India is one of the best places in the world for wildlife lovers. With its 733 Protected Areas, including 103 national parks, it is the perfect place to combine a cultural tour with time in the wilderness enjoying nature.
It’s also the country where you’re most likely to spot the majestic tiger. If you're considering a holiday to India to see its incredible animals, these are the best locations for immersing yourself in the beauty of the wild.
Sunderbans National Park, West Bengal
Sunderbans, meaning 'beautiful forests' in Bengali, is a stunning tiger reserve on the Ganges Delta. Between the dense mangroves, glistening creeks and trickling tributaries of this humid ecosystem, you might spot crocodiles and tigers.
Rainfall here can be heavy and temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees, making it a perfect environment for tropical flora and fauna to thrive - but be sure to bring a rain jacket!
Gir National Park, Gujarat
Gujarat’s teak wood forest, Gir National Park, is the only place outside of Africa where lions can be spotted in the wild. This dry forest plays a key role in moderating the climate of the wider Gujarat region and makes Jeep safaris all the more epic.
The endangered Asiatic lion is a mighty mammal that can only be found within the Gir National Park and its surroundings - an area no bigger than Greater London.
Nagarhole National Park
Fewer tourists flock to Nagarhole thanks to its southern Indian location, which is much less-visited than India’s north, but this comparatively unsung national park is home to almost 270 species of birds, beautiful Asian elephants, Samba deer and langur monkeys.
Marking one of the natural frontiers of the National Park is the Kabini River. Luxury lodges sit on its banks from where you can view wild waterfowl and watch gorgeous sunsets reflected in the river.
On Good Housekeeping's unique tour of Kerala and Karnataka, you’ll go on a jeep safari in search of leopards and tigers, as well as take a boat trip across the Kabini to spot elephants and birds, including the peacock, the national bird of India.
Ranthambore National Park
Now one of India’s biggest and most renowned national parks, Ranthambore was once a favourite hunting ground of the Maharajas. Thankfully, it remains one of India’s best places for tiger sightings.
As well as keeping an eye out for leopards, hyenas, jackals, Indian foxes and birds such as pelicans and flamingos, you can see ancient Raj Bagh ruins around the park. These centuries-old stone domes, steps and arches offer an insight into the region’s cultural history.
SEARCH FOR BENGAL TIGERS WITH GH
Bannerghatta Biological Park – Karnataka
A site of eco-recreation, eco-tourism and conservation, you wouldn’t realise that Bannerghatta Biological Park was so close to a big city. Forming part of Bennerghatta National Park and located 22 kilometres from the city of Bengaluru, the bio park consists of a zoo, safari, butterfly haven and rescue centre.
Here you can spot deer, tigers, elephants and more, but be careful not to tease or disturb the animals - it's a punishable offence!
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The clever travel essentials you never knew you wanted
LAY-N-GO Cosmo make-up bag
Selfridges
£29
Lay out all of your make-up in one place and quickly pack it up again with the ultimate cosmetic bag for travellers. There’s even a pocket to store your jewellery.
Take control of the sound in your holiday environment with this USB-charged machine that masks noise which can disturb sleep or concentration through its sound options, including bright white noise, deep white noise or gentle surf.
Ideal for sleeping in dry hotel rooms, this portable dehumidifier secures over a water bottle to add moisture to the air.
Not just trendy-looking cabin luggage, this smart case uses a lithium ion battery so you can charge your phone on the go. It's a great gift for the traveller in your life, too.
...And you can keep tabs on your bag with this intelligent little tile that you pop into the luggage tag and attach to you case before tracking it with your phone. It makes for a great travel gift, too.
Inflatable, foldable and lightweight, these blow-up hangers are ideal for packing in your suitcase, as you never know if there will be enough in your hotel wardrobe.
Comfortable to wear on the plane, in the car or in your hotel room when noise stops you from sleeping, these earplugs use sound reduction filters and feature personal volume control.
If you're not staying in a fancy hotel with a Nespresso coffee machine in your room or just want to enjoy your favourite brew whenever and wherever you are on holiday, this portable espresso machine will come in handy.
Washing your clothes on holiday is now quick and easy with this portable washing machine. Just add your clothes, water and a drop of washing liquid, seal tight and rub for a few minutes on the internal, flexible washboard before rinsing.
The ultimate baggage compressor, this little device sucks up all the extra space in your luggage within minutes by easily compressing your clothes in a vacuum bag so you can buy more and pack more.
Designed by a former flight attendant who watched endless passengers struggle to sleep on flights, this travel pillow with a three-way support system helps keep your head, neck and chin completely supported while you snooze.
Keep your valuables close with this silk pouch you simply snap over your bra strap. The small pocket is great for stashing your money and credit cards.
This easy-to-use steamer is a the perfect alternative to carrying a travel iron. It's harmless to even delicate fabrics and will remove creases and unfresh odours.
Just what you need for packing light on a beach holiday, this lightweight and water-resistant blanket can be used for picnics too and features weights at each corner to stop it being blown away.
For when the in-flight pillow just won’t do, this mulberry silk pillow with a matching sleep mask was created to provide the ultimate combination of shine, thickness, softness and durability
Want to be a more organised packer? These nifty cubes help you pack your clothes neatly while providing compression so you can fit more into your case. Genius!
A great gift for the business traveller who has everything, this hard case will protect a shirt from creasing and is lightweight and compact enough to pack in a laptop bag or backpack.
