falls in the Shahdol and Jabalpur districts of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The Reserve gets its name from the highest hill, Bandhavharh (807m),located in the center of the Reserve. A chain of smaller hills, thirty -two in all, surround this hill forming a number of valleys and spurs in between. Bertica cliffs are more prominent around number of grassy meadows, such as Chalradhara, Rajbsahera, is of sandstone, water percolates through it, forming a number of perennial streams and springs. The western parts of the Reserve and Panpatha Sanctuary area are more of less plain. The hills are mainly flat- topped. The meadows in certain areas ate marshy.
Sal trees cover low, undulating and plain tracts and degenerate in growth and quality as they ascend he hill slopes, giving place to mixed forest on the upper slopes, mainly due to edaphic factors. Gregarious flowering of bamboo in year 1984-85 has resulted in profuse regeneration all over, which is giving good cover to all animals.
A few rare species such as the insectivorous plant Drocera peltata and medicinal plants such as Buch (Acorus calamus are found in some isolated patches of Tata range of the Reserve. The rivers Johilla and Son flowing on the eastern side, the river Umrar passing through the western fringes and the landmarks of the Reserve. Bandhavgarh has been an excellent habitat of the tiger and is Known for its highest density of tiger population in the world.
Best Time to Visit: November to June.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Just 176 km. from Delhi is a very special wilderness - the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The 28.73 sq. km. lake and wetland was artificially created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the 19th century. By building small dykes and dams and diverting water from an irrigation canal, he converted this low lying area into a fine wild fowl shooting preserve. In a few years, the new wetland surrounded by marginal forests was able to support thousands of water birds. Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the Park is a delight for bird watchers. Over 300 species of birds are found here and raised paths, camouflaged by babul trees and undergrowth make viewing easy. A quiet ride by boat in the early hours of the morning is also an unforgettable experience. There are mixed heronries on the half submerged babul trees and the cacophony is unbelievable as painted storks, open bills, spoon bills, egrets, cormorants, white ibis and multitudes of others, tend their young. Jacanas with their iridescent colors and elegant tail feathers and purple moorhen can be seen delicately treading over the floating vegetation. While harriers and fishing eagles circle overhead in search of prey, the pied kingfisher hovers dramatically over the water in a flurry of wings.
There are varieties of storks and cranes and the local sarus crane is elegant in a livery of grey and red. Every year Bharatpur waits with coated breath for the arrival of the Siberian cranes.
There are only two wintering places for this rare species -one in Iran and the other Bharatpur and these beautiful birds with their distinctive red beaks and facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their summer retreats in Siberia, to get to them. In 1996, there was great jubilation as a couple of Siberian cranes with a young one made an appearance in Bharatpur after a lapse of three years.
The forests around the lake at Bharatpur harbor the sambar, chital, nilgai, jackal, hyena, fox, mongoose and porcupine. Occasionally, a fishing cat can be seen scooping its prey also commonly seen sunning themselves along edge of the paths or at Python Point.
Corbett National Park
Corbett has aptly been described as the land of the Roar, Trumpet and Song. It represents a scene of remarkable beauty. Corbett had the proud distinction of being the chosen venue for the inauguration of Project Tiger in India. The rich bio-diversity of the Reserve is partly attributed to the variety of habitat found here. Due to the location of the Reserve in the foothills of the Central Himalayas, both Himalayan and peninsular flora and fauna is found in the Reserve.
The grasslands, locally known as Chaurs, are limited. The largest grasslamnd is the Dhikala Chaur. Some of the best grasslands including the famous Buxor Chaur and the Beri Chaur were submerged in the Ramganga reservoir in 1974. The areas made available as a result of the relocation of the villages, Dhara, Jhirna and Kothirau in 1994 are being developed into grasslands through habitat management.
The Ramganga reservoir, which came into being in 1974, stretches over an area of around 82 sq.km. with one half each in Corbett National Park and Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary respectively. The Ramganga riger is the lifeline of Corbett Tiger Reserve. Its principal tributaries are the Mandal, Palain and Sonanadi. Numerous mountainous streams locally called Sots flow into these rivers. The nallas and ravines are thickly covered with evergreen glades along them, which provide undisturbed cover and water for tiger. Part of the catchment of the Kosi river falls within the Reserve though the river is outside the Reserve.
Corbett is very rich in avifauna. Zoological Survey of India has recorded over 585 species of resident and migratory birds here. Corbett falls in the newly constituted state of Uttaranchal, curved out of former Utter Pradesh State in 2000.
Best Time to Visit: November- May.
Kaziranga National Park Travel in India
Kaziranga National Park covers an area of about 430 sq. km. Its swamps and grasslands with tall thickets of elephant grass and patches of evergreen forest, support the largest number of rhino in the subcontinent. In 1940, Kaziranga was declared a sanctuary. Though poaching still constitutes a major threat to the rhino population, the numbers of this species are fairly healthy.Located along the main highway, Kaziranga is easily accessible and the chance to see animals in the wild at such close quarters makes a visit to the Park a very rewarding experience.
Best Time to Visit: November to April.
Manas Tiger Reserve
Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam was created in 1973 when Project Tiger was launched in India. The Reserve area falls in six districts. Kokrajhar, Bangaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang of the Indian state of the Reserve. Manas is located at the confluence of Indian, Ethiopean and Indo-Chineser realms resulting in a magnificent bio-diversity. It is situated on the northern bak of the river Brahmaputra. Their are numerous rivers criss-crossing the Reserve, namely Sankosh, Saralbangha, Hel, Tanali, Courang, Sidli (Bhor), Aio, Mans, Beki Pathimari, kaladia, Tihunala, Morepagaldia, Nala, Braalia, Pbornodi and Dhansiri.
The Reserve runs along the Indo-Bhutan international border, with contiguous wildlife habitats in Bhutan. The river Manas flows from the gorges of Bhutan and splits into tow major streams as it enters India,. The peace and tranquility of the site , Mahanguri is a gift of nature in its finest from.
While the core-zone, the Manas National Park, is a pristine wildlife habitat, the rest of the Reserve is a collection of eighteen Reserve forest intertwined with revenue villages. While traversing the Reserve from West to East one comes across sal forest, both virgin and degraded, moist-decidous forest, isalated patches of evergreen forest, riverine forest, grassland of both savannath and terai types, and miscellaneous forests.
Manas habitat provides an excellent abode to the tiger as well as to its prey species: Hog deer, Sambar, Swamp deer, Asiatic wild buffalo and Indian Bison. These species migrate freely across the international border.
Best Time to Visit: November to April.
Panna National Park
Panna is situated in the Vindhyan hill range and spreads over Panna and Chhtarpur districts in the northern part of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (M.P.). One of the most significant ecological aspects of the Reserve is that the district Panna makes the northern most boundary of natural distribution of teak and the eastern limits of teak-kardhai (Anogeissus pendula) mixed forests.
The Ken river, which flows through the Reserve form south to north, is the home for Long Snouted crocodile (gharial) and Marsh Crocodile (mugger) and other aquatic fauna. Ken is one of the sixteen perennial rivers of M.P. and is truly the life-line of the Reserve. It offers some of the most spectacular scenery while it meanders for about 55 km. through the Reserve.
The terrain of the Reserve is characterized by extensive plateaus and gorges. The topography in the Panna district part of the Reserve can broadly be divided into three distinct tablelands - the upper Talgaon Plateau, the middle Hinouta Plateau and the Ken valley. There are also a series of undulating hills and plateaus on the other side of Ken river in the Chhatarpur district.
The Reserve's most undisturbed habitat of about 70-80 sq. km. lies on the Hinouta plateau. This is due to relocation of three villages from this area in 1980s. Dry and short grass habitat with and chinkara. The areas with tall grasses associated with woodland, support good densities of sambar and chital. Mesic areas are distributed along the major seasonal streams and in the Ken river valley. Steep slopes of plateaus are driver and are dominated by Acacia catechu. Distribution of these habitats creates a heterogeneous landscape, where ecological conditions vary seasonally.
Panna Tiger Reserve is the most important protected area in the north-central highlands of India, as it links the eastern and western populations of wild animals through the NE-SW running Vindhyan ranges.
Best Time to Visit: January to May.
Pench National Park
Pench Tiger Reserve is named after the Pench River, which flows from north to south through the Reserve. The Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hill range in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in the Madhya Pradesh State of India. The terrain is undulating, with most of the area covered by small hills, steeply sloping on the sides. The reserve is situated in an area that holds a significant place in the natural history of the Central India. The description of its natural beauty, richness if flora and fauna has appeared in numerous wildlife books dating back to 17th century. Books written in the 19th and early 20th century by famous naturalists like Captain J. Forsyth and Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book explicity present the detailed panorama of nature's abundance in this tract.
An extensive forest belt extends in three directions, east and south, covering forest tracts of Seoni, Balaghat and Nagpur districts. The contiguous forest forest on the southern side in the Maharashtra state of India, initially notified as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru National Park has been recently included in the Project Tiger networkby the sane name as this Reserve. A dam has been constructed on the Pench River on southeastern boundary of the Reserve.
As the prey concentration is high along the Pench river, tigers usually inhabit this belt. Leopards, though, generally operate in the peripheral areas but are occasionally seen in deep forest also. Jungle cats are common seen. Leopard cats Small Indian Civets and Palm Civets are common but seen rarely.
Wild dogs are commonly seen in packs of up to 15, near Chhedia, Jamtara, Bodanala and Pyorthadi areas of the Reserve. Wild Boar is ubiquitous. Sloth bear occupy hilly, rocky out crops and favour mahul bel infested forst. Chinkara is present in very small number and is found in open areas around Turia, Telia, and Dudhgaon villages. Jackals are seen occasionally near Tekadi, Alikatta and Chhindimatta villages.
Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in the Indian state of Rajasthan comprises distinct areas with varied conservation history and virtually separated geographically, with mere narrow corridors linking them to the core, Ranthambhore National Park, Keladeve Sanctuary and Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary. Earlier the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the Park at Ranthambore was once the scene of royal hunting parties. Today, it is famous for its tigers and is one of the best places in the country to see these majestic predators in the wild.
Ranthambore has large numbers of sambar, chital and nilgai. Among the other local fauna are the leopard, hyena, jackal, jungle cats, sloth bear and marsh crocodile. Jacanas. painted sto-k. hiaci-. stork, and white necked stork are seen along the water bodies.
Best Time to Visit: October to June.
Sariska National Park
Sariska Tiger Reserve lies in the Alwar district of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is a prime a tiger country. The forest is typical dry deciduous, dramatically changing with the change in season. The terrain is undulating - plateaus and wide valleys. Besides tiger, herbivores like spotted deer, sambar and blu bull are commonly seen and found in a good density at Sarska. The picturesque Siliserh Lake lies along the edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve and a charming hunting lodge overlooking it, is a marvelous place for visitors to stay.
The dry Deciduous forests of the ancient Aravalli range, are excellent tiger country and Sariska, was once the royal reserve of the rulers of "Alwa''. Declared a sanctuary in 1955, it became a Tiger Reserve in 1979 under Project Tiger.
Best Time to Visit : October to June.
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Source : indianwildlifetour.com
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