As well as being one of the world’s most populous countries, India also has a large amount of naturally beautiful areas and can also boast some very interesting wildlife sites. This is why many people will visit India to explore its natural attractions every year, and with an increasing emphasis being placed on the tourism industry the importance of these sites is likely to be protected and preserved for the future.
Kaziranga National Park
One of the most fascinating and diverse areas of wildlife in India is the KazirangaNational Park, and lies in Assam, which is in the western part of the country. The area itself is a very wet area of the country, where four major rivers including the massive Brahmaputra converge before flowing towards the Bay of Bengal. The park itself was first founded in 1905 where it was designated as a reserve forest.
Although the beautiful scenery to be seen in Kaziranga is certainly an attractive feature, the wealth of wild animals to be found is the real reason that so many visitors flock to the area. The Indian Rhinoceros is one of the species to be found in the park, and around two thirds of the entire population of the species can be found in this particular corner of the country. The park is also noted for its exceptionally diverse range of bird species, and it also has a healthy population of elephants and tigers too.
Nanda Devi And The Valley Of Flowers
Another of the most inspiring and beautiful areas of India can be found around the peak of Nanda Devi, which combines some sensational mountain scenery and the truly stunning Valley of Flowers. As the name suggests, the Valley of Flowers is home to an amazing range of flowers including rare orchids and poppies. The two national parks together boast an amazing range of plants from the alpine and sub-alpine species.
As well as being notable for its sensational plant life, this area is also home to the rare snow leopard which is an endangered species on a worldwide level. Sighting of the large cat are particularly rare, as the species is naturally very wary of humans.
Sundarbans National Park
The SundarbansNational Park is a very different type of area from many of the other Indian reserves, lying just above sea level on the border with Bangladesh. The mangrove forests that are to be found throughout the park are home to many Royal Bengal Tigers. Although these elusive big cats may be the most famous of the park’s inhabitants, many visitors will be spotted sunbathing on the beaches between November and February. The park also has a wonderful range of bird species including the brightly colored Blue-Eared Kingfisher, and due to its proximity to water there is also a significant crocodile population.
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Another of the wonderful wildlife sanctuaries to be found in the foothills of the Himalayas is the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, which takes its name from the river Manas. So many of the species to be found in the area have led to the sanctuary being designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, and these include a number of big cats and primates.
Included among the species that are particularly under threat are the Golden Langurs, the Assam Roofed Turtles and the Hispid Hares. It also has a population of Bengal Tigers living within its boundaries.
The Western Ghats National Park
For those looking for a different type of natural attraction, the Western Ghats is a very interesting mountain area which lies to the south of the country. These mountains lack the height of the Himalayas, with the highest only reaching a little above 2,500m in height, but the distinctive look of these mountains with their steep sides are particularly striking.
One of the highlights of the Western Ghats is a visit to the JogFalls, which are a dramatic waterfall system where the water will drop over 250 meters to the valley floor. This is a particularly dramatic sight during the monsoon season, where a huge amount of water is flowing over the falls at any one time.