India is a fascinating destination in which a wildlife enthusiast can observe many rare and exotic animals, birds, marine life, reptiles and insects on tours to India.

The national parks of India cover various geographic regions from desert scrub jungle to the Himalayan snow line and from tropical forests to coral reefs.


Royal Bengal Tiger:
One of the most attractive rare and endangered animals that you will see in India, is the Royal Bengal Tiger. This majestic beast lives in protected national parks across India. Some of the best places to see it are Ranthambore and Sariska national parks in Rajasthan and Corbett National Park in Uttaranchal. Threatened by poachers who kill the tiger for its splendid striped pelt and bones, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine, the tiger is protected in India where its population has recovered after Project Tiger was implemented in the 1970's.


Great Indian Rhinoceros:
The ponderous Great Indian Rhinoceros can be seen in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam in Northeastern India. Gravely endangered because it was hunted by poachers for its single horn, which is considered an aphrodisiac, the Indian Rhinoceros is protected but is still threatened by habitat loss and the annual flooding of Kaziranga National Park.


Asiatic Lion:
The Asiatic Lion can be seen in India where the last surviving Asiatic Lions in the wild live in the Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat. The survival of this small population of lions, around 300 in number is the result of strenuous conservation efforts by the local ruler the Nawab of Junagadh, and the government of India who declared the Gir Forest a national park in 1965. The headquarters of the park is a 4 km Gir Interpretation Zone where you're almost sure to see a lion, when you visit Gir on your India travel itinerary.


Snow Leopard:
This magnificent beast, which is very difficult to see because its natural habitat is along the Himalayan snowline, is also an extremely endangered species. Snow leopards can be seen in zoos at the Dachigam wildlife sanctuary in Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir, India.


There are many more rare and exotic creatures that you can see on wildlife tours of India. Many species of deer including chital black buck, bara singha (or 12 antlered deer), sambhar, nilgai, nilgiri tahr, and mountain goats such as Markhor and Ghoral.


Birds including storks, cranes, flamingos and pelicans can be seen in India. Kingfishers, woodpeckers, and pigeons are commonly seen even in cities. Many migratory birds travel to India to spend the winter here. Many reptiles including monitor lizards, snakes such as the King Cobra and Indian rock python, live in the forests of India. Monkeys, sloth bears, porcupines, squirrels and mongoose can be seen on wildlife tours to India.


A wealth of wildlife waits to be discovered by you on wildlife tours to India.