India is a land rich in diverse flora and fauna. There are about 80 National Parks and 441 Wildlife Sanctuaries in India. To watch the wildlife in their natural surroundings visit the Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in India. Several Wildlife Sanctuaries and quite a few National Parks were the private hunting reserves of the medieval Indian aristocracy and the British. Although India is abundant with the wildlife population but it requires real luck to spot them because of difficult accessibility and poor visibility in the dense forests of the Wildlife Sanctuaries in India. The frequency in which the wild population is sighted depends on their habits, daily routines and seasonal patterns. Travel to the Wildlife Sanctuaries in India to get to know the animal and plant kingdom better. These reserved forest areas are the museums of the beguiling birds, beautiful beasts and pretty plant life. Some of the important wildlife sanctuaries in India are:

Corbett National Park

Corbett was the first National Park to be established in Asia in the year 1936. Stretching into two districts of Uttaranchal, namely, Nainital in Kumaon and Pauri in Garhwal, Corbett Tiger Reserve occupies 1288 sq km of area together with Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Forest Reserves. Initially named as the Hailey National Park, later the name was changed to Corbett National Park in order to remember the contribution made by Jim Corbett, the Naturalist-Writer, in establishing the park and killing of many man-eating tigers in this region. The park is abundant with Royal Bengal Tiger; Asian Elephant; Deer-Chital, Hog Deer, Sambhar and Barking Deer; Leopard; species of Primates; Himalayan Goral; Wild Boar; Asiatic Jackal and species of Otter.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park

Keoladeo Ghana National Park or the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary spreads over 29 sq km of marshy area with kadam forests, grasslands and shallow lakes. Maharaja of Bharatpur, Suraj Mal, created this shooting reserve in the 19th century by diverting water from an irrigation canal. The park got its name from the Temple Keoladeo dedicated to Lord Shiva and Ghana in Hindi means dense. The park was designated the status of a bird sanctuary in 1956 and a National Park in 1982. In 1985, it was listed as the World Heritage Site for being one of the finest preserves for the water birds. Bharatpur Sanctuary has more than 350 species of native and migratory birds. You may come across several species of Cormorants, Cranes, Ducks, Egrets, Geese, Ibises and Pelicans. The park becomes crowded with endangered Siberian Cranes during the winters. Besides the birds, the park is home to quite a few mammals and reptiles including Blackbuck, Blue Bulls, Deer, Fishing Cat and Jackals. There are several species of avifauna, reptiles and fishes also in the park.

Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary

Located where of the Aravallis meet the Vindhyas in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park occupies 400 sq km of area. Ranthambore was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1957 and was included in Project Tiger in 1974. It was elevated to the status of a National Park in 1981. Before Independence, this area was the private hunting reserve of the maharajas of Jaipur. Ranthambore provides shelter to several animals including Tiger, Hyenas, Deer, Primates, Civets, Squirrels, Foxes, Porcupines and Mongoose. You may find several species of birds at the park. As many as 272 species of birds are documented.

Bandhavgarh National Park

Set amidst the Vindhyan Ranges in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park was established in 1968. Spread over an area of 437 sq km., the park was made declared the Tiger Reserve in 1993. It was the former hunting ground of the Maharaja of Rewa. Known especially for white tigers, the park also has good population of wildlife including Blackbucks, Civets, Hyenas, Jackals, Muntajac, Ratel, Porcupines, Primates, Tigers and Wild Boars. The birds that flock in Bandhavgarh include Brown Fish Owl, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Malabar Pied Hornbill and Shahin Falcon.

Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park was the inspiration behind the Rudyard Killing's classic 'Jungle Book'. Situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the park was created in 1955 within the forests of the Banjar and the Halon Valley. The park is home to several wildlife species like Barking Deer, Black Deer, Black Buck, Hare, Hyena, Monkey, Mongoose Nilgai, Jackal Fox, Jungle Cat, Leopard, Porcupine, Python, Tiger, Sloth Bear and Swamp Deer. The chirpy bird population of the Kanha comprises of Doves, Egrets, Peacocks, Pea Fowls, Partridges, Parakeets, Pigeons, Kingfishers and Cuckoos.

Sasangir National Park

The Sasangir National Park, known particularly for Asiatic Lions, is located on the southwestern periphery of the Saurashtra Peninsula in Gujarat. Sprawling over 1150 sq km of area, the sanctuary was created in 1913 at an altitude of 225-648 m. Made especially for the protection to the endangered Asiatic Lions, the park is now proud keeper of the largest surviving group of the Asiatic Lion with their estimated population to be around 300 lions. Besides the majestic lions, the park houses Antelopes, Deer, Leopard, Nilgai, Wild Ass and Wild Bear. Among the birds that make the park colorful are the Cuckoos, Eagles, Flamingoes, Partridge, Parrots, Peacocks and Woodpeckers.

Kaziranga National Park

Lying on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, Kaziranga was declared a reserve forest way back in 1908. With 430 sq m of area, Kaziranga was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950 and a National Park in 1974. It was included in the list of World heritage Sites in the yea 1985. Known the world over for its population of endangered single-horned Rhinoceroses, the park also has good population of other wildlife including Elephants, Indian Bison, Deer, Leopards, Porcupines, Pythons, Sloth Bear, Wild Buffaloes and Wild Pigs.

Sunderbans National Park

Sunderbans National Park is the part of the world's largest delta formed by River Ganga and river Brahmaputra. Also known for Mangrove Forest Ecosystem, the park occupies 2,585 sq km of the area. Sunderbans is home to the well-known but endangered species of Royal Bengal Tiger. It was declared a National Park in the year 1984. The park also provides shelter to Dolphins, Fishing Cats, Monkeys, Turtles and Wild Boars. The reptile population is also good comprising of Crocodiles, Lizards, Snakes. The birds that make the park vibrant include the Ducks, Egrets, Herons, Ibises, Kingfishers and Water Fowls.

Eravikulam National Park

Located in the Idukki district of Kerala, Eravikulam National Park was earlier the private hunting area of the Kannan Deven Hill Produce Corporation. It was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975 and a National Park in 1978. It was established mainly to preserve the endangered Nigiri Tahr. Besides, there are other wild animals in the park including the Elephant, Gaur, Giant Squirrel, Leopard, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Sambhar and Tiger.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in the picturesque locales of the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Periyar Lake, an artificial lake formed due to construction of a dam in 1895 AD, adorns the beautiful park. The lake is also the a permanent source of water for the wildlife. The park was included in the Project Tiger in 1972. Besides good number of Nilgiri Tahrs, the park has an estimate of 40 tigers in the sanctuary. The other animals of the park include Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog, Elephants, Gaur, Primates, Tiger and Wild Pigs. The avifauna of the park includes Cormorants, Darters, Kingfishers, Malabar Hornbill and Racket-Tailed Drongoes