These Indian national parks will reopen in October

It’s that time of the year again when you need to get busy planning your holidays in the Indian wilderness. We have waited patiently through summer and monsoons and have finally crawled our way to October, to once again be able to visit our favourite national parks.

We must admit, these visits to the natural reserves are the best things one can give to oneself in times when we are consumed by the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle. Even if it’s a short time in the wild, it does great things to the mind, heart and soul.

A number of national parks in India will reopen in the first week of October, while others will wait till mid-October to reopen. Whatever it is, October is just round the corner and we are excited about the parks’ reopening.

Also known as Kanha Tiger Reserve, KNP in Madhya Pradesh is one of the most famous national parks in India. Come here to see what treasures the grassland and forest ecosystem have in store for you. Kanha is a tiger territory and it is also an excellent birding destination. The forest is spectacular. When in Kanha, do add village visits in your itinerary. The park is surrounded by Gond and Baiga villages.

You know what’s great about Bandhavgarh? Though it is not a very big park, area-wise, Bandhavgarh has the highest density of tigers. Chances of spotting tigers is big here. Bandhavgarh will give you a rocky start, quite literally, thanks to the rocky terrain one needs to drive through to get to the tiger territory. That will get your adrenaline pumping.

Ranthambore National Park, the erstwhile royal hunting ground, is a fabulous place to experience. Tigers, yes, but you shouldn’t miss the grand Ranthambore Fort and Padam Talao Lake areas too. They all make the Ranthambore safari experience a great one. It’s not possible to miss tigers in this park, so keep quiet and keep your camera ready.

How amazing is it that Sundarban National Park, the core area of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site? What makes it so special? Turns out, it’s not just the tigers, it’s also the massive mangrove ecosystem, the river system and the unique biodiversity the area supports, all these make Sundarbans an unmissable heritage. The biosphere reserve will reopen its gates in October!

Home to the largest number of tigers, Jim Corbett National Park is a gem of a place. It is also home to the leopards, wild elephants, and hundreds of species of birds. Corbett’s bird diversity is one of the best in the country. The park is spread across thousands of kilometres and boasts of a mix of grasslands, dense and riparian forest. The park has five zones: Dhikala, Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela and Durga Devi.

Easily one of the best wildlife parks in Karnataka, Bandipur is home to the tiger, leopard, dhole, Indian wild elephant, and many species of ungulates like sambar, chital, muntjac to name a few. Bandipur safari is a popular one and you must include this to your Karnataka itinerary.

Assam’s pride and joy, Manas National Park is another wildlife park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The grasslands and forests of Manas is home to the Critically Endangered species like Bengal Florican and pygmy hog, and other threatened species like the tiger, golden langur, Indian rhinoceros and wild Indian elephant. Manas is also famous for a healthy birdlife.

Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Alwar district in Rajasthan. The park is spread over an area of 881 sq km of semi-arid forest, grasslands and rocky terrains, an interesting home to the Bengal tigers.

Panna National Park is located in Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. The park usually has a low rate of tiger sightings, it’s all in luck anyway. But, if you don’t mind the lack of big cats and just want to spend quality time in the wilderness, amidst other denizens of the forest, Panna is a good place.

Pench straddles Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and is one of the most beautiful forests in India. Forest landscape is worth writing home about and add to that the run-ins with the denizens of the forest. Home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and a healthy population of reptiles, Pench is a destination loved by many wildlife enthusiasts.

Satpura National Park in Madhya Pradesh is one of the very few wildlife parks in India where visitors are allowed to explore the area on foot. The park is home to leopard, sambar deer, chital, Indian muntjac, black buck and sloth bear.