India, known for its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, is home to some of the world’s most remarkable national parks. Spread across diverse landscapes—from the Himalayas to the coastal plains—these parks are not only havens for wildlife but also major attractions for eco-tourism and conservation. With over 100 national parks, India plays a vital role in protecting endangered species like the Bengal tiger, snow leopard, and one-horned rhinoceros.
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| Top 10 largest national parks in India |
1. Hemis National Park (Ladakh)
Area: 4,400 sq. km
Famous For: Snow leopards
Located in the cold desert of Ladakh, Hemis is the largest national park in India. It is famous worldwide as the “Snow Leopard Capital of the World.” Apart from snow leopards, it shelters the Tibetan wolf, Eurasian brown bear, and blue sheep.
2. Desert National Park (Rajasthan)
Area: 3,162 sq. km
Famous For: Great Indian Bustard
Situated near Jaisalmer, this park showcases the beauty of the Thar Desert. Though vegetation is sparse, the park supports unique wildlife such as desert foxes, monitor lizards, and eagles. It is one of the last strongholds of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.
3. Gangotri National Park (Uttarakhand)
Area: 2,390 sq. km
Famous For: Himalayan glaciers and snow leopards
Covering the upper catchment area of the Bhagirathi River, this high-altitude park offers breathtaking views of glaciers and alpine meadows. It is also home to musk deer, Himalayan tahr, and black bears.
4. Namdapha National Park (Arunachal Pradesh)
Area: 1,985 sq. km
Famous For: Four big cats (tiger, leopard, snow leopard, and clouded leopard)
Situated in the Eastern Himalayas, Namdapha is one of the most biodiverse regions in India. It is the only park in the country where all four big cats coexist.
5. Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim)
Area: 1,784 sq. km
Famous For: Mt. Khangchendzonga (third highest mountain in the world)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park combines glaciers, rivers, and high-altitude forests. It supports species like the red panda, Himalayan black bear, and snow leopard.
6. Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park (Chhattisgarh)
Area: 1,441 sq. km
Famous For: Tigers and leopards
Located in central India, this park forms a part of the larger Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve. Its mixed forests are rich in biodiversity and provide shelter to tigers, sloth bears, and wild dogs.
7. Gir Forest National Park (Gujarat)
Area: 1,412 sq. km
Famous For: Asiatic lions
Globally renowned as the last natural habitat of the Asiatic lion, Gir Forest is one of India’s most important conservation success stories. Other species include striped hyenas, jackals, and marsh crocodiles.
8. Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal)
Area: 1,330 sq. km
Famous For: Royal Bengal tigers and mangroves
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sundarbans is the world’s largest mangrove forest. The park is famous for its “swimming tigers” that adapt to saline waters. It also shelters estuarine crocodiles and fishing cats.
9. Indravati National Park (Chhattisgarh)
Area: 1,258 sq. km
Famous For: Wild water buffalo and tigers
Indravati is one of the finest tiger reserves in central India. Apart from tigers, it is home to endangered wild buffaloes, gaurs, and hill mynas.
10. Papikonda National Park (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana)
Area: 1,012 sq. km
Famous For: Leopards and Malabar pied hornbills
Situated along the Godavari River, this park is covered with tropical moist forests. It is home to tigers, leopards, and several endemic bird species, making it a paradise for wildlife lovers.
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