Surely many of you remember The Jungle Book, the Disney film that followed the misadventures of the Mowgli child through a jungle of sloth bears, swinging monkeys or military elephants. A universe that, transferred to the real world, finds in the Indian subcontinent all the nuances of that exuberant nature that invites to be discovered in jeep, canoe or lodging in palaces of the ecolodge.
And is that 10% of the wild nature of the entire planet is housed in an Indian subcontinent made up of countries like India, Nepal or Sri Lanka. Natural empires that lodge to 870 endemic species without counting their 1250 species of birds, 270 of snakes or 15 different species of wild cats, the highest of all the planet.
Hence, the possibility of sighting the Bengal tiger becomes the most sought-after option in a panorama where countless national parks become the best places to make a safari around the world:
1) Ranthambore
Considered one of the best national parks in the world to spot the Bengal tiger, since you can even see them in broad daylight, Ranthambore is located in the state of Rajasthan, between forests and old fortresses, awaiting the eager visitor of new experiences. A stage where besides the famous tiger, you can also spot leopards, sloth bears, Sambar (an autochthonous antelope), langurs or hundreds of birds. The perfect option for anyone who seeks to combine the monumental charms of Rajasthan with a nature experience, since Ranthambore is located only 160 kilometers from Jaipur, the Pink City of India and the distance you can cover through the Palace on Wheels train India.
2) Kanha
When Rudyard Kipling decided to write The Jungle Book, the name chosen to call the place where Mowgli and Baloo lived new adventures was Seoni, a city that “coincidentally” borders the Kanha National Park, one of the most beautiful in India and that stretches across 954 square kilometers in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Also known as Kanha Tiger Reserve thanks to more than a hundred tigers that inhabit the park, the reserve also includes species such as birds, endangered species here protected as the deer barasingha, leopards or the sympathetic gaur, a type of Indian bison.
In addition, you can enjoy this place of charm from the Banjar Toola, where colonial lanterns and lanterns are scattered around a river to peek into during a romantic dinner.
3) Bandhavgarh
From the herons that dot their wetlands to the tiger that lives next to epic roads, the Bandhavgarh, located 240 kilometers from Kanha, is undoubtedly one of the best places to go on a safari in India. Do not miss a jeep route while nature wakes up in the form of hyenas, leopards or wild boar (among 37 other species of mammals ), as well as thousand-colored butterflies or birds that encourage magical bird-watching days.
Like cherry, nothing better than dropping by the ruins of Sheshasaya, an ancient statue erected in honor of Lord Vishnu and at whose feet the peacocks display tails of a thousand greens and blues. The perfect combination of culture and nature during your trip to India.
4) Satpura
The future of the national parks is called Satpura and is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, with up to 1,427 square kilometers of the surface. A natural paradise where you can enjoy performing numerous activities ranging from canoeing as a novel way of sighting species, to guided tours by a local guide in search of the Bengal tiger, panthers, and a long list of actors.
Experiences to enjoy especially between the months of November and February, a time when temperatures accompany and the consequences of the monsoon give a greener and lively nature. If you also prefer a stay at the Denwa Backwater Scape of the Pugdundee Safaris chain, your “book of the jungle” is insured.
5) Pench
The presence of tropical chestnut trees, bamboo and other hundreds of green make up this natural reserve located in the state of Maharashtra and ideal for sighting all kinds of species. Famous for the practice of rafting through the Pench River as a different means of making safaris, the Pench National Park becomes the ideal setting to spot the Bengal tiger, sloth bears, striped hyenas, porcupines or leopards.
The Jungle Book and whose access cannot be made between the months of July and September, time in which the monsoon makes this place of story flourish.
6) Tadoba
They say that the god Taru died after confronting a Bengal tiger somewhere in the oldest national park in the state of Maharashtra, in addition to the largest one. If you want to interact with local cultures and a much more natural environment, Tadoba allows you to combine both objectives in a land of tropical character where more than 80 tigers of Bengal, 74 of butterflies or 195 types of birds live.
7) Kaziranga
The state of Assam, east of India, is revealed as a clean and quiet place where nature finds new ways of expression. And the best place to appreciate all this charm is, without a doubt, the Kaziranga National Park. Named a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO, in Kaziranga, there are tigers, elephants, and even its great protagonist: the one-horned rhinoceros!
In fact, the park itself brings together two-thirds of the total population of this species, there being more than 2400 specimens only in Kaziranga, a park that invites a slow and different immersion.
8) Chitwan
Of all the national parks in the world, that of Chitwan, in southern Nepal, is the only one that has managed to double the number of tiger specimens. A triumph that confirms the well-being of this reserve divided into different ecosystems inhabited by rhinos, tigers, crocodiles, elephants and many other animals that coexist with the Tharu ethnic group at the foot of the Himalayas. Discover the country of smiles beyond its reddish cities and Buddhist temples to immerse yourself in nature without equal during your trip to Nepal.
9) Yala
Considered one of the most important nature destinations in the world, Sri Lanka boasts the largest number of Asian elephants on the continent, spreading its exuberant beauty in ideal reserves to see elephants in freedom as Minneriya, sea turtle farms, whale watching or parks nationals as exciting as Yala.
Located to the south of the tear of India and formed by five blocks (of which two are open to the public), this orchard hides in its interior 44 species of mammals and 215 of birds, being the leopard the great star, presenting one of the highest densities of its kind in the whole world.
Make the Palace on Wheels train booking online and confirm your seats in advance. Pure nature among wetlands, monsoon forests, plateaus, beaches and jungle where the colors roar. Undoubtedly, one of the best places to do a safari from all over the world.
