hidden gems /

India Wildlife parks It’s one of the most densely populated countries on earth but still has room for wildlife. Laura Gelder looks at some of the country’s lesser-known parks

Sasan-Gir Wildlife Sanctuary Nagarahole National Park Hemis National Park The only place where you can see wild lions Backed by the hills of the , High in the snow-cloaked peaks of the outside of Africa, ’s Sasan-Gir is a this park is filled with fragrant in the northern state of Jammu land of rugged hills with high ridges, sandalwood and teak trees, thick groves of and Kashmir, this is home to one of the densely forested valleys of teak and bamboo and winding streams. planet’s most elusive cats, the snow leopard. evergreen and savannah-like grassland. Tigers are, of course, the star but sloth Amongst this stark landscape, punctuated Along with the endangered Asiatic lion, bears, leopards, wild dogs, sambar, by colourful fluttering prayer flags, there are which differs from its African cousin thanks spotted and barking deer, four-horned also hardy wild sheep, ibex, goats and the to a fold of skin on its belly, the park is also antelopes, elephant and wild boars are endangered Tibetan wild ass, which cling to home to leopards, pointy-eared jungle cats, also easily spotted. the rocky habitat, while wolves and foxes the shy desert cat and the tiny rusted Visitors can take a jeep safari or drift stalk rotund marmots. Bird life includes the spotted cat. Plus jackals, striped hyenas, down meandering streams in a coracle (a golden eagle, several species of vulture and mongoose and wild boars. Resident small round boat) along the rare birds like the Tibetan snow finch. reptiles include marsh crocodiles, Indian where aquatic birds, crocodiles and Indian On the site of the ancient silk route, Hemis rock pythons and monitor lizards. elephants could appear. is also home to a 400-year-old monastery. / hidden gems

Kaziranga National Park Satpura National Park National Park Named a UNESCO World Heritage site The least-known tiger reserve in central Situated in the Hills in , in 1985, Kaziranga in Assam is one of the India, Satpura in offers this green area is home to much rare flora last areas in eastern India largely safaris by jeep, motorboat, kayak and on and fauna as well as tribal settlements. untouched by humans. Nearly two-thirds foot. Note though, it’s not the best place Visitors can take a boat safari on of the world’s population of endangered to see tigers because the terrain is rugged, lake to see herds of Indian greater one-horned rhinos live among the though beautiful. bison, deer, wild boar, elephants and park’s dense jungle. Sandstone peaks, green forests, narrow perhaps the playful smooth Indian otter. On the floodplains of the Brahmaputra gorges, slot canyons and ravines conceal Egrets and kingfishers are frequently seen River, the reserve hides tigers amid temples and waterfalls. perched on trees in the lake. elephant grass meadows and closely-knit It’s a good place to see the sloth bear forests of Indian gooseberry, cotton, and and is home to many deer and antelope elephant Apple trees. It is also a breeding species, including diminutive Indian ground for elephants, wild water buffalo, muntjacs, long-limbed spotted chital and and swamp deer. antlered sambars and blackbucks.

Sundarbans National Park This West Bengal park is home to the largest mangrove forest in the world and also the largest population of Royal Bengal tigers, many of which can often be seen Khangchendzonga Mahatma Gandhi Marine swimming. The park’s meandering rivers, National Park springs, creeks and estuaries, which National Park Famous for the red panda, Tibetan connect to neighbouring Bangledesh, are There are 15 islands of mangrove creeks antelopes and snow leopards, this park also home to saltwater crocodiles and and tropical rainforest in this Andaman gets its name from a mountain, the third Ganges River dolphins. Islands reserve, only two of which are highest peak in the world. Like the open to the public. The islands are mountain, the western boundary of the Book it with... Wild Frontiers surrounded by rich coral reefs and home park is shared with the border of Nepal. The 13-day Tigers of trip to indigenous tribes. Home to nearly half of India’s bird includes a walking safari and evening boat Visitors can enjoy trekking, camping, diversity, wild trees, orchids and ride on Satpura National Park’s River Denwa, snorkelling and diving to see myriad rhododendrons, the landscape provides a plus owl watching, and three other parks tropical fish, manta rays and turtles. critical refuge for species like the clouded famous for tiger safaris. From £3,570pp, However, saltwater crocodiles also lurk off leopard, golden cat, large Indian Civet and land-only. wildfrontierstravel.com the postcard-worthy beaches. flying squirrel.