In a country which has wide patches of green spread across various parts of the map, one just can't afford to miss out on a trip to the wildlife havens during the winters, especially if you are a wildlife enthusiast!
This is the time when wildlife safari offers the best of experiences! As the temperatures dip, the exotic wildlife comes out of its secret hiding places. In fact, the season also welcomes migratory birds from far-away places. In a nutshell, winters offer a wild visual treat to its visitors, from October till March. Here is a list of top wildlife sanctuaries to visit in India in winter.
1. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett is the oldest and one of the best national park of India, famed for Bengal tigers! 300 wild elephants and 200 tigers can be seen here together with the other animals. Bird watching is one of the best things to do here as the park receives as many as 586 species of migratory birds.
Highlights: Various species of deer, otters, langurs, sloth bears, rhesus macaques, peacocks, sambar, and gharials reside here in their natural habitat.
Types of Safari: Jeep Safari and Canter Safari
Safari timings:
Jeep Safari: Morning: 6:00 am – 9:30 am, Afternoon: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Canter Safari: Morning: 6:00 am – 11:50 am, Afternoon: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Best Time to Visit: Mid-November and Mid-June
Places to Stay: Claridges Corbett Hideaway, Vanghat River Lodge, Solluna Resort in Corbett.
Entry Fee: 200 INR for Indian tourists and 900 INR for Foreigner tourists
2. Ranthambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan
Counted as one of the largest national parks in India, Ranthambore National Park is a haven for wildlife lovers. It is quite popular among wildlife photographers! Once a hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the park is now a famous heritage site. Do not miss out on visiting 10th -century Ranthambore Fort, the ruins of chhatris (cenotaphs), and the old temple.
Highlights: Leopard, sloth bear, gray langur, spotted deer, nilgai, rhesus macaque, chital, and so on.
Types of Safari: Jeep Safari and Canter Safari
Safari timings:
For October: Morning: 7:00 am – 10:30 am, Afternoon: 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm
From November – January: Morning: 7:00 am – 10:30 am, Afternoon: 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm
From February – March: Morning: 6:30 am – 10:30 am, Afternoon: 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm
From April – mid-May: Morning: 6:00 am – 9:30 am, Afternoon: 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
From mid-May to June: Morning: 6:00 am – 9:30 am, Afternoon: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Best Time to Visit: October to June
Places to Stay: Tiger Den Resort, Aman-I-Khas Resort, Sher Camp Ranthambore, Jhoomar Baori Castle, Oberoi Vanyavilas.
Entry Fee: Free
3. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Known for its high density of Bengal tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park also features rich biodiversity. The popular wildlife sanctuary in India is home to as many as 40 species of mammals and over 250 species of birds. This park was the former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Rewa. While Bandhavgarh is also known to have a connection with the great Hindu epic, Ramayana, the Tigers are the main lure. Also, the Bandhavgarh fort is a famous attraction here.
Highlights: Langur, deer, barking deer, wild boar, Indian bison, and sambar
Types of Safari: Jeep Safari, Canter Safari, and Elephant Safari
Safari timings:
For mid-October to mid-February: Morning: 6:30 am – 11:00 am, Afternoon: 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
From mid-February to March: Morning: 6:00 am – 11:00 am, Afternoon: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
From April – June: Morning: 5:30 am – 10:00 am, Afternoon: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Best Time to Visit: October to April
Places to Stay: Kings Lodge, Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, Churhat Kothi, Nature Heritage Resort, Tree House Hideaway.
Entry Fee: Indians : 2450 INR for week days & 3050 INR for Saturday , Sunday & Holidays; Foriegners : 4850 INR for week days & 6050 INR for Saturday , Sunday & Holidays.
4. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Keoladeo National Park was formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The park is called home by more than 364 species of birds. Due to this, the bird sanctuary is also quite popular among ornithologists as well as photographers. Migratory birds, including the rare Siberian Crane, flock here during cool months and thus winter is an ideal time to visit the park.
Highlights: 50 fish species, 379 species of flowers, 5 types of lizards, etc. 7 species of turtles, 13 species of snakes, and 7 amphibian species
Types of Safari: Horse Cart, Cycle rickshaw, Bicycle, Walking and Boat
Park timings:
For summer: Morning: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
From mid-February to March: Morning: 6:30 am – 5:00 pm
Best Time to Visit: All through the year
Places to Stay: The Park, Park Regency, Hotel Udai Vilas, Bharatpur Forest Lodge, Shanti Kutir, Hotel Saras.
Entry Fee: Indian citizens: 75 INR and Foreigners: 500 INR
5. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Home to 2/3rd of the world’s population of the great one-horned Rhinoceros, Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in India! The park is counted as one of the 10 wildlife sanctuaries to visit in India in winter due to its natural scenery! If you are planning a trip to northeast India, don’t forget to add this park to your itinerary.
Highlights: elephants, leopards, water buffaloes, swamp deer, and tigers
Types of Safari: Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari
Safari timings:
For Jeep Safari: Morning: 7:00 am – 9:30 am, Afternoon: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
For Elephant Safari: Morning: 5:30 am – 7:30 am, Afternoon: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Best Time to Visit: November to April
Places to Stay: IORA – The Retreat, Bon Habi Jungle Resort, Borgos Resort, Wild Grass Lodge, Landmark Woods Kaziranga.
Entry Fee: Indian citizens: 100 INR and Foreigners: 650 INR
6. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Sundarbans National Park is a swamp forest with various water bodies. The park is famous for being home to a huge number of Royal Bengal tigers and spotted deer. The tigers here are known to be man-eating tigers but their allure pulls animal lovers from far-off lands! The Sundarbans boast of being the world’s largest delta with mangrove forest, spreading in India and Bangladesh! The temperature soars up in summer and thus October to December is the best visit to this Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal.
Types of Safari: Cruise and Boat Safaris
Safari timings:
For Boat Safari: Morning: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
For Cruise: The Cruise to Sunderbans starts from Kolkata at 8:00 am on the first day and ends at 5:30 pm on the third day, again in Kolkata.
Best Time to Visit: Late September till March
Places to Stay: Vivada Cruises, United 21 Resort
Entry Fee: Indian citizens: 60 INR and Foreigners: 200 INR
7. Gir National Park, Gujarat
Gir National Park is the only place where the endangered Asiatic lions and Ass are spotted. It is also the proud owner of the largest population of leopards. Close to popular destinations like Somnath and Junagadh, the park was the former hunting grounds of the Nawabs of Junagadh. Counted as one of the top wildlife destinations to visit in India in winter, the park owns a rich animal treasure!
Highlights: striped hyenas, sloth bears, four-horned antelope, cobras, desert cats, and golden jackals.
Types of Safari: Jeep Safari
Safari timings:
For Jeep Safari: Morning: 6:00 am – 9:00 am, 8:30 am – 11:30 am, Afternoon: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Best Time to Visit: December to March
Places to Stay: Hotel Gir Lodge, Asiatic Lion Lodge Sasangir, The Fern Gir Forest Resort, Lords Resorts Sasangir, Saavaj Resort Sasangir
Entry Fee: Indian citizens: 75 INR and Foreigners: 100 INR
8. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Ideal for spotting the Royal Bengal Tigers, Kanha National Park is the state’s largest national park and also the best-administered one in Asia. Ideal for spotting a vast population of the Royal Bengal Tigers, the park is a part of Project Tiger. It is one of the best wildlife places to visit in India during winters for nature lovers.
Highlights: Colorful migratory birds, jackal, sloth bear, hyena, swamp deer (Jewel of Kanha), hyena, black buck, and leopard.
Types of Safari: Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari
Safari timings: Morning: 6:30 am – 12:00 pm, Afternoon: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Best Time to Visit: Mid-October – June
Places to Stay: Kanha Earth Lodge, Shergarh Tented Camp, Tuli Tiger Resort, Kanha Jungle Lodge, Celebration Van Vilas, Kipling Camp
Entry Fee: Indian citizens: 1560 INR and Foreigners: 3060 INR
9. Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
Once Bandipur National Park, once the private hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Mysore; becomes all the more mesmerizing during the winter months! Bounded by the lofty Western Ghats, it is known to be one of the most beautiful national parks in India.
Highlights: Sambar, langur, sloth bear, spotted deer, gaur, leopard, elephants, wild dogs, Malabar squirrel, black-naped hare, jackal, and tigers
Types of Safari: Jeep Safari, Bus Safari, and Elephant Safari
Safari timings:
For Jeep Safari: Morning: 6:00 am – 9:00 am, Afternoon: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
For Bus Safari: Morning: 6:30 am – 9:00 am, Afternoon: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
For Elephant Safari: Morning: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Best Time to Visit: October – May
Places to Stay: Bandipur Safari Lodge, Bush Betta Bandipur, Trinity Isle
Entry Fee: 250 INR
10. Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Home to the elusive leopards in good numbers and migratory birds, Pench National Park is so fascinating that it has served as an inspiration behind the famous Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling! Named after River Pench, which divides the park into two, the tiger reserve lures scores of tourists.
Highlights: Bengal tigers, Indian bison, jungle cat
Types of Safari: Jeep Safari
Safari timings:
For winter: Morning: 7:30 am – 10:30 am, Afternoon: 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
For summer: Morning: 6:30 am – 9:30 am, Afternoon: 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Best Time to Visit: October – April
Places to Stay: Pench Tree Lodge, Banjaar Tola and Hotel Rishi Regency
Entry Fee: Indian citizens: 15 INR and Foreigners: 150 INR
11. Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Panna National Park is regarded as one of the most prestigious wildlife sanctuaries in India! In 2007, the park won the Award of Excellence as the best-maintained national park of India by the Tourism Ministry of India. Although the population of tigers here is not very high the chances of spotting them are quite high.
Highlights: Blossom-headed parakeet, honey buzzard, king vulture, bar-headed goose, sambar, wolf, spotted deer, chinkara, chital, and sloth bear
Types of Safari: Jeep Safari, Night Safari (at a few restricted areas), and Elephant Safari
Safari timings:
For summer: Morning: 5:30 am – 9:00 am, Afternoon: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
For winter: Morning: 6:30 am – 9:30 am, Afternoon: 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Best Time to Visit: October – April, while April is the best time for wildlife photography.
Places to Stay: Ken River Lodge, Hotel Clarks, Ramada Hotel, Hotel Radisson Jass
Entry Fee: Indian citizens: 40 INR and Foreigners: 500 INR
India is a proud owner of 200 wildlife sanctuaries! And it has always been and will forever remain as one of the best biodiversity hotspots in the world. The inception of winter further enriches it. Which national park are you visiting next? Let us know in the comments below!
Also read:
- A Detailed Guide For Wildlife Enthusiasts To Explore The Best Of Karnataka
- 7 Best Jungle Lodges In Karnataka To Enjoy The Best Of Forests
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