Travel Category

India is rich in wildlife and wilderness. The vast and diverse country is home to many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Jungle safaris are very popular in India as you enjoy a wide diversity of flora and fauna. While most species of the animal kingdom abound in the landscape, there is a particular fondness for Tigers. Besides, the majestic cats, there are elephants, the only habitat of Asiatic Lions, one-horned rhinoceros Along with spotting the wild species in their natural habitats, get to enjoy at eco-friendly wildlife resorts, campsites, treehouses, etc. Go for jungle treks, bird watching, elephant rides, jeep rides and even boat rides which adds to the fun of the wildlife holiday.

To enjoy the pleasures of wildlife tours in India, here are the top choices:

Bandhavgarh National Park

The most popular wildlife sanctuary in India, Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh has the highest density of  tigers the country’s national animal. Besides the Royal Bengal Tigers, this park was also famous for white tigers. Other animals inhabiting the jungles are sambar, chital, wild boar, wild dog, Indian fox, leopard, bison, blue bull, antelope, nilgai and others.

Wildlife safari in Bandhavgarh includes options of jeep or elephant rides, stay at the jungle resorts, visit to the Bandhavgarh Fort and certainly exciting memories.

Ranthambore National Park

Once the hunting grounds of the royal family of Jaipur, Ranthambore is the most popular option for wildlife tours in India. The favourite resident of the jungle, tigers bring visitors in huge numbers from all across the globe. The many water sources in the jungle are home to a huge number of crocodiles, nilgai, sambhar, birds and more.

Stay at the heritage jungle resorts, the very ones used by the royalty on their hunting trips is particularly exciting as is exploring the 10th century Ranthambore Fort atop a hill overlooking the wilderness.

Gir National Park

The exclusive home of Asiatic lions in the natural habit, Gir National park in Gujarat is among the most visit places for a wildlife getaway. Besides, the king of the jungle, there are many inhabitants such as leopards, jackals and the Indian fox. Jeep safari brings you close to the lions.

Kanha National Park

Said to be the inspiration of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, Kanha National Park lures quite a huge number of wildlife lovers and animal enthusiasts. Apart from spotting tigers, you can find gaur, palm squirrel, striped hyena, chinkara, mouse deer, black buck, jackal, porcupine, sambhar and others. The best way to spot tigers is by taking the early morning elephant safari from Mukki entrance of the park.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur)

The bird sanctuary with a status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, earlier known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the best places to go for jungle safari in India. Bird watching is a pleasure here as the nature reserve is home to more than 450 species of birds including migratory species that fly in for a winter visit as far as from Siberia and other cold countries. Keeping the natural beauty intact and noises at the minimum, safari at the bird paradise is available only on cycle rickshaws.

Periyar National Park

Settled in God’s Own Country of Kerala, Periyar National Park is one of the most popular places in for wildlife safari in India. Elephant’s and tigers are the most popular residents but there is the Indian wild dog, sambar, wild pig, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr and others.

Early morning safaris are known for the decent chance of getting close to the wildlife as is boating in the Periyar Lake where the beasts come to quench their thirst. Eco-lodges and treehouses are popular options to stay while the national park also offers the chance to explore spice plantations of Thekkady.

Jim Corbett National Park

The oldest wildlife sanctuary in India, Jim Corbett National Park is settled on the mighty foothills of Himalayas. The residents of the jungle include tigers, sloth bear, goral, fishing cat, leopard, chital, barking deer and others. The best way to spot tigers is jeep safari in the Bijrani zone while some glimpse of the wildlife is also available from the watchtowers in Dhikala and other regions.

Kaziranga National Park

Home to one third of world's population of one-horned rhinoceros, Kaziranga National Park is a must visit detsination for wildlife tors in India. The UNECSO listed wildlife sanctaury is spread in India's North Eastern state of Assam.

Manas National Park

Nepal is one of the popular travel destinations in the Indian Sub-Continent. For the love of mountains, adventure, trekking, UNESCO heritage sites, culture and more, it is popular getaway. Nestled in the mighty mountains of the Himalayas.

Pashupatinath

Pashupatinath is in the eastern part of Kathmandu. It is one of the major Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world and one of the famous pilgrimage spots in Nepal. In the complex there are statues, shrines and temples devoted to other deities along with the Linga image of Lord Shiva. Gold-plated ceiling, silver doors and the woodcarvings of the best quality beautify the Pagoda architecture.

Bhadgaon - The third largest medieval city in the Kathmandu valley, Bhadgaon also known as the Bhaktapur is well preserved. Bhadgaon was the capital of Nepal during the Malla Kingdom from the 12th and the 15th century. The main attractions in Bhadgaon are:

Bhaktapur Durbar Square - Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the world heritage sites in the country. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square echoes the rich culture, art and architectural design of the city. The entrance to the main courtyard of the palace is a golden gate. The gate is regarded as the world’s most beautiful and elaborately carved specimens of its kind.

Nyatapol Temple - The Nyatapol Temple is the tallest temple in the Kathmandu valley. The temple is 30 meter tall and was constructed in 1708 AD by King Bhupatindra Mallla. The five terraces of the temple hold a pair of stone figure of the temple guardian. At the bottom are the legendary wrestlers, and then the following levels are guarded by the elephants, lions, griffins and finally two goddesses.

The Bhaktapur National Art Gallery - The Bhaktapur Art Gallery is situated in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The Museum was established to portray the rare paintings and manuscripts with painted covers and illustrations. The Gallery also houses brass, bronze, stone and wooden images. The Gallery is travelled around by tourists for the ancient art tradition of Nepal.

Kathmandu Durbar Square - a number of interesting pagodas and Indian style temples (Sikhara), the House of Kumari (the living Goddess) and the Kasthamandap (or wooden house which is the origin of the word Kathmandu) and many more things to see.

Sawayambhunath - The monkey temple, with its commanding views of Kathmandu, its whitewashed stupas and its unique synthesis of Buddhist and Hindu religions.

Hanuman Dhoka – A temple complex in the middle of the old city. Built during the Malla period, the area consists of a number of different monuments & image of Lord Hanumana.

Boudhnath - It is among the largest stupas in South Asia, and it has become the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet, and Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many of them decided to live around Bouddhanath. They established many gompas, and the "Little Tibet" of Nepal was born.

one of the blessed Buddhist spots in Kathmandu. The Bodnath stupa is one of the largest stupa in the world. The stupa rhythms with life as hundreds and thousands of devotees meet daily spin the prayer wheel, chant and perform a ritual ‘Parikrama’ of the Boudha stupa. The stupa is situated on the ancient trade route to Tibet, and the Tibetan traders would rest and pray here. Today most of the Tibetans living in Bouddhnath are the refugees who fled from Tibet and entered Nepal in 1950. These Tibetans who migrated to Nepal established many gompas and the “Little Tibet” of Nepal was born.

Bhaktapur - The most attractive tourist spot in this grotesque city is the Durbar Square. The Golden Gate in the square, with its intricately carved deities and monsters is one of the most richly carved gates of its kind in the world. The gate leads to the Palace of 55 windows, which has a balcony with 55 windows wand is a masterpiece of woodcarving. The stone temple of Batsala Devi at the square is a beautiful example of the Shikharal style of architecture. The temple also has a colossal bell on the terrace called the ‘Bell of the Barking Dogs’. A magnificent statue of King Bhupantindra Malla praying has been placed in the column facing the palace. Bhakatapur's second main square is Taumadhi Tole, which is home to Nyatapola, the highest temple in the valley and Til Mahadev Narayan, an important place of pilgrimage. At Taumadhi Tole, you can also find Potters' Square, where thousands of clay pots are made and sold. East of Taumadihi Tole, through narrow snaking streets of the old city centre, lies Tachupal Tole, another square containing temples and monasteries and a number of craft museums.

Pokhara

The rare combination of snow-clad peaks and snow fed lakes and rivers has helped to make the valley of Pokhara one of the most picturesque natural attractions in the kingdom. It is located virtually in the geographical center of Nepal. Located on the main road between Kathmandu and Bhairawa, there may be no other place in the world from where Great Himalayas peaks can be admired from such a close distance. The Bindhyavasani Temple on its well-kept platform overlooks a modest amusement park. Phewa Lake, skirted by a large numbers of unpretentious lodges and simple restaurants, is the most congenial spot for visitors.

Nagarkot

One of the best facilitated hill top resort towns to view the majesty of the Himalaya from, Nagarkot is situated at a height of 2195 meters and is only 32 km east of Kathmandu. The resort town is famous for its sunrise and sunset views and even offers glimpses of Mt. Everest in the east on a clear morning while the entire Langtang range looms right in front.

India is rich in wildlife and a blessed home to Tigers. From India, 14 tiger reserves have received the accreditation of the Global Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS). The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recognized the ‘BaghRakshaks’ for their efforts in protecting Tigers and forests. 

Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) has been agreed upon as an accreditation tool by the global coalition of Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) and has been developed by tiger and protected area experts. Officially launched in 2013, it sets minimum standards for effective management of target species and encourages assessment of these standards in relevant conservation areas. CA|TS is a set of criteria which allows tiger sites to check if their management will lead to successful tiger conservation.  The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recognized the ‘BaghRakshaks’ for their efforts in protecting Tigers and forests.

The 14 tiger reserves of India that have received prestigious global accreditation from CA|TS are:

• Mudumalai and Anamalai Tiger Reserves, Tamil Nadu

• Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka

• Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala

• Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal

• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh
• Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar
• Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

• Satpura, Kanha and Panna Tiger Reserves, Madhya Pradesh

Tiger conservation in India took off as a major activity under Project Tiger in 1973. A tiger census conducted in 1972 (tiger hunting was banned in 1970) estimated there were 1,827 tigers in the country against an estimated 40,000 at the turn of the 20th century. The Wildlife Protection Act also came into force in 1972. According to the 2018 tiger census, there is an estimated 2,967 tigers in India, of which 2,461 tigers have been photographed through camera traps. Guinness World Records (in 2020) has also recognised the camera trap survey as the largest such wildlife survey undertaken.

It is well established that tigers are an ‘umbrella species’, and by focusing on tiger conservation, the forest they live in is also protected to the highest standards, with all the faunal and floral species benefiting from it too.

The Indian tiger reserves recognised under CA|TS are also part of the tourism circuit of the states they belong to. Although winter is the most convenient time to visit these tiger reserves, peak summer is the best time when the chance of meeting the magnificent beast is more. Most of these reserves have well-defined tourist zones, accessible with special permits.

India is rich in wildlife and a blessed home to Tigers. From India, 14 tiger reserves have received the accreditation of the Global Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS). The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recognized the ‘BaghRakshaks’ for their efforts in protecting Tigers and forests. 

Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) has been agreed upon as an accreditation tool by the global coalition of Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) and has been developed by tiger and protected area experts. Officially launched in 2013, it sets minimum standards for effective management of target species and encourages assessment of these standards in relevant conservation areas. CA|TS is a set of criteria which allows tiger sites to check if their management will lead to successful tiger conservation.  The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recognized the ‘BaghRakshaks’ for their efforts in protecting Tigers and forests.

The 14 tiger reserves of India that have received prestigious global accreditation from CA|TS are:

• Mudumalai and Anamalai Tiger Reserves, Tamil Nadu

• Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka

• Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala

• Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal

• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh
• Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar
• Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

• Satpura, Kanha and Panna Tiger Reserves, Madhya Pradesh

Tiger conservation in India took off as a major activity under Project Tiger in 1973. A tiger census conducted in 1972 (tiger hunting was banned in 1970) estimated there were 1,827 tigers in the country against an estimated 40,000 at the turn of the 20th century. The Wildlife Protection Act also came into force in 1972. According to the 2018 tiger census, there is an estimated 2,967 tigers in India, of which 2,461 tigers have been photographed through camera traps. Guinness World Records (in 2020) has also recognised the camera trap survey as the largest such wildlife survey undertaken.

It is well established that tigers are an ‘umbrella species’, and by focusing on tiger conservation, the forest they live in is also protected to the highest standards, with all the faunal and floral species benefiting from it too.

The Indian tiger reserves recognised under CA|TS are also part of the tourism circuit of the states they belong to. Although winter is the most convenient time to visit these tiger reserves, peak summer is the best time when the chance of meeting the magnificent beast is more. Most of these reserves have well-defined tourist zones, accessible with special permits.

India is a kaleidoscope of colours and charms. It is home to cities bustling with creativity, culture and charisma. UNESCO recognizes cities for their creativity and tried to keep intact the traditions and culture. India has been part of the network of Creative Cities since 2015, featuring five cities in the network (Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Varanasi and Chennai) across four themes. These cities are chosen for their cultural heritage that is unique.

There are five Indian cities in UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as follows:

Jaipur -Crafts and Folk Arts (2015)

Varanasi - Music (2015)

Chennai -  Music (2017)

Mumbai – Film (2019)

Hyderabad – Gastronomy (2019)