If you are in Wayanad on your Kerala tour, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a must visit. The sanctuary is part of the Wayanad plateu and is home to tigers, leopards, elephants and a number of other animals. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located 16 kilometres east of Sultan’s Battery and is also known as Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is adjacent to Bandipur National Park, which is in Karnataka and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is rich in bio diversity. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of deciduous forest. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a number of animals that include monkeys, Elephant, Panther, jungle cat, tiger, civet cat, wild dog, deer, bear and bison. The sanctuary also has large number of birds. Some of the birds that you can watch on your tour to Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary like peacock, owl, bablers, wood pecker, cuckoos and jungle fowl.

Established in 1973, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous to the protected area network of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka on the northeast and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu on the southeast. Rich in bio diversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve , which has been established with the specific objective of conserving the biological heritage of the region. The sanctuary is rich in flora and fauna. The management lays emphasis on scientific conservation with due consideration for the general lifestyle of the tribals and others who live in and around the forest. Elephant, spotted deer. Bison, tiger, cheetah, wild bear etc. can be spotted here. Elephant rides are arranged by the Forest department.

Wayanad’ literally means the ‘land of swamps’, the sanctuary is mostly covered with moist deciduous teak forests and pastures of semi-evergreen trees. The rich flora consist of Teak, Bamboo, Maruthu, Karimarithi, Rosewood, Venteak, Vengal, Chadachi, Mazukanjirarn, etc. Veteria indica, lagerstroemia, lanceolta, terminalia paniculata etc. are common in the semi evergreen patches.

Before feeding the young, the bird gives a special kind of call to its young ones, perching on a nearby tree as if signaling them to come to the entrance of the nest to receive the food. The nests are found to be almost two and a half meter long inside, a peculiar to this species. The nest and the chicks are highly vulnerable to attack of snakes.

Besides the wild ass, the wildlife consists of rare and endangered Ghudkhur (Equs hemionus khur) not found anywhere else in the world. Others, such as the Blue-Bull, Chinkara, Hedgehog and carnivores such as the Wolf, Jackal, Fox, Jungle and Desert Cats can also be found here in large numbers. A variety of birds – almost three hundred species, can be seen in and around the Rann during winter. Cranes and Flamingos can be seen in thousands. Rare birds such as the Houbara Bustard, Falcons, a large number and species of larks and other arid region birds can be seen. Reptiles such as snakes, tortoises, lizards, are also found. Watch towers, a tourist complex and other tourist related facilities are in place to enhance wildlife viewing in this unique habitat.

As for speed and stamina, there is no one in the animal kingdom to match the wild ass as they are capable of marathon runs at a pace of about 24 km/h for as long as two hours, reaching a top speed of 70 km/h over short distances. The wild ass is a strong animal and a stallion will fight viciously for the possession of the mare in the mating season. The combatants rear up on their hindlegs, and kick and bite viciously. After mating one fowl is born between July and September.

In India the Indian wild ass represents the horse tribe. In the Little Rann of Kutch, the asses are attracted by the flat grass covered expanses known as bets or islands where coarse grasses spring up In monsoon. With the advent of summer, the asses move to oilier bets in which there is perennial supply of water and grass.

Sundarbans is an ideal place for ornithologists and bird watchers. Sajnekhali is a perfect place to enjoy bird watching. There are a number of water birds in the Sajnekhali bird sanctuary. Some of the birds are Asian openbill stork, greater adjutant stork, black-necked stork, white-collared kingfisher, white ibis, swamp francolin, black-capped kingfisher and brown-winged kingfisher. The area has number of watchtowers, which are ideal points to enjoy bird watching.

Sunderbans is home to nearly 200 Royal Bengal tigers. Part of the forest lies in Bangladesh and it is estimated that the combined population of tigers in the region could be about 400. Adapting itself to the saline and watery environment, the tigers at the park are good swimmers.

Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary is also important for waders, including the Asian dowitcher, a rare winter migrant. Interesting marsh birds found in the reclaimed areas include egrets, purple heron, which is a rare vagrant from Africa, and green-backed heron.

Located in the Kundali Hills of the Western Ghats, the Silent Valley Wildlife Sanctuary holds a valuable reserve of rare plants and herbs. The park is rich in its wildlife, and elephants, lion-tailed macaques and tigers are the most common denizens of this park. A visit to Silent Valley Wildlife Sanctuary should be considered a lifetime experience, as this is the last representative virgin tract of tropical evergreen forests in India.

Silent Valley National Park is called Sairandhrivanam (the forest in the valley). There are four distinct types of vegetation in this biodiversity intensive area. The rain forest has moist tropical evergreen trees with teak, rosewood, amla, bamboo and semal. Apart from this there are tropical hill forests, temperate forests and grasslands. The wildlife in Silent Valley National Park includes elephants, tigers, leopards, wild boar, sambhar, gaur and the endangered lion-tailed macaque. There are also a number of snake, lizard and amphibian species in the Silent Valley National Park.

Located just 40 km from Mannarkkad in Palakkad district of Kerala, Silent Valley National Park is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries of South India. The Silent Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its extremely fragile eco-system, as it has a rich preserve of virgin tropical evergreen rain forests teeming with an amazing variety of wildlife. Considered the core of the famous Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Silent Valley National Park spreads on an area over 90 sq km. The Silent Valley Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a national park in 1980 in order to protect its highly fragile eco-system.

Shivpuri, in north Madhya Pradesh, was once the summer capital of the Scindias of Gwalior. Earlier, its impenetrable forests were the playgrounds of the Mughal emperors who hunted wild animals for pleasure.and profit.

Shivpuri’s royal ambience lives on in the exquisite palaces and hunting lodges and graceful, intricately-embellished marble chhatris (cenotaphs) erected by the Scindia princes.

Shivpuri is steeped in the royal legacy of its past, when it was summer capital of the Scindia rulers of Gwalior. And earher, its dense forests were the hunting grounds of the Mughal emperors when great herds of elephants were captured by Emperor Akhar.

Shivpuri remained with the Kachhawaha Rajputs upto 1804 when it was taken over by Scindia’s. It was captured by the English in 1817 but returned to Scindia’s next year and it continued to be a part of Gwalior state since then. In 1859 it is said that the great Indian leader Tatya Tope was hanged near the present Collectorate. Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia paid much attention towards the development of Shivpuri. He constructed a big palace and also developed the city. It was the summer capital of Gwalior State and government offices were shifted here in summer months.

Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is counted among the finest wildlife sanctuaries of India. The only known home of the world-famous Asiatic Lions in Asia, Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Indian state of Gujarat. Spread over an area of approximately 1,412 sq km, Sasangir Wildlife Sanctuary has been home to Asiatic Lions since 1884. Due to a severe drought and excessive hunting in the beginning of the 20th century, this majestic creature reached on the verge of extinction. Thanks to the efforts made by the then Nawab of Junagadh, who banned all hunting in the area, they survived and their number started to grow slowly. After independence of the country, the government of India also paid special attention towards their conservation and on 18th September 1965 the area was declared a protected Forest Reserve. Sasangir Wildlife Sanctuary attained the status of a National Park in 1975. In addition to Sasan Gir Forest Reserve, Sasangir National Park is made up of three adjoining reserves – the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary inhabiting a wide variety of water birds; the Little Rann of Kutch, famous for the Indian Wild Ass; and the captivating Flamingo Island, making Sasan Gir a perfect wildlife destination. Popularly known as Gir National Park, the sanctuary attracts thousands of wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world. According to recent surveys, the number of Asiatic Lions in Sasangir National Park stands around 327 (May 2002).

The Sanctuary is also home to the leopard, hyena, jungle cat, cheetal (spotted deer), sambhar, nilgai (blue bull), chousingha (four-horned antelope) and wild boar. The forest also boasts of 200 species of birds that include the crested serpent eagles, white-eyed buzzard, hawk eagles and sparrow hawks. It is therefore a bird watchers delight. There is also a centre where crocodiles are being reared.

India Wildlife Portal offers you tour booking for Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. For more information or to book a Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary Tour, please enter your query in the form below.

Summers in Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (April – June) have high temperatures around 38. 40°C. The monsoon season is not marked by very heavy rainfall because of which the fall in temperature is not more than a few degrees. Even then, many people prefer to travel to Sariska, for, due to the heat, the wild animals are found hovering around the jungle’s water spots. Weather, however, becomes chilly in winters (October-March).

The Sariska wildlife sanctuary has a wide range of Tigers, Leopards, Wild Dogs, Nilgai, Wild-boar, Fox, Gaur, Sambar, Chital, Hyena and four horned Antelope. Though the tigers in Sariska are the most endangered species, they can be seen roaming freely in the park.

Sariska Tiger Reserve lies in the Alwar district of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is a prime a tiger country. The forest is typical dry deciduous, dramatically changing with the change in season. The terrain is undulating – plateaus and wide valleys. Besides tiger, herbivores like spotted deer, sambar and blu bull are commonly seen and found in a good density at Sarska.

Sariska is situated off the Delhi-Alwar-Jaipur Road. The nearest town is Alwar (21 km). Jaipur is located at a distance of 110 km and Delhi at 200Kms. There are direct buses to Alwar from Delhi and Jaipur. Frequent buses travel between Alwar and Sariska.

The Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many carnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal and Tiger. Apart from the carnivores, Sariska also inhabits Sambar, Chitel, Nilgai, Chausingha, Wild Boar and Langur. Sariska is also famous for its large population of Rhesus Monkeys, which are seen in large groups around Talvriksh.

The Sanjay Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is a paradise for the bird watchers of Mumbai. Despite receiving the highest number of visitors, the park has a large number of bird species like jungle owlets, golden orioles, racket-tailed drongos, minivets, magpies, robins, hornbills, bulbuls, sunbirds, peacock, and woodpeckers. At many times, migratory and resident birds like paradise flycatcher, kingfisher, mynas, drongos, swifts, gulls, egrets, and herons have also been seen at Sanjay Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park, better known as “Borivali National Park” is set in hill ranges around the suburb of Borivali in Mumbai. Notified in 1974, it offers a pleasant change from the usual sights and attractions of the big city. It is hence common to see the park teeming with school picnics, college picnics and other organized excursions.

Sambar has tropical climate with temperature touching 45°C in summer and dipping below 10°C during winter. October to March is an ideal time to visit Sambar Lake, however it is better to find out the climate of the area before heading for Sambar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Like most other north Indian places, Sambhar too has a tropical climate. The summers can be very hot with mercury crossing 45°C, whereas winters are moderately chilled and the temperature can fall below 10°C.

Sambar, which means salt, has a long history that goes back to over a century, when the salt was extracted from the lake. Over period of time a number of rulers were in possession of the lake and in 1870 the lake was leased to the British. After independence, the lake came under the control of government and is now managed by Sambar Salts Ltd and Government of Rajasthan. The lake is roughly elliptical in shape and is divided into two sections by a five kilometres long stone dam.

Ranganathittu is the home for an astonishing variety of exotic birds from as far away as Siberia, Australia, North America, Middle East, Egypt, China, Africa, Europe and many other places. These birds migrate from their home for their annual Indian breeding holiday. Cranes, Herons, Pelicans, Darters, Spoon bills, King fishers, Open bill Stork, White Ibis, Little Egret, Darter, Pond Cattle-Egret, Corniorant, varieties of Wild Ducks, Peafowl and Partridges are some of the notable natural ambassadors. These exotic birds migrate from distant places, roost and breed here with the local fauna during the winter months and fly back with their young ones, every year. Wild fowls and other forest birds are found in plenty among existing wildlife.

The sanctuary, even though it lacks a sprawling area, is a delightful place to visit. What makes it inviting is that it is an important Asian nesting and breeding ground for migratory birds from all across the earth. Some species of birds that are known to have made Ranganathittu their breeding abode are spoonbills, open bill storks, darters, white Ibis, little cormorants, egret, heron, partridge, river tern, stone plougher, snake bird, and other exotic bird species that fly to the sanctuary in large flocks. Park officials and experts have traced the origins of some of these bird species to as far as Siberia, Australia and even North America. A record number of 1,400 painted storks visited the area in 1999. 2000. Local inhabitants like kingfishers and peacocks are also found in this avian bliss.

Ranganathittu is a tranquil spot away from the city. It treats you to some glorious sights and surprises. A basket of visual delights – crocodiles basking under the sun, otters running free, flocks of birds gathered on tiny islands and so on. A leisure walk around the sanctuary fills the eyes with the variety of birds, fauna and flora. The sun peeps through the thick growth of trees and the air is refreshed with the thyme. The wind whistles while passing the bamboo growth, producing natural music. Even the thick jade coloured moss in the rivulets’ banks is a sight to behold. The view from the bird-watch house gives a momentary feeling of satisfaction of being one with nature. Hence, Ranaganathittu is truly a nature lover’s paradise and a must-see place.

Wildlife India Tours offers complete information on wildlife in India. There are a number of wildlife tour packages on offer from Wildlife India Tours. To book wildlife tour package in India or a wildlife tour to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, all you have to do is just fill up the form given below.