Going on a camping or hiking trip is one of the best ways to push the reset button on your body and soul. Not only does it provide a welcome escape from the stressful world of technology, but it also reconnects you with nature.
There are so many great places you can do that in India.
Thanks to its rich biodiversity, India provides natural habitats to some of the planet’s most awe-inspiring wildlife.
It is a vast and varied subcontinent with varying landscapes, topographies, climates, temperatures, and flora.
According to luxuryindiatours.com, In addition to thousands of common wildlife species, this amazing country is also home to many exotic species native to this region. These include the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, mammoth Asian Elephants, Asiatic Lions, Gaur Bison, the elusive Himalayan snow leopards, the endangered one-horned rhinos, and fish-easting Gharial crocodiles.
Here is our definitive list of the best camping and hiking trips (with a wildlife focus) that you can take in India right now!
1. Kaziranga National Park, Assam:
The Land of One-Horned Indian Rhinos
This iconic Indian national park in the foothills of the Himalayas is replenished by four major rivers including the sacred Brahmaputra. It is an ideal place for a camping and hiking adventure.
Its tropical moist broadleaf forests, marshlands, and elephant grass provide a splendid habitat for rhinos, Indian elephants, swamp deer, wild water buffalos, Gaur (bison), Sambar Deer, and many other majestic animals.
The Kaziranga National Park in Assam is the abode of the rare one-horned Indian rhinoceros. Thanks to the conservation efforts carried out at the Kaziranga, their population has increased to 2,613.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is also home to a Tiger Reserve and is declared an “Important Bird Area” by BirdLife International.
2. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Himalayan Beauty and Wildlife Wonder
India’s oldest National Park, the Jim Corbett has the highest density of the Royal Bengal Tigers per square kilometer on the planet.
With some 586 species residing on its premises, this amazing Himalayan destination in the Nainital district is a fine venue for a camping expedition.
Jim Corbett is one destination that allows you to combine a camping adventure with the thrills of wildlife sightings and mesmerizing Himalayan scenery.
3. Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
Located in the Kullu region of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) does justice to its grand name with a spectacular range of flora and fauna.
It is estimated that the GHNP is a habitat to 475 species of fauna, which include 31 mammals and 181 species of birds.
It is one of Himachal’s most popular trekking and ecotourism destinations. You are likely to come across Himalayan Blue Sheep, Musk Deer, and Himalayan Tahr on your trails.
4. Hemis National Park, Ladakh
Chasing the Elusive Himalayan Snow Leopards
The legendary Himalayan Snow Leopard is one of the planet’s most elusive creatures. A master of disguise that is notoriously difficult to spot in the wild, it finds its home in the rocky rugged terrain of the Hemis National Park in Ladakh.
With an altitude of 3,000 to 6,000 meters, Hemis is India’s highest and biggest national park. Its rocky mountainous cold-desert terrain is great for hiking and camping tours.
Wildlife sightings include the Tibetan wolf, the Eurasian brown bear, the red fox, the Golden Eagle, the Himalayan Griffon Vulture, and the Asiatic Ibex.
5. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
One of India’s Best Wildlife Safaris
The former hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur, the Ranthambore National Park is one of India’s most popular wildlife parks.
Fringed by the Banas and Chambal Rivers, it sprawls over 515 sq miles and is one of the country’s best tiger-spotting and wildlife safari destinations.
Its dry deciduous forests and open grass meadow offer ideal habit for Royal Bengal Tigers, Indian leopards, blackbucks, Nilgai (water buffalos), jungle cats, striped hyenas, Dhole (wild Indian Dogs), honey badgers, flying Indian foxes, and many other amazing species.
6. Bhitarnika National Park, Odisha
Reptilian Haven and a Little Turtle Miracle
Let’s head to the northeast, shall we?
Heir to the ancient Kingdom of Kalinga, the northeastern state of Odisha is blessed with a rich biodiversity and indigenous Adivasi tribal heritage.
An estimated 31% of the total land of the state is covered in forests that sustain a diverse range of flora and fauna. There are 19 wildlife sanctuaries, one national park, and two tiger reserves in Odisha.
The Bhitarnika National Park (145 sq. m.), inundated by the Brahmani, Baitarani, Pathshala, and Dhamra rivers is a thrilling reptilian haven. These include the Crocodylus prosus (Saltwater crocodile), Indian pythons, monitor lizards, and darters.
Every year a tiny miracle takes place in Bhitarnika. Olive Ridley Turtles travel thousands of miles from the Pacific Ocean to lay eggs in its river delta in February and March.
7. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka
Camping, Canoeing, Coracling and Kayaking
The southern state of Karnataka is known for its holy temples, ancient heritage, and sites of religious pilgrimages. But it also has its fair share of nature trails and wildlife mysteries.
Aside from being a great habitat for tigers, leopards, deer, elephants and over 200 species of birds, Dandeli is also a great white water sports destination.
The Kali River that meanders through the Dandeli serves excellent rapids for rafting, kayaking, and kayaking.
Be sure to visit tribal villages located in the region.
8. Sundarbans, West Bengal
The Archipelago of Wildlife Wonders
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sundarbans archipelago consists of 102 small islands covered under a dense layer of mangrove forest.
Due to its unique ecology, the UN has declared the Sundarbans a “Wetland Site of International Significance” under the Ramsar Convention.
The Sundarbans is jampacked with wildlife and avian marvels like the Ganges River Dolphin, Indian Pythons, King Cobras, Chinese Green Vipers, Saltwater crocodiles—and the Royal Bengal Tigers.
It is not just a camping and nature trail destination, but you can also go on exciting canoe adventures.
9. Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh
In Mowgli’s World
Madhya Pradesh is the heart of India. Snuggled smack in the middle of the country, this under-appreciated state is home to some of India’s greatest wildlife destinations like Pench, Kanha, Satpura, Bandhavgarh, and Madhav.
No state in India has so many (11) amazing national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
But the one place that we pick out for you is the exotic Pench National Park which was the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s legendary work, the “Jungle Book.”
10. Periyar National Park and Lake, Kerala
Wildlife Wonder in God’s Own Country
God’s Own Country Kerala is the most popular tourist destination in the south of India. And, Periyar National Park in the Idukki region is its primary wildlife destination.
Periyar is home to an elephant and a tiger reserve. Its evergreen deciduous forests and montane grasslands are picturesque backdrops for outdoor camping and hiking.
It is also home to 35 species of mammals (Asiatic elephants, White Tigers, Sambhar Deer, Gaur Bisons), 266 species of Birds and 45 species of reptiles.
11. The Western Ghats, Maharashtra
As is obvious from the name, the lush green Western Ghat mountain range runs parallel to the western coast of India, leaving behind in its trail 1,000 miles of rich biodiversity, stunning natural landscapes, and trekking opportunities. They traverse the states of Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Maharashtra.
Also known as the Sahyadri mountains, the Western Ghats are called the “Great Escarpment of India” and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are home to no less than 36 “biodiverse hotspots.
Maharashtra is a great place to go camping in the Western Ghats. There are so many idyllic places to enjoy an ideal nature adventure. These include Lonavala, Igatpuri, Pawna Lake and Panchgani.
12. Nicobar and Andamans Islands
Exotic Marine Life and the Perfect Tropical Bliss
The Nicobar and Andaman Islands offer prospects for a different kind of wildlife adventure.
Nestled in the Bay of Bengal, they are a collective of islands off the southern mainland Indian coast.
These islands are a picture-perfect tropical paradise of white-sand beaches, lush green mangroves, and amazing marine life. Picture a camping experience at a perfect secluded beach with swaying palm trees, clear blue skies, and the vast blue Indian Ocean.
If snorkeling, deep-sea diving, and marine exploration are your thing, the Andaman Islands are the best place to visit in India.