National Parks (Complete List)
Forest & Wildlife · राष्ट्रीय उद्यान (पूरी सूची)
📋Quick Overview
India has 106 National Parks (as of 2023) covering about 1.23% of the country's geographical area. National Parks offer the highest level of protection — no human habitation, no grazing, and no rights are allowed. The first NP was Jim Corbett (1936), the largest is Hemis (Ladakh, 4,400 sq km), and the smallest is South Button Island NP (Andaman & Nicobar, 0.03 sq km). Andaman & Nicobar Islands has the most NPs (9).
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Jim Corbett NP (established 1936 as Hailey NP) = India's FIRST National Park + India's FIRST Tiger Reserve (1973). Valley of Flowers NP (Uttarakhand) = UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hemis NP (Ladakh) = home to snow leopard + largest NP.
📖Important National Parks — State-wise
| State/UT | Key National Parks | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Uttarakhand | Jim Corbett (1st NP, 1936), Rajaji, Valley of Flowers (UNESCO), Nanda Devi (UNESCO) | Tigers, Flowers, Snow peaks |
| Rajasthan | Ranthambore, Sariska, Keoladeo (Bharatpur, UNESCO World Heritage) | Tigers, Birds |
| Gujarat | Gir (only Asiatic Lions), Marine NP (Gulf of Kutch), Blackbuck NP (Velavadar) | Lions, Sea life, Blackbuck |
| Madhya Pradesh | Kanha, Bandhavgarh (highest tiger density in old estimates), Pench, Panna, Satpura, Van Vihar | Tigers, Barasingha |
| Assam | Kaziranga (1-horned rhino + UNESCO), Manas (UNESCO), Nameri, Orang, Dibru-Saikhowa | Rhino, Tiger, Elephants |
| West Bengal | Sundarbans (UNESCO, mangrove tigers), Gorumara (rhino), Buxa, Singalila, Neora Valley | Mangrove tigers, Rhino |
| Kerala | Periyar (famous elephant NP), Eravikulam (Nilgiri Tahr), Silent Valley, Pampadam Shola | Elephants, Nilgiri Tahr |
| Ladakh/J&K | Hemis (Largest NP, snow leopard), Dachigam (Hangul) | Snow leopard, Hangul |
| Andaman & Nicobar | Mahatma Gandhi (Wandoor), Saddle Peak, Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar), South Button (Smallest NP) | Sea turtles, Marine life |
📝Records & Special Facts
- •Most NPs in one state/UT: Andaman & Nicobar Islands (9); followed by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra (6 each)
- •Keibul Lamjao NP (Manipur): World's only floating national park; located on Loktak Lake; habitat of Sangai (brow-antlered deer = Manipur's State Animal)
- •Valley of Flowers NP (Uttarakhand) + Nanda Devi NP = UNESCO World Heritage Site (combined as 'Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers NPs'); also Biosphere Reserve