As the world welcomes the Chinese year of the Tiger, it is certainly not welcome news to know that only about 3500 tigers survive in the world right now. This regal animal, which is the national animal of India, is facing immense danger from human population, industrialization and natural erosion of habitat, not to forget poaching to acquire the highly mystical medicinally useful tiger parts.
Royal Bengal Tiger. Courtesy Siddy Lam via Flickr
While efforts pour in from all directions to help preserve these shy yet majestic creatures, what a traveler can do best, is to go see the tiger. See where it loves to tread, the animals it loves to hunt and how the young ones learn the fine art of hunting and survival. Go see the dense dark forests, and the thick grasslands that provide perfect ambush to the striped carnivore. Get the whole family together for a vacation, sitting in a jeep and waiting in anticipation to catch a glimpse of a crouching tiger.
What this travelling can do most is spread awareness about the tiger and its needs. It can help make better amenities and improve protection efforts, so that more and more can travel from far and wide to see the animal. It can help pour in the always useful funds for conservation efforts. And it can surely help instill an appreciation for nature into young minds.
If you are really looking forward to a trip into the tiger’s den, here are some of the best places in India for a rendezvous with this critically endangered species.
Jim Corbett National Park – Named after the hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett, this park is in the state of Uttaranchal and one of the oldest national parks of the country.
The park boasts of 488 different species of plants and equally diverse varieties of animals. It is also a fine place to try adventure sports as the area is blessed with hills, mountains, rivers, marshes, grasslands and lakes.
This park was the first to come under the banner of the Project Tiger initiative in India.
Best time to visit – September to June
Bandhavgadh National Park – Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the area of the park is about 437 sq. km. About half the park is covered with fine trees of Sal and stretches of bamboo and grasslands extend to the north. The main wildlife viewing is still done in the core of the park with its 32 picturesque, wooded hills.
This area was once the hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa but in 1968 was declared as a protected area and since then has been a tiger reserve.
The best season to visit is from November to June. Elephant and jeep safaris are available.
Ranthambore National Park – While on a trip to royal Rajasthan, it seems easy enough to slip a day or two in your shedule for this national park in Rajasthan bound by the river Chambal and Banas.
The landscape is dotted with ancient Banyan Trees, Dhok & Pipal trees, clusters of mango trees and crisscrossed with evergreen belts.
Sighted in Ranthambore. Courtesy Koshyk via Flickr
It is also a favorite haunt of wildlife photographers, always eager to capture classic shots of the easily sighted tiger. For a relatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of fauna and flora – including 300 tree species, 50 aquatic plants, 272 birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile & amphibians and 30 species of mammals.
The best time to visit this park is from October to March and April to June.
Kanha National Park – This horse-shoes shaped area nestled in the state of Madhya Pradesh has long been known as the tiger country. It is a vast area that is protected – almost 1940 sq. km. and therefore apart from the tigers; other wild animals too are easy to sight like the Porcupine, Gray Langurs, Mongoose, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard, varieties of Deer, as well as the majestic Gaur or Indian Bison.
Best time to visit in from April to June or November to January. This is also a good place to observe tribal cultures of the area.
Sundarbans National Park – If it is the Royal Bengal Tiger, you wish to feast the eyes on; the place to find them is here.
The vast swampy delta of the two great Indian rivers, Brhamaputra and the Ganges extends over areas comprising of mangrove forests, swamps and archipelago of 54 forest islands all interwoven in a network. The park area of approximately 1330.10-sq-kms is the largest mangrove forest in the world, forming the core of this area. The Sundarban region has got its name from Sundari trees, once found in abundance here.
Pair of White Tiger Cubs. Courtesy Koshyk via Flickr
It is said that this area is home to almost 400 tigers but the animals are shy and the camouflage is excellent, so patience is of greatest virtue if you wish to meet the tiger here.
Sundarbans is also noted for its conservation of the Ridley Sea Turtle and incredible variety of reptiles like King Cobra, Rock Python and Water Monitor.
Best time to visit is September to May.
Bandipur National Park – If you are in the southern parts of India, enticed by the fine temple architecture, what can add a dramatic wild element to the tour is visiting this park hidden in the wrinkled folds of the Western Ghats of Karnataka.
In 1973, Bandipur became one of the first of India’s Tiger Reserves and the southernmost of the nine reserves specially established under Project Tiger. It is after the monsoon showers that the glory of this park unfolds and wild animals can be seen easily roaming around.
Best time to visit is from October to April.
So it seems wherever in India you are, you are never really far from a spectacle of wild chases, telltale paw marks and the elusive royal Tiger.
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A very informative article.
Definitely need to plan a visit to one of these national parks to spot this majestic creature. Also fervently hope that their number does not reduce any further.