Up until this point, many of you might have the picture of India where you don’t think that there are so many wildlife sanctuaries in the country, but in actuality, there are as many as 570+ wildlife sanctuaries that are well recognized. And sure enough, out of these many, there are certainly some that are more diverse, bigger, and well-protected than others, and that is precisely what we’re here to talk about in this list of the Top 10 Wildlife Sanctuaries In India 2026.
1. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Whenever there is a discussion about the overall national parks of India, without a single doubt, there is no way you can just skip past without even mentioning Kaziranga National Park. Yes, it is that much special. Going a little more in depth about the special things, see, internationally, this national park is known for providing a sanctuary to the largest number of one-horned rhinoceroses in the world, the count of which has now exceeded 2,400. And yes, besides just rhinos, the park is pretty diverse in wildlife, like a significant number of Royal Bengal Tigers, wild buffaloes, elephants, and swamp deer. Other than that, more than 500 bird species are found in this one as well.
2. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett had to be one of the most special wildlife parks in the country, like in fact, this national park is the oldest in the country and where Project Tiger was first initiated. Being set up in 1936, the park hasn’t stopped playing a crucial role in tiger conservation till now. Surrounding an area at the base of the Himalayas, Corbett covers a mix of dense forests, rivers, and grasslands. It is mainly famous for its very good Bengal tiger population and also elephants, leopards, sloth bears, and more than 500 bird species.
3. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
The Sundarbans wildlife sanctuary is completely different from any other in the country. It is the world’s largest mangrove forest and definitely one of the most difficult habitats for wildlife survival in the world. The gigantic forest is spread over the delta of the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna. The forest does not only consist of Royal Bengal Tigers, but this species also happens to be the most recognizable one as these tigers are swimming through tidal waters and living in mangrove ecosystems.
4. Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
Gir National Park is a proud holder of a unique title that no other wildlife sanctuary in the world can claim, like it is the exclusive natural abode of Asiatic lions. This fact alone makes Gir a very significant wildlife conservation area on the globe. As the Asiatic lions were once almost extinct, they have now revived successfully here, and their number is currently over 700.
5. Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
If we specifically talk about the best-managed tiger reserves in the country, no doubt, we must talk about Kanha Tiger Reserve, in that case, which is down there in Madhya Pradesh. And as a matter of fact, this one ranks as one of the biggest national parks in Central India and is distinguished by its vast open meadows and thick sal forests. Other than that, yes, it is also special for the revival of the hard-ground barasingha, a species that was almost extinct.
6. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
This has to be one of the most iconic national parks, especially considering the fact that it is there in the state of Rajasthan. To be more specific about the location, well, the park is located near Sawai Madhopur and is known for its dry forests, lakes, and ruins of the old fort. Formerly a royal hunting ground, Ranthambore was declared a Project Tiger reserve in 1973. Currently, it has over 60 tigers and is also inhabited by leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, and different species of deer.
7. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
Going a bit down south on the Indian subcontinent, there is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. And yes, talking about the special things, the sanctuary is home to diverse wildlife such as tigers, elephants, gaurs, Nilgiri langurs, and more than 250 species of birds. The main attraction of this place is the Periyar Lake, which offers serene boat rides during which animals can frequently be spotted coming down to the water.
8. Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
Bandipur is one of the oldest tiger reserves in India and a significant component of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It adjoins several other forests, and together they form a huge wildlife corridor in the southern part of India. The park is famous for the large number of tigers and elephants that live there.
9. Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Once more, we’re in Madhya Pradesh, this time looking at Satpura National Park. The area here, consisting of hills, forests, rivers, and harsh terrain, is a habitat for leopards, sloth bears, sambar deer, and a variety of birds. There are tigers, but they are quite elusive; in this way, the ecosystem remains in balance.
10. Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve, Rajasthan
Among the most distinctive wildlife spots in India is Jawai Bandh. Instead of a forest, the place comprises granite hills and rocky caves that are natural shelters for leopards. The calm co-existence between humans and animals is what draws attention to Jawai. The fact that wild leopards here share space with villagers without any conflict is a piece of harmony that one hardly finds anywhere else in the country. Besides leopards, the place also accommodates crocodiles, hyenas, and numerous migratory birds.
Conclusion
If you have a particular interest in wildlife overall, then no doubt, while you’re already in India, why not take a tour of these wildlife sanctuaries and get to know the wildlife diversity of our own land? That seems like a super good idea already.