Think of India, and ornate palaces and fortresses, serene temples, and tea-covered hills likely come to mind. But did you know that India is also home to a spectacular variety of wildlife, from the Himalayas to the country’s legendary jungles? Whether you dream of a full-blown safari or want to add in some wildlife-spotting experiences throughout your trip, our guide to India’s wildlife will tell you exactly where to go.
Rajasthan
In the eastern reaches of India’s largest state, Ranthambore is one of the most prolific territories of the Royal Bengal tiger. Leave your luxury camp (and we mean luxe!) in the early morning light, hop into a well-equipped 4×4, and start your search for the heart-stopping flash of orange and black… If you’re lucky, you’ll watch, awestruck, as a tiger swaggers from the forest, clambering over crumbling ruins or splashing through the water of a nearby stream. Whilst the Bengals are the kings of Ranthambore, you’ll also have the chance to see sleepy sloth bears, leopards, pretty chital deer, nilgai antelope and chinkara gazelle, and park off beside crocodile-filled lakes. In Ranthambore and across rural Rajasthan, an astonishing number of birds flutter around the lakes and rivers, from the elegant red-naped ibis to the colourful Indian roller.
Madhya Pradesh
Ranthambore may be India’s most famous park but, smack bang in the heart of the country, Madhya Pradesh also boasts several reserves that offer ample tiger-spotting opportunities. Bandhavgarh National Park actually has one of the highest Bengal tiger populations in the entire country, alongside over 30 other species of mammals. Take in striking scenes of tigers stalking in the long grass, leopards taking refuge in the ruins of Bandhavgarh Fort, Indian jackals trotting along dusty paths, sloth bears stopping for a drink, and the regal figures of the sambar deer. Bandhavgarh is also home to around 240 species of birdlife, which are a dazzling splash of colour against the dusty greens and browns of the park. And in Kanha National Park, there is a similar cast of creatures, but you’ll also spy families of grey langur amidst the bamboo forests.
Kerala
Venture high into Kerala’s lush Western Ghats and pay a visit to Periyar National Park. Spread across the fragrant Cardamom Hills, Periyar is one of the largest parks in India, and one of the best places to see wild elephant—a testament to the area’s strides in conservation. Its forests are also filled with tigers, sloth bears and red wolves, a variety of deer (sambar, barking and chevrotains), Malabar giant squirrel and flying squirrel, as well as primates like the startling Nilgiri langur, bonnet macaque and the rare lion-tailed macaque. You can explore by 4×4, on foot, led by a member of a local tribe, or on a boat ride across the lake — keep your eyes peeled for the hundreds of birds that line its banks!
And if birds are high on your list, head south from Periyar National Park to the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary. The emerald landscape is home to around 270 bird species from the tiny, iridescent sunbird to the Malabar grey hornbill. Thattekkad is also known for its multiple cuckoos as well as rarer species like the great eared nightjar and Eurasian eagle-owl. Twitchers, come hither…
The Himalayas
Leave behind any trace of India’s cities and make your way to the Himalayas, a kingdom of snow-covered peaks just below the clouds. During the winter months (December – March), this region’s most famous resident, the snow leopard, meanders into lower territories in search of food. To find them, you’ll venture through valleys and across mountain trails with an accustomed guide, eyes primed to spy the well-camouflaged cats. Along the way, you may also encounter ibex, wolves, the surreal lynx, red fox and cute Himalayan pika.
Andaman Islands
Sitting around 1,370 kilometres off the coast of India, the Andaman Islands are a sun-kissed beauty spot, the waters rich with marine life. As you boat from island to island or explore below the surface on a snorkelling or scuba diving excursion, look out for shoals of colourful fish (there are over 1,200 species), dolphins, sea turtles, moray eels and even saltwater crocodiles. There’s nowhere quite like the Andaman Islands…
