With 1,269,219 square miles jutting out into the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal, India is the world’s second-most populous country. Mountains, coasts, deserts, and riverways dot the landscape, with climates ranging from tropical to montane. It’s one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, including three biodiversity hotspots. Forests represent about 21% of the country’s geographical area, and the country is home to 8.6% of the world’s animal population. 

Furthermore, 33% of the plants are indigenous to the area. India has been at the forefront of tiger conservation efforts, and its national parks have grown over time. This article examines the country’s most significant national parks.

National Parks Importance: 

The evergreen wild is made up of wild species. Not in zoos, circuses, or forests that have dried up and been devastated. Zoos are not the best places to get near wildlife. Instead, visit national parks, biosphere reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries. Previously, when parents wanted to show their children a lion or a tiger, they went to a zoo, where these wild creatures were confined in small cages away from their natural habitat. As a result, they’ve lost their innate wildness and allure. As a result, the wild cats you see in zoos and circuses are no longer formidable forest beasts.

The Biggest National Park- Hemis National Park: 

  • Hemis National Park is situated at a high altitude in Jammu and Kashmir’s eastern Ladakh area.
  • This park is considered one of South Asia’s largest national parks.
  • The park was formed in 1981 and covers a total area of 3,350 square kilometres.
  • Snow leopards, leopards, Asiatic ibex, Tibetan wolf, Eurasian brown bear, and red fox are among the endangered creatures found in Hemis National Park.

Desert National Park: 

  • Desert National Park is located on India’s western border between Jaisalmer and Barmer in Rajasthan. 
  • It is the second-largest national park in the United States, with a total area of 3162 square kilometres. 
  • It is the only natural habitat for the Rajasthan State Bird (Great Indian Bustard), State Animal (Chinkara), State Tree (Khejri), and State Flower (Rohida).

Gangotri National Park: 

  • Gangotri National Park (GNP) is located in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, in the upper Bhagirathi River watershed. 
  • GNP has the Gangotri glacier, which is the source of the Ganga river. 
  • Gangotri National Park is home to a number of rare and endangered species. Such as The snow leopard Blue sheep or Tiger Bharal, Snowcock of the Himalayas Himalayan Musk deer, thar, Ibex and Bulbul Doves.

Namdapha National Park: 

  • It is located within Changlang District in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, on the international boundary between India and Myanmar. 
  • The park is well-known for its Arctic environment and flying squirrels. 
  • It is the only park in the world that has all four feline species of big cats, including the lion, tiger, and cougar.

Khangchendzonga National Park: 

  • Khangchendzonga National Park is a Biosphere reserve in the northeastern state of Sikkim. 
  • The park holds the distinction of being the country’s first “Mixed Heritage” site. 
  • The park was established in 1977 and covers an area of 1,784 square kilometres. 
  • The uncommon bird species found in Khangchendzonga National Park include blood pheasant satyr, tragopan, osprey, Himalayan griffon, western tragopan, green pigeon, and others.

Guru Ghasidas National Park: 

  • In the state of Chhattisgarh, Guru Ghasidas National Park, also known as Sanjay National Park, is located in the Koriya district. 
  • It has a total area of 1440.71 square kilometres and was designated as a park in 1981. Because the park is located in a tropical climate, it is surrounded by dense trees and numerous rivers. 
  • Chinkara, jackal, antelope, porcupine, tiger, leopard, bulbul, and kingfisher may all be found here.

Sundarbans National Park: 

  • West Bengal’s Sunderban National Park is located in the Sunderbans delta (Ganges delta), the world’s largest river delta. 
  • The National Park was established in 1984 and spans 1,330.1 square kilometres. 
  • The park is both a Tiger and a Biosphere Reserve and is known as the Royal Bengal Tiger’s citadel.

Indravati National Park: 

  • Indravati was established as a national park in 1981. The park’s total area comprises 1258.37 Km2 core area and 1540.71 Km2 buffer area. 
  • Indravati National Park was designated as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger of India in 1983. 
  • The park is known for its rich wildlife and bird species, which include some of the world’s most endangered species including Wild Buffalos and Hill Mynas.

Papikonda National Park: 

  • The Papikonda National Park is located in the Papi Hills of Andhra Pradesh’s East and West Godavari districts. 
  • Papikonda National Park is located in the Western Ghats and is shared by the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. 
  • Dominant flora Latifolia, Albizia Amara, Albizia Lebbeck, Tectona Grandis, Dominant fauna Tiger, Hyena, Four-horned antelope

Kanha National Park: 

  • Kanha National Park, established in 1955, is one of Madhya Pradesh’s most popular wildlife adventure sites. 
  • Kanha National Park has recently received recognition for its efforts to save the uncommon and nearly extinct Swamp Deer species (Barasinghas).

Conclusion: 

The government has the authority to designate an area as a national park if it has sufficient ecological, geomorphological, and natural value. Even individual ownership rights are not permitted in certain parks. Their boundaries are clearly defined and delineated.