6 Wildlife Destinations In India That Should Be On Your Bucket List

Does your idea of a thrilling holiday mean heading to a wildlife destination and being in the midst of nature? As scary as it may sound for some, for wildlife lovers there's no greater feeling than being in the wild and sighting animals in their natural habitat. Luckily, there are many incredible wildlife sanctuaries and national parks across India that house myriad wild animals - lion, royal Bengal tiger, snow leopards, one horned rhinoceros, blackbuck, red panda, bison - to make a trip an immensely memorable one.

If you have been dying to get away from the concrete jungle and head to the wild, here are six wildlife destinations that you should include in your travel list, which are easy to access:

1. Jim Corbett National Park

Touted to be the oldest national park in India, Jim Corbett is one of the most popular wildlife destinations for sighting the Bengal tiger. Since it's also a tiger reserve, only selected areas are open for tourists. It's also its lush surroundings that make the safari experience an enjoyable one. If you are lucky, you can also sight leopards, sambar, Himalayan black bear, hog deer and others.

Nearest airport: Dehradun and Delhi

(Also read: 7 Most Popular Wildlife Destinations In Assam)

2. Kaziranga National Park

It's the only place in India where you can spot the one-horned rhinoceros, and that's why it often features in everyone's must-visit list. Besides, Assam being known for its lush greenery, you can enjoy the best of nature (with various other wild animals and birds to spot) while living the slow life at the bank of the mighty Brahmaputra.

Nearest airport: Guwahati and Jorhat

3. Gir Forest National Park

If you want to sight the king of the jungle, this is the place to head to. Gir Forest in Gujarat is known for housing Asiatic lions, which was an endangered species and is now heavily protected. Other than the lions, you can also look out for leopards, hyenas, desert cats, and many migratory birds too.

Nearest airport: Diu

4. The Sunderbans National Park

The Sunderbans, more popularly known for its mangrove forests, is also the home of the Bengal tigers as well as migratory birds, mongoose, flying fox, macaques and the salt-water crocodile. On certain days during low tide, you can even spot beautiful sea animals on the mudflats. It's only accessible by local boats.

Nearest airport: Kolkata

5. Bandhavgarh National Park

Situated in the central part of India, Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh is again a popular pick for those keen on sighting tigers. If luck's in your favour, you can perhaps spot a white tiger and live to tell the tale. Although Bandhavgarh is said to have a high population of tigers in India, it is still a protected area. Tala is the most popular zone to sight the majestic beasts.

Nearest airport: Jabalpur

6. Nagarhole National Park

A popular getaway from Bengaluru and Mysuru, some say that it's almost certain that you will spot a tiger at the Nagarhole National Park. Although Bandipur is another popular wildlife destination in the vicinity, many prefer Nagarhole for its lush greenery with pretty waterfalls and streams, and the Kabini river. You can also spot elephants, bisons and other animals.

Nearest airport: Mysuru

So go on, plan a thrilling trip and enjoy the best of wildlife.