INDIA

Discover a sanctuary of biodiversity nestled between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. Thiruvananthapuram offers a unique blend of coastal ecosystems, dense forests, and rich cultural heritage, making it a paradise for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

Nestled in the high ranges of the Western Ghats, Periyar is a theatre of the wild where mist swirls over the ancient lake and elephants congregate at the water's edge. This tiger reserve is not just a sanctuary but a living example of nature's harmony, offering rare boat safaris that reveal the jungle's secrets from a silent, watery vantage point.

In the dry deciduous forests of Gujarat lies the only place in the world outside Africa where lions roam free. Gir is a rugged, golden landscape of teak forests and savannahs, guarding the majestic Asiatic Lion—a royal survivor that has fought its way back from the brink of extinction.

Jawai is distinct—not a park, but a landscape where leopards roam freely among granite boulders and human settlements. It is a place of startling contrast: ancient rock formations, the shimmering Jawai Dam, and the red-turbaned Rabari shepherds who share this land with the 'ghosts of the hills'.

High in the trans-Himalayan desert of Ladakh, Hemis is a land of stark beauty and thin air. It is the prime territory of the elusive protection 'Grey Ghost'—the Snow Leopard. Here, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries cling to cragged peaks, watching over a silent, frozen wilderness.

Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Nagarhole (or Rajiv Gandhi National Park) is one of India's premier tiger reserves. Its Kabini river banks are famous for gatherings of Asiatic elephants and the legendary sightings of the melanistic leopard—the black panther.

Bandipur, once the private hunting ground of the Maharajas of Mysore, is now a sanctuary for India's endangered wildlife. Its dry deciduous forests shelter a robust population of tigers, elephants, and Indian wild dogs, set against the backdrop of the Nilgiri hills.

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park. Known for its intense heat and high tiger density, it offers some of the most frequent and dramatic tiger sightings in India, often around its life-giving lakes and waterholes.

The setting that inspired Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book', Pench is a land of teak forests and meandering streams. It spans two states and protects a vital corridor for tigers. The spirit of Mowgli seems to linger in these woods.

Kanha is often called the most beautiful of India's tiger reserves. Huge Sal trees, grassy meadows (maidans), and bamboo thickets create a landscape of grandeur. It is the success story of the Hard Ground Barasingha, brought back from near extinction.

Steeped in legend, Bandhavgarh pairs high tiger density with ancient history. The park is named after the 2000-year-old fort atop the central hill. It was once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Rewa, where the first White Tiger was found.

Panna is a land of diamonds and tigers, where the Ken River cuts through deep gorges and waterfalls cascade down ancient cliffs. Known for its successful tiger reintroduction program, it is a story of resilience and resurgence in the heart of Madhya Pradesh.

Satpura is distinct for its rugged terrain of sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, and dense forests. It is one of the few parks in India that allows walking safaris, offering a primal connection to the wilderness.

A hidden gem in Eastern Madhya Pradesh, Sanjay Dubri is the last refuge before the forests merge into Chhattisgarh. Relive the nostalgia of the original Jungle Book forests with fewer tourists and pristine Sal woodlands.

Ranthambore is iconic—a blend of history and nature where tigers prowl past ancient cenotaphs and hunting pavilions. It is one of the most picturesque tiger reserves in the world, renowned for its fearless big cats.

India's first national park, Corbett is a magical landscape of Sal forests, riverine belts, and grasslands in the foothills of the Himalayas. Famous for the highest density of tigers and large herds of wild elephants.