Watching wild species is always a fun but looking for them across 80 national parks is always a tedious task. India has almost 80 national parks that have been maintained to provide safe and natural environment to the wild species. As it was not possible to visit all national parks in India, we visited only few and popular of them. About rest of the parks we just collected data from secondary sources in India only.

ndia's treasure of wildlife do not end in these elusive mammals- rather it is an inexhaustible repository of aves, reptiles, vertebrates and non-vertebrates which would take more than a life time for its full exploration.

In our month long stay in India we visited Corbett National Park, Sundarban National Park, Rantambore National Park. Some of the best national parks of India include the Great Himalayan National Park, Dachigam National Park near Srinagar, Corbett National Park in Uttar Pradesh, which is also a famous tiger reserve, Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, and Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal. One of my friends, Tom, have contributed his experience on Sariska, Ranthambore and Bharatpur. Incidentally he visited the Rajasthan just 3 months before my tour to India. In the eastern part of India, Kaziranga in the Assam is the best one.

At Ranthambore besides exploring wildlife we also visited Ranthambore Fort. The landscape of Ranthambore is dotted with ancient Banyan Trees, Dhok & Pipal trees, clusters of mango trees and crisscrossed with evergreen belts. The Sundarban region has got its name from Sundari trees, once found in abundance here. The attractions of Bandhavgarh include Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.

I can never forget how after a tedious day of jeep safari with my guide in Corbett National Park I saw the Indian tiger chasing its prey. As the deer ran for its life, swaying from side to side, the tiger was on a determined mission to sate his hunger. This is surely a lifetime experience for me. I should mention that the Indian Government has done a commendable job by launching the "Project Tiger" as a mission to protect this exquisite animal from the face of extinction.

It was time now for a close encounter with the Asiatic Lion. After a two day stint in Corbett I started for Gir, the last habitat of this king of the jungle. Gir is a specially protected area meant for the preservation of this endangered species. I came across quite a few number of this elusive beast roaming nonchalantly in the wooded forests.