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From Snow Leopards to Sea Turtles: India’s Top 10 Wildlife Reserves You Must Visit

From snow leopard sanctuaries in the Himalayas to sea turtle nesting beaches, explore India’s top 10 wildlife reserves worth visiting.

August 13, 2025 / 17:03 IST
1. Hemis National Park, Ladakh A breathtaking high-altitude reserve, Hemis is the world’s best site to spot the elusive snow leopard in its natural habitat. Alongside these majestic cats, you can see blue sheep, golden eagles, and rare Himalayan wildlife, all set against dramatic mountain landscapes. (Image: Canva)
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1. Hemis National Park, Ladakh
A breathtaking high-altitude reserve, Hemis is the world’s best site to spot the elusive snow leopard in its natural habitat. Alongside these majestic cats, you can see blue sheep, golden eagles, and rare Himalayan wildlife, all set against dramatic mountain landscapes. (Image: Canva)
2. Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh Nestled in the Spiti Valley, Kibber offers a raw and untouched wilderness where snow leopards roam free. It’s also home to Himalayan ibex, Tibetan wolves, and vibrant mountain bird species, making it a paradise for photographers and nature lovers. (Image: Canva)
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2. Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh
Nestled in the Spiti Valley, Kibber offers a raw and untouched wilderness where snow leopards roam free. It’s also home to Himalayan ibex, Tibetan wolves, and vibrant mountain bird species, making it a paradise for photographers and nature lovers. (Image: Canva)
3. Gir National Park, Gujarat The only place on Earth where the Asiatic lion still roams wild, Gir is a conservation success story. Safari through dry deciduous forests and grasslands to see lions, leopards, striped hyenas, and an incredible variety of bird species. (Image: Canva)
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3. Gir National Park, Gujarat
The only place on Earth where the Asiatic lion still roams wild, Gir is a conservation success story. Safari through dry deciduous forests and grasslands to see lions, leopards, striped hyenas, and an incredible variety of bird species. (Image: Canva)
4. Kaziranga National Park, Assam A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kaziranga is famous for its thriving population of one-horned rhinoceroses. Vast grasslands and wetlands host wild elephants, swamp deer, and migratory birds, offering unforgettable wildlife safaris along the Brahmaputra River. (Image: Canva)
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4. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kaziranga is famous for its thriving population of one-horned rhinoceroses. Vast grasslands and wetlands host wild elephants, swamp deer, and migratory birds, offering unforgettable wildlife safaris along the Brahmaputra River. (Image: Canva)
5. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal The world’s largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans is home to swimming Bengal tigers adapted to this unique terrain. You’ll also encounter saltwater crocodiles, spotted deer, and hundreds of bird species in its tidal waterways. (Image: Canva)
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5. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
The world’s largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, is home to swimming Bengal tigers adapted to this unique terrain. You’ll also encounter saltwater crocodiles, spotted deer, and hundreds of bird species in its tidal waterways. (Image: Canva)
6. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala Located in the lush Western Ghats, Periyar is famous for its elephant herds and peaceful boat safaris on Periyar Lake. The dense forests are also home to gaurs, sambar deer, and an impressive diversity of birdlife. (Image: Canva)
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6. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
Located in the lush Western Ghats, Periyar is famous for its elephant herds and peaceful boat safaris on Periyar Lake. The dense forests are also home to gaurs, sambar deer, and an impressive diversity of birdlife. (Image: Canva)
7. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand One of the most pristine wilderness areas in India, this UNESCO reserve is rich in biodiversity. Trekking here reveals snow leopards, musk deer, Himalayan tahr, and stunning views of snow-clad peaks. (Image: Canva)
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7. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand
One of the most pristine wilderness areas in India, this UNESCO reserve is rich in biodiversity. Trekking here reveals snow leopards, musk deer, Himalayan tahr, and stunning views of snow-clad peaks. (Image: Canva)
8. Netrani Island, Karnataka Known as the “heart-shaped island,” Netrani is a diver’s paradise in the Arabian Sea. Its crystal-clear waters are home to sea turtles, reef sharks, dolphins, and colourful corals, offering world-class snorkeling and scuba diving experiences. (Image: Canva)
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8. Netrani Island, Karnataka
Known as the “heart-shaped island,” Netrani is a diver’s paradise in the Arabian Sea. Its crystal-clear waters are home to sea turtles, reef sharks, dolphins, and colourful corals, offering world-class snorkelling and scuba diving experiences. (Image: Canva)
9. Rushikulya Beach, Odisha Each year, thousands of olive ridley turtles come ashore here during mass nesting events called arribadas. Witnessing this natural spectacle under the starlit sky is a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience. (Image: Canva)
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9. Rushikulya Beach, Odisha
Each year, thousands of olive ridley turtles come ashore here during mass nesting events called arribadas. Witnessing this natural spectacle under the starlit sky is a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience. (Image: Canva)
10. Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha A vast coastal wetland with lush mangroves, Bhitarkanika shelters one of the largest populations of saltwater crocodiles in India. You can also see kingfishers, herons, and nesting olive ridley turtles in this biodiverse haven. (Image: Canva)
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10. Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha
A vast coastal wetland with lush mangroves, Bhitarkanika shelters one of the largest populations of saltwater crocodiles in India. You can also see kingfishers, herons, and nesting olive ridley turtles in this biodiverse haven. (Image: Canva)
Nivritti Khatri
first published: Aug 13, 2025 04:57 pm

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