You are bound to be enthralled travelling in a country like India. From rugged cold mountains, temperate dry flatlands, rainy river plains to dry hot deserts, damp, soggy marshes and lilting alpine meadows, you will find it all in India. It is no wonder then that flora and fauna have adaptations and variations here. From the Snow Leopards of the far North to the inspiring Bengal Tigers of the Sundarbans, there is something of interest for every wildlife enthusiast. Here are five of India’s best wildlife sanctuaries. Take a look.

Five wildlife sanctuaries to visit in India

Sundarbans National Park

West Bengal

Sundarban is the largest tidal mangrove forest in the world. The Sundarbans cover 10,000 sq kms in the delta of the Bay of Bengal, between India and Bangladesh. With its overhanging vegetation and green pallid waters, one gets the feeling of floating down an Amazonian river. The Sundarbans is home to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger (about 500 of them). It is also well known for its Crocodile and Snake population. In some cases, you may even see the Gangetic River Dolphin swimming down the river with you.

Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary

Gujarat

Gir is the only place in the world where you can find the Asian Lion in its natural habitat. You can also hope to spot Sloth Bears, Striped Hyenas, Golden Jackals, Four Horned Antelopes, Leopards, Nilgai, Crocodiles and even the very rare Blackbuck in these forests. Gir is a highly protected reserve, as efforts are ongoing to save the Asiatic Lion, only 411 of which remain. Tourists are only allowed on designated routes, and their movements are monitored.

Also Read | Feds Propose Opening Biggest National Forest To Logging

Kanha National park

Madhya Pradesh

The lush Sal and Bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha were the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's beautiful novel The Jungle Book. Open grassy meadows have sprung up in place of villages that were evacuated to make way for the animals that now inhabit the sanctuary. There are many different species of grass recorded at Kanha, some of which are important for the survival of the majestic Barasingha, with its giant antlers. The park has a significant population of Bengal Tigers, Panthers, Sloths, Hyenas, Peacocks, Mongoose, Jungle Fowls and Langurs.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: 5 Things To Do And Explore In The Beautiful State

Jim Corbett National park

Uttarakhand

Jim Corbett National Park is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is a haven for wildlife lovers in India and covers an impressive area of about 1318 sq. kms. The most talked-about of Corbett's denizens are the Bengal Tiger and the Asiatic Elephant. Less talked about but more easily seen are the Wild elephant, Langur Monkey, Rhesus Macaque, Peacock, and several types of deer including Chital, Sambars, Hog Deer and Barking Deer.

Ranthambore National park

Rajasthan

People say that one of the country's largest old Banyan trees is growing somewhere in this park. Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger, you can hope to spot animals like Leopards, Wild Boars, Peacocks, Chital, Sambhars, Hyenas, and Sloth Bears. Jeep and open mini-bus safaris are organised and the rides through the undulating terrain of the park are exhilarating. People usually take more than one ride because it's not very easy to spot a tiger in one go here.