National Park is an area that is strictly reserved for the improvement of wildlife and biodiversity, where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting, and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Private ownerships are also restricted in these parks.
The first national park in India was Hailey National Park which was established in 1936, now it is known as Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand. By the year 1970, India only had five national parks.
India passed the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger in 1973 to safeguard the habitats of conservation-reliant species.
The Indian government declared a national park with adequate ecological, and natural significance. Their boundaries are well marked and defined. National Park’s emphasis is on the preservation of a single flora or fauna species. In India, you will find at least one national park in each state that displays the vivid flora and fauna of the region.
Largest National Park in India: Hemis National Park, Ladakh
Hemis National Park is a high-altitude national park situated in Ladakh, India. This national park is the largest in India and is globally famous for its snow leopards. Hemis is the only national park that is in the north of the Himalayas and is the second-largest connecting protected area, after the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and surrounding protected areas. The Park is home to several species of rare mammals, including the snow leopard.
The Park is circumscribed on the north by the banks of the Indus River, and parts of the Zanskar Range.
Smallest National Park in India: South Button Island National Park, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
South Button Island National Park is a national park located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Along with the neighboring islands of North Button national park and Middle Button national park, it forms part of the Rani Jhansi Marine National Park off the coast of South Andaman Island.
South Button National Park is the smallest National Park in India.
National Parks in India
Below is the state-wise list of National Parks in India:
| State/Union Territory | Total Parks | National Parks Name | Establishment Year |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 9 | Campbell Bay National Park | 1992 |
| Galathea Bay National Park | 1992 | ||
| Mahatma Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) National Park | 1982 | ||
| Middle Button Island National Park | 1987 | ||
| Mount Harriett National Park | 1987 | ||
| North Button Island National Park | 1987 | ||
| Rani Jhansi Marine National Park | 1996 | ||
| Saddle Peak National Park | 1987 | ||
| South Button Island National Park | 1987 | ||
| Andhra Pradesh | 3 | Papikonda National Park | 2008 |
| Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) National Park | 2005 | ||
| Sri Venkateswara National Park | 1989 | ||
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2 | Mouling National Park | 1986 |
| Namdapha National Park | 1983 | ||
| Assam | 5 | Dibru-Saikhowa National Park | 1999 |
| Kaziranga National Park | 1974 | ||
| Manas National Park | 1990 | ||
| Nameri National Park | 1998 | ||
| Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park | 1999 | ||
| Bihar | 1 | Valmiki National Park | 1989 |
| Chhattisgarh | 3 | Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park | 1981 |
| Indravati (Kutru) National Park | 1982 | ||
| Kanger Valley National Park | 1982 | ||
| Goa | 1 | Mollem National Park | 1992 |
| Gujarat | 4 | Vansda National Park | 1979 |
| Blackbuck (Velavadar) National Park | 1976 | ||
| Gir National Park | 1975 | ||
| Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) National Park | 1982 | ||
| Haryana | 2 | Kalesar National Park | 2003 |
| SultaNational Parkur National Park | 1989 | ||
| Himachal Pradesh | 5 | Great Himalayan National Park | 1984 |
| Inderkilla National Park | 2010 | ||
| Khirganga National Park | 2010 | ||
| Pin Valley National Park | 1987 | ||
| Simbalbara National Park | 2010 | ||
| Jammu and Kashmir | 4 | City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park | 1992 |
| Dachigam National Park | 1981 | ||
| Kishtwar National Park | 1981 | ||
| Jharkhand | 1 | Betla National Park | 1986 |
| Karnataka | 5 | Anshi National Park | 1987 |
| Bandipur National Park | 1974 | ||
| Bannerghatta National Park | 1974 | ||
| Kudremukh National Park | 1987 | ||
| Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park | 1988 | ||
| Kerala | 6 | Anamudi Shola National Park | 2003 |
| Eravikulam National Park | 1978 | ||
| Mathikettan Shola National Park | 2003 | ||
| Pambadum Shola National Park | 2003 | ||
| Periyar National Park | 1982 | ||
| Silent Valley National Park | 1984 | ||
| Madhya Pradesh | 9 | Bandhavgarh National Park | 1968 |
| Fossil National Park | 1983 | ||
| Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park | 1975 | ||
| Kanha National Park | 1955 | ||
| Madhav National Park | 1959 | ||
| Panna National Park | 1981 | ||
| Sanjay National Park | 1981 | ||
| Satpura National Park | 1981 | ||
| Van Vihar National Park | 1979 | ||
| Maharashtra | 6 | Chandoli National Park | 2004 |
| Gugamal National Park | 1975 | ||
| Nawegaon National Park | 1975 | ||
| Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) National Park | 1975 | ||
| Sanjay Gandhi (Borivali) National Park | 1983 | ||
| Tadoba National Park | 1955 | ||
| Manipur | 1 | Keibul-Lamjao National Park | 1977 |
| Meghalaya | 2 | Balphakram National Park | 1985 |
| Nokrek Ridge National Park | 1986 | ||
| Mizoram | 2 | Murlen National Park | 1991 |
| Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park | 1992 | ||
| Nagaland | 1 | Intanki National Park | 1993 |
| Odisha | 2 | Bhitarkanika National Park | 1988 |
| Simlipal National Park | 1980 | ||
| Rajasthan | 5 | Mukundra Hills National Park | 2006 |
| Desert National Park | 1992 | ||
| Keoladeo Ghana National Park | 1981 | ||
| Ranthambhore National Park | 1980 | ||
| Sariska National Park | 1992 | ||
| Sikkim | 1 | Khangchendzonga National Park | 1977 |
| Tamil Nadu | 5 | Guindy National Park | 1976 |
| Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park | 1980 | ||
| Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) National Park | 1989 | ||
| Mudumalai National Park | 1990 | ||
| Mukurthi National Park | 1990 | ||
| Ladakh | 1 | Hemis National Park | 1981 |
| Telangana | 3 | Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park | 1994 |
| Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park | 1994 | ||
| Mrugavani National Park | 1994 | ||
| Tripura | 2 | Clouded Leopard National Park | 2007 |
| Bison (Rajbari) National Park | 2007 | ||
| Uttar Pradesh | 1 | Dudhwa National Park | 1977 |
| Uttarakhand | 6 | Corbett National Park | 1936 |
| Gangotri National Park | 1989 | ||
| Govind National Park | 1990 | ||
| Nanda Devi National Park | 1982 | ||
| Rajaji National Park | 1983 | ||
| Valley of Flowers National Park | 1982 | ||
| West Bengal | 6 | Buxa National Park | 1992 |
| Gorumara National Park | 1992 | ||
| Jaldapara National Park | 2014 | ||
| Neora Valley National Park | 1986 | ||
| Singalila National Park | 1986 | ||
| Sunderban National Park | 1984 |
Read More Articles…
Leave a Reply