National Park

National Parks
National parks are areas that the national government protects by its
own constitutional laws or acts in order to preserve natural
ecosystems, including geographical conditions, land topography, and
special natural habitats.
Central Government Act:
National parks are declared in India under Section 35(4) in The Wild
Life (Protection) Act, 1972 which regulates the protection of wild
animals, birds and plants.
As per the Act, An area, whether within a sanctuary or not, is, by
reason of its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological or zoological
association or importance, to be constituted as a National Park
 The State Government via notification, has all rights to issue the
protected area to be notified as National Parks.
 The issued boundaries by the state government will not be altered
except on a recommendation of the National Board.
 There are no human activities allowed inside the park including
exploiting the forest produce, destroying or damaging the wild animals,
stopping or changing the flow of water inside it.
 The Central Government also has the power to declare areas as
sanctuaries or National Parks under WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972.
First National Park in India:
 Jim Corbett National Park is India’s First National park, located in
Nainital District, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, established in 1936.
Tally of National Parks in India:
 There are 106 existing national parks in India covering an area of
44,372.42 km2, which is 1.35% of the geographical area of the country
(National Wildlife Database, May. 2022).
 Madhya Pradesh(11) is the state with the highest number of national
parks in the country followed by Assam(7). The Union Territory(UT) of
Andaman and Nicobar has 9 national parks.
Largest National Park in India:
 Hemis National Park is the largest National Park in India, located in
Ladakh with a protected area covering over 4400 sq. km.
  It is the second largest continuous protected area in India, after Nanda
Devi Biosphere Reserve.
Smallest National Park in India:
 South Button Island National Park is the smallest National Park in
India, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, covering an area of
5 sq. km.
Newly Tagged National Park in India:
 The most recent national park to be added to India is Raimona Reserve
Forest and Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Assam.
International Definition of National Parks:
In 1969, The International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN), an
International Organisation, defined National Park as “a relatively large
area where one or several ecosystems are not materially altered by
human exploitation and occupation”
After the Second World War, there arose a concept, simply known as
the development of the global conservation movement, to establish
protected areas to maintain the sustainability and safety of our
environment.
 1959 - UN Economic and Social Council(ECOSOC) recognized that
“national parks and equivalent reserves are important factors in the
wise use of natural resources”.
 1962 - IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)
presented the “World List of National Parks and Equivalent Reserves”,
the first version of the now familiar “United Nations(UN) List of
protected areas” at the First World Conference on National Parks,
Seattle.
 1966 - By using the simple classification of ‘national parks’, ‘scientific
reserves’, and ‘natural monuments’, IUCN released the second list.
 1969 - The definition of National Parks was officially announced at
IUCN General Assembly in New Delhi.
 Name Location Highlights

Andaman & Nicobar Islands 9

Campbell Bay Island of Great Habitants: Giant Robber Crab and the
National Parks Nicobar Nicobar pigeon

Habitants: the leatherback Turtle,

Galathea Bay Island of Great
Giant Robber Crab and Nicobar
National Parks Nicobar
pigeon

Mahatma Gandhi
Habitants: Exquisite coral reef, and
Marine (Wandoor) South Andaman
colorful fishes
National Parks

Middle Button
Island National Andaman –
Parks

Mount Harriet Habitants: Andaman wild pigs and

Port Blair
National Parks saltwater crocodiles

North Button
Island National Andaman Habitants: Dugong and Dolphin
Parks

Rani Jhansi Marine Habitants: Fruit-eating Bat, Crocodiles

Andaman
National Parks and Dugong

Saddle Peak Habitants: Rare species of Flora and

Andaman
National Parks Fauna, Wild Pig & Horseshoe Bat

South Button Habitants: Giant Robber Crab and the

Island National Andaman Nicobar pigeon
Parks Smallest National Park in India

Andhra Pradesh 6

Rajiv Gandhi
(Rameswaram)Kadapa –
National Park

Godavari River flows Became a home for the leopard

Papikonda National through the park. cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in
Park
the Eastern Ghats.

Sri Venkateswara The park is known for Biosphere reserve that occupies
National its many waterfalls,
 including the
Talakona,
Gundalakona and
Gunjana.
Park(biosphere around 350 square kilometer area of
The critically
reserve) eastern ghats
endangered Oriental
white-backed vulture is
found in the national
park.

Mrugavani NP Chilkoor –

Mahavir Harina
Hyderabad –
Vanasthali NP

Kasu Brahmananda
Hyderabad –
Reddy NP

Arunachal Pradesh 2

Mouling National Ornamental plants like

–
park foxtail, orchids

It is only park in the

World to have the four
Feline species of big cat
namely the Tiger
Namdapha (Panthera Tigris), Leopard
–
National Park (Panthera Pardus), Snow
Leopard (Panthera Uncia)
and Clouded Leopard
(Neofelis Nebulosa) and
numbers of Lesser cats

Assam 7

The Kaziranga National Largest undivided representative area

park is famous for the of the Brahmaputra valley.
Indian Great one- It was declared as the UNESCO world
Kaziranga National
horned Rhinoceros heritage sites
Park
therefore it is regarded
as a Rhino home in the The Endemic animal is one-
horned rhinoceroses
country.
  The Park is
renowned for
natural
regeneration of
Salix trees.
 Originally created
for the
conservation of
WHITE WINGED
WOOD DUCK
HABITAT. Its also
famous for bright
Dibru – Saikhowa It is also a Biosphere Reserve, unique
coloured wild
National Park habitat endemic to Dibru-Saikhowa
horses known as
FERRAL HORSES.
 Also said to be 2nd
Largest River Island
NP in the World.
 Kekjori tree present
here is often
referred as largest
immortal tree
specie in the world.
 Its also bird
watchers paradise

The park is well known It is also a Tiger reserve & WLS

for species of rare and recognised as a World Heritage Site.
endangered wildlife that
are not found anywhere
Manas National
else in the world like
Park It is also the core area of Chirang Ripu
the Assam roofed
Elephant Reserve
turtle, hispid
hare, golden
langur and pygmy hog.

Nameri National It is also the core area of Nameri Tiger

Park Reserve

oldest game reserve of Assam

Orang National
Park an important breeding ground for
varieties of Fishes.

Dehing Patkai NP WHITE WINGED WOOD –

 DUCK, the State Bird of
Assam for which the park
is justly famous.

Raimona National Park is

famous for golden
langur, an endemic
Raimona NP species (with Bhutan) –
which has been named as
the mascot of Bodoland
region.

Bihar 1

The Valmiki National

Valmiki National
Park is famous for A part of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Park
Tigers

Chhattisgarh 3

Home to one of the

last remaining
Indravati (Kutru) As of 2022, the park is reported to be
populations of the
National Park largely under Naxal control –
endangered wild
water buffalo.

Home of the Bastar

Kanger Valley
hill myna, the state –
National Park
bird of Chhattisgarh.

Guru GhasiDas Part of the national park is located in

National Park aka Singrauli districts of Madhya Pradesh
Sanjay National which is known as Sanjay National
Parka Park

Goa 1

Mollem National Sanguem, The core area of the Bhagwan Mahavir

Park Dharbandora Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as a
National Park.

Popularly known as Bhagwan Mahavir

Wildlife Sanctuary & Mollem National
Park.

Features attractions like 12th century

Tambdi Surla temple, Devil’s Canyon,
 Sunset Point

Gujarat 4

Gir National Park in

Created in 1913 to protect the
Gir National Park Gujarat is famous for
surviving groups of Asiatic lions.
Asiatic lions.

Blackbuck National
Velavadar, Bhavnagar The Endemic animal is Blackbuck
Park

Marine National The Endemic animals present in this

Gulf of Kutch, Dwarka
Park park are dolphin, dugong and barolo

Vansda National
Navsari Created in 1979
Park

Haryana 2

Sultanpur National formerly known as Sultanpur Bird

Gurgaon
Park Sanctuary

Kalesar National
Yamunanagar –
Park

Himachal Pradesh 5

A part of the UNESCO world Heritage

Great Himalayan
Kullu site.The Endemic animal present in
National Park
this park is snow leopards

only National Park in Himachal

Pin Valley National
Spiti Pradesh which is situated in the cold
Park
desert area with snow leopards

Khirganga National
Kullu –
Park

Inderkilla National
Kullu –
Park

Simbalbara
Sirmour –
National Park

Jammu & Kashmir 3

Dachigam National The Endemic animal is

Srinagar
Park snow leopards

Kishtwar National Kishtwar –

 Park

City forest (Salim

Srinagar –
Ali) National Park

Jharkhand 1

Betla National Park Latehar –

Karnataka 5

Anshi National which has been renamed as Kali Tiger

Uttara Kannada
Park Reserve.

Bandipur National
Chamarajanagar –
Park

Bannerghatta
National Bengaluru –
Park(BNP)

Kudremukh
Chikkamagaluru –
National Park

it was constituted as part of Mysore

Elephant Reserve

Nagarhole National renamed as “Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarhole)

Kodagu and Mysuru
Park National Park

It was recently considered a UNESCO

World Heritage Site.

Kerala 6

Eravikulam Anamudi, 2,695 Largest national park in Kerala,

National Park meters, the highest
peak in South India is One of the UNESCO sites in the
inside this park Western Ghats

Eravikulam is also
famous for the natural
habitat of Nilgiri
Tahr, the endangered
mountain goat and this
park is built with the
aim of conserving
 them.
Silent Valley is home
to the largest
Silent Valley population of lion- Located in Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve,
National Park tailed macaques, an the 1st biosphere reserve in India.
endangered species of
primate.

Pampadum Shola
Idukki Smallest national park in kerala
National Park

Mathikettan Shola Very important elephant corridor in

Idukki
National Park south India

Anamudi Shola
Idukki
National Park

Periyar (NP) Idukki and

It is notable as a tiger reserve.
National Park Pathanamthitta

Ladakh 1

India’s largest National Park.

Hemis National
Leh Well known for its population of snow
Park
leopards.

Madhya Pradesh 11

Dinosaur Fossil
Dhar Dinosaur fossils (eggs) are kept here
National Park

Van Vihar National

Bhopal –
Park

Panna National
Chhatarpur –
Park

Pench National
Seoni and Chhindwara –
Park

Part of the national park is located in

Sanjay National
Singrauli Koriya, Chhattisgarh is known as Guru
Park
GhasiDas National Park

Kanha national
largest national park of MP
park

Madhav National Shivpuri –

 Park

Satpura National
Hoshangabad –
Park

Kuno National Park Sheopur –

Fossil National
Dindori –
Park

Bandhavgarh
Umaria –
National Park

Maharashtra 6

Navegaon National Bhandara

–
Park (Gondia)

Entire area under the national park

Chandoli National along with Sahyadri Tiger reserve and
Sangli
Park Chandoli dam was declared as a
project tiger reserve in 2007

Gugamal National
Amaravati –
Park

Oldest and the biggest national park

Tadoba National of Maharashtra.
park (tiger Chandrapur
reserve) Also known as Tadoba Andhari Tiger
Reserve.

Declared as Borivali National Park in

Sanjay Gandhi
Mumbai 1968 and renamed as Sanjay Gandhi
National Park
National Park in 1981.

Pench (Jawaharlal
Declared a sanctuary in 1965 and
Nehru) National Nagpur
upgraded to a National Park in 1975.
Park

Manipur 2

Keibul-Lamjao the only floating National park in

Bishnupur
National Park the world

Sirohi National
Ukhrul
Park

Meghalaya 2
 Balphakram
South Garo Hills 2nd highest peak in the Garo Hills.
National Park

Nokrek Ridge core area of Nokrek Biosphere

West Garo Hills
National Park Reserve

Mizoram 2

Murlen National
Champhai –
Park

Phawngpui
Lawngtlai –
National Park

Nagaland 1

Intanki National
Peren –
Park

Orissa 2

2nd largest Mangrove ecosystems of

Bhitarkanika NP Kendrapara
India

Simlipal NP Mayurbhanj Endemic animal: Tiger Reserve

Rajasthan

unique and the only habitat of its type

Desert National in the Indian subcontinent and its end
Jaisalmer and Barmer
Park Endemic animals are great Indian
bustard Blackbuck and Chinkara

Keoladeo Ghana formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird

Bharatpur
National Park Sanctuary

one of the largest national parks in

Rajasthan

Ranthambore Established as Sawai Madhopur Game

Sawai Madhopur
National Park Sanctuary in 1955

Declared as a project tiger reserve in

1973 and as a national park in 1980.

Mukundara Hills
Kota –
National Park

Sikkim
Khangchendzonga UNESCO world heritage site.
North Sikkim
National Park India’s 1st Mixed Heritage site.

Tamil Nadu

Crocodile and butterfly park and its

Guindy National endemic animals are elephant,
Chennai
Park antelope, spotted deer, jungle cat,
toddy cat

Protected area of a group of 21 small

Gulf of Mannar Ramanathapuram &
islands and coral reefs in the Indian
Marine Park Tuticorin
ocean

One of the UNESCO sites in the

Mukurthi National Western Ghats
Nilgiris
Park It is previously known as Nilgiri Tahr
National Park.

Mudumalai
Nilgiris Endemic animal- Tiger
National Park

Telangana

Habitants:
KBR National Park Hyderabad Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Park
houses peacocks, butterflies etc.

Named after the Jains saint , Lord

Mahavir.
Mahavir Harina
Vanasthali National Hyderabad Habitants:
Park
chital-the spotted deer, black buck
and antelopes

Habitants:
Mrugavani National
Hyderabad Mongoose Monitor Lizard, Russell
Park
Viper and Cheetal

Tripura

Clouded Leopard Sepahijala Within the Sepahijala Wildlife

National Park Sanctuary

Habitants:
 Phayre’s langur and Clouded Leopard

Within the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary

Bison National Habitants:

South Tripura
Park
Indian gaur,pheasants and golden
langurs

Uttar Pradesh

It is part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Dudhwa National
Kheri and Lakhimpur Habitants:
Park
Tiger, Rhinoceros and Blue bull

Uttarakhand

One of the UNESCO World Heritage

sites in India

Habitants:
Nanda Devi
Chamoli
National Park Snow leopard (Panthera uncia),
Himalayan musk deer (Moschus
chrysogaster), Bharal (Pseudois
nayaur)

One of the UNESCO World Heritage

sites in India
Valley of Flowers Chamoli and
Habitants:
National Park Pithoragarh
Grey langur, flying squirrel and Indian
chevrotain

Rajaji National Haridwar, Dehradun, Habitants:

Park Pauri Garhwal Goral, Indian hare and Asian elephant.

Habitants:

Gangotri National blue sheep, Himalayan Monal and

Uttarkashi
Park Himalayan snowcock

Endemic animal:snow leopards

Govind National Habitants:

Uttarkashi
Park
Bharal, the Himalayan tahr and the
 serow

Habitants:
Jim Corbett Asiatic black bears, Indian gray
Nainital
National Park mongooses and nilgai (Indian
antelope).

West Bengal

Habitants:
Singalila National
Darjeeling barking deer, yellow-throated marten
Park
and pika

Habitants:

clouded leopard , red panda , and

Neora Valley
Kalimpong musk deer
National Park
One of the UNESCO World Heritage
sites in India

Habitants:
Buxa National Park Jalpaiguri Malayan Giant Squirrels, Mongooses,
Monitor Lizard

Habitants:
Gorumara National
Jalpaiguri One Horned
Park
Indian Rhino

Home to the Royal Bengal tiger, and

other endangered species like
Sundarban estuarine crocodile and Ganges River
South 24 Parganas
National Park dolphin.

Endemic animal: Bengal Tigers

Since 1895, this has been a reserve

Jaldapara National forest. It was declared as Wildlife
Jalpaiguri
Park Sanctuary in 1949 and declared as
National park in 1994.