More than one percent of the vast territory of India is occupied by national parks, the purpose of which is to protect nature, archaeological sites and historical sites and develop tourism. Today, the reserves of India are visited annually by millions of travelers who are interested in the past and present of the country and its diverse nature.
Four hundred addresses on the map
More than four hundred nature reserves in India and its national parks are listed in the register of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. There are about a hundred especially popular ones and they are open to tourists:
- The highest mountain reserve in India is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It was established in 1962 and requires special permits to visit. The Great Himalayas Park is a habitat for a huge number of birds and animals, and some of its parts are located at an altitude of more than five thousand meters. From here, ascents to the highest Himalayan peaks begin.
- The Neora Valley is a park in the east of India, where you can fully feel the exoticism of the impenetrable virgin jungle. The unique ecosystem of this nature reserve in India allows orchids and oaks, bamboo and rhododendrons to exist on the same territory, and clouded leopards, red panda and Bengal cat are only a small part of the rich list of fauna of the Neora Valley. The nearest settlements are the city of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. You can also get to the park by plane, landing at the airport in the city of Bagdogra.
- Tourists on the beaches of Goa can devote one of their vacation days to excursions to the Mollem reserve. The small national park shows guests the evergreen tropical forests and their many inhabitants - Bengal tigers, Indian macaques, giant squirrels and porcupines. A reference point for those who travel on their own is the city of Panaji, from where the reserve can be reached by car in an hour.
- The kingdom of butterflies is called the Indian reserve in the state of Kerala, where it is most convenient to get from Cochin. Periyar National Park is located on the shores of the lake of the same name and its main pride is hundreds of species of tropical butterflies and colorful birds. If you're lucky, guests of the reserve may encounter Bengal tigers and leopards, but to avoid unnecessary risks, it is worth hiring a local guide when visiting the park.
- The largest population of tigers in India is in the Mudumalai Nature Reserve in the southwest of the country. The density of "tigropopulation" here is one individual per 9 square meters. km, and therefore visiting the park requires tourists to observe special rules.
