Wildlife Sanctuaries in India that You Can Visit Even in the Monsoons

For wildlife lovers, sanctuaries hold such a fierce, unshakable fascination that they are ready to visit them, come rain or shine. Check out these wildlife sanctuaries in India that you can visit even in the monsoons — during the rains, these landscapes turn even more magical!

Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

Spread over an area of 392 square kilometres, Ranthambore National Park is one of the best places in India to watch tigers in their natural habitat. The park is divided into ten zones. During monsoons, Zones 6 to 10 are open for tourists.

• Animals to be spotted: Tigers, Sambar Deer, Nilgai, Striped Hyenas, Black Bucks, Monkeys, Indian Wild Boars, Five-stripped Palm Squirrels
• Best time of the year to visit: October to June
• Open from: Throughout the year
• Distance from the nearest major city: 180 km from Jaipur
• Best way to get there: Reach Jaipur, and hop into a taxi or bus. Else, take the train to Sawai Madhopur Railway Station, which is 10 km from the park, and well-connected with cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Jaipur.
• A nice place to stay: Hotel Ranthambore National. Priced at INR 9,871* per night, the hotel is just ten minutes from the main entrance of the park.  

Book Your Flight to Jaipur (nearest airport)

Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary lives up to the beauty that jungles can wake up to during monsoons. While jungle safaris are quite famous, do go in for nature walks too, preferably with locals. You are bound to notice interesting facts about nature.

• Animals to be spotted: Elephants, Tiger, Panther, Cheetal, Leopard, Spotted Deer, Sambhar
• Best time of the year to visit: Between July and October
• Open for: Throughout the year
• Distance from nearest major city: 208 km from Bangalore
• Best way to get there: By road. A drive from Bangalore will take about 4 to 5 hours. Alternatively, you can opt for buses and taxis too.
• A nice place to stay: Red Earth. Priced at 8,217* per night, Red Earth offers a luxurious stay amidst the wilderness. The safari point is just 8 kilometres away, and they help with advance bookings too.

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand

Sprawling over 520 square kilometres, Jim Corbett was the first national park to be established in India in 1936. Nestling on the foothills of the Himalayas and the Shivalik Ranges, this wildlife sanctuary is home to 215 majestic tigers, 600 species of birds, 25 types of reptiles, 50 species of mammals and 110 types of trees. The park is divided into five safari zones—Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela, Dhikala and Durga Devi, out of which Jhirna remains open throughout the year, giving tourists an unforgettable jungle experience.

• Animals to be spotted: Tigers, Leopards, Elephants, Langurs, Himalayan Goral, Wild Boars, and a wide variety of migrant birds

• Best time of the year to visit: November to June
• Open from: Throughout the year
• Distance from nearest major city: 260 km from Delhi.
• Best way to get there: Drive, fly or take a train. Phoolbagh and Pantnagar are the nearest airports, and Ramnagar is the nearest railway station.
• A nice place to stay:  Tiger Camp Resort. Priced at INR 3,187* per night, you get to stay right within the reserved forests of Jim Corbett. Corbett Falls and Corbett Museum are close by.

Book Your Flight to Pantnagar (nearest airport)

Read more: India’s Best Wildlife Sanctuaries

Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir

Spread across 141 square kilometres, Dachigam National Park is home to the endangered Hangul deer family (Kashmiri Stag,) well known for its white patch and stunning spread of antlers. Divided into Upper and Lower Dachigam, this park is home to over 145 species of birds and animals. The upper areas are best accessible between June and August.

• Animals to be spotted: Hangul or Kashmiri Stag, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Himalayan Weasle, Yellow-Throated Marten, Jackals, Musk Deer, Brown Bear, Leopards
• Best time of the year to visit: Between April and October
• Open for: Throughout the year
• Distance from nearest major city:  22 km from Srinagar
• Best way to get there: Take a flight to Srinagar, and then travel by road to the park
• A nice place to stay: Hotel Zamrud. Priced at 2,720*, it is 14.7 km away from Dachigam National Park.

Book Your Flight to Srinagar (nearest airport)

Read more: 5 Sanctuaries You Must Visit to Explore Wildlife in Kerala

Periyar National Park, Kerala

One of the 27 tiger reserves in India, Periyar National Park is spread over an area of 925 square kilometres. A hunting ground for the Travancore kings in the 19^th century, today this national park is famous for its unique flora and fauna.           

• Animals to be spotted: Tiger, Elephants, Sambar, Nilgiri, Barking Deer, Langur, Gaur, Wild Pigs
• Best time of the year to visit: October to June
• Open from: Most parts of the year
• Distance from nearest major city: 120 km from Kochi
• Best way to get there: Fly down to Kochi or Madurai (140 km away), and reach there by road; or take a train to Kottayam, which is well-connected to the Periyar National Park
• A nice place to stay:  Elephant Route Resort. Priced at 2,219* per night, this place is just 2 km away from the Periyar National Park. Be prepared for stunning views of the lush green forests from each room.

Book Your Flight to Madurai (nearest airport)

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