List of National Parks in India 2026 by home academy

byhomeacademy •January 28, 2026

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National Parks in India – Complete Notes & Important Facts

National Parks in India are protected areas established to conserve wildlife, biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural heritage. These areas are governed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, where human activities like grazing, hunting, and forestry are strictly prohibited.

Key Facts about National Parks in India (Most Important for Exams)

Total National Parks in India: 107

Total Area Covered: ~ 1.35% of India’s geographical area
First National Park in India: Jim Corbett National Park (1936) – Uttarakhand
Largest National Park (Area-wise):

Hemis National Park – Ladakh

Smallest National Park:

South Button Island National Park – Andaman & Nicobar Islands

State with Maximum National Parks:

Madhya Pradesh – 11 National Parks

National Parks span ecosystems:

Deserts

Alpine regions
Mangroves
Tropical rainforests
Grasslands

Legal & Administrative Framework

Governed by Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

Managed by State Forest Departments
Boundaries cannot be altered without State Legislature approval
Stronger protection than Wildlife Sanctuaries

Difference Between National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary (Exam Favorite)

Feature	National Park	Wildlife Sanctuary
Human Activity	Not allowed	Limited allowed
Grazing	Prohibited	Sometimes allowed
Legal Protection	Very strict	Comparatively flexible
Boundary Change	Requires Legislature approval	State Govt approval

State-wise Highlights (Frequently Asked)

Madhya Pradesh (Tiger State of India)

Kanha NP

Bandhavgarh NP
Pench NP
Satpura NP

Uttarakhand

Jim Corbett NP (Oldest)

Assam

Kaziranga NP (One-horned Rhino)
Manas NP (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Gujarat

Gir NP (Only home of Asiatic Lions)

West Bengal

Sundarbans NP (Mangrove ecosystem & Royal Bengal Tiger)

Largest & Smallest National Parks

Largest: Hemis National Park (Ladakh)

Smallest: South Button Island National Park (A&N Islands)

👉 Very high chance of direct MCQ

Ecosystem Diversity in Indian National Parks

Desert: Desert NP (Rajasthan)

Mangroves: Sundarbans NP
Alpine: Hemis NP
Rainforests: Silent Valley NP (Kerala)
Islands: Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP (A&N)

Role of National Parks in Conservation

Protect endangered species (Tiger, Lion, Rhino, Snow Leopard)

Maintain ecological balance
Support climate regulation
Promote eco-tourism
Preserve genetic diversity

Recent Trends & Conservation Efforts

Expansion of protected areas

Integration with Project Tiger, Project Elephant
Community participation models
Eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) development
Use of AI, camera traps, satellite tracking

Important MCQs (Quick Revision)

Which is the largest national park in India?
✔ Hemis National Park
Which state has the highest number of national parks?
✔ Madhya Pradesh
First national park of India?
✔ Jim Corbett National Park
Smallest national park in India?
✔ South Button Island National Park

Summary

India has 107 national parks covering about 1.35% of its total land area, reflecting the country’s strong commitment to wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection. From the cold desert ecosystem of Hemis National Park in Ladakh to the mangrove forests of Sundarbans and the tropical rainforests of Silent Valley, India’s national parks showcase extraordinary ecological diversity. Madhya Pradesh leads with 11 national parks, while South Button Island National Park remains the smallest. Continuous efforts by the government aim to expand protected areas and strengthen conservation frameworks to safeguard India’s natural heritage for future generations.

State-wise List of National Parks in India (Algeneration

Total National Parks in India: 107** (As per latest notified data)

## **Andaman & Nicobar Islands (9)**

1. Campbell Bay NP

2. Galathea NP

3. Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP

4. Mount Manipur (Mount Harriet) NP

5. Rani Jhansi Marine NP

6. Saddle Peak NP

7. North Button Island NP

8. Middle Button Island NP

9. South Button Island NP

## **Andhra Pradesh (3)**

1. Papikonda NP

2. Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) NP

3. Sri Venkateswara NP

## **Arunachal Pradesh (2)**

1. Mouling NP

2. Namdapha NP

## **Assam (7)**

1. Kaziranga NP

2. Manas NP

3. Nameri NP

4. Orang NP

5. Dibru-Saikhowa NP

6. Dehing Patkai NP

7. Raimona NP

## **Bihar (1)**

1. Valmiki NP

## **Chhattisgarh (3)**

1. Indravati NP

2. Kanger Valley NP

3. Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) NP

## **Goa (1)**

1. Mollem NP

## **Gujarat (4)**

1. Gir NP

2. Blackbuck (Velavadar) NP

3. Marine (Gulf of Kutch) NP

4. Vansda NP

## **Haryana (2)**

1. Sultanpur NP

2. Kalesar NP

## **Himachal Pradesh (5)**

1. Great Himalayan NP

2. Pin Valley NP

3. Khirganga NP

4. Inderkilla NP

5. Simbalbara NP

## **Jharkhand (1)**

1. Betla NP

## **Karnataka (5)*

1. Bandipur NP

2. Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) NP

3. Bannerghatta NP

4. Kudremukh NP

5. Anshi (Kali) NP

## **Kerala (6)**

1. Periyar NP

2. Eravikulam NP

3. Silent Valley NP

4. Mathikettan Shola NP

5. Anamudi Shola NP

6. Pampadum Shola NP

## **Ladakh (1)**

1. Hemis NP

## **Madhya Pradesh (11)**

1. Kanha NP

2. Bandhavgarh NP

3. Pench NP

4. Satpura NP

5. Panna NP

6. Sanjay NP

7. Madhav NP

8. Van Vihar NP

9. Kuno NP

10. Fossil NP

11. Ghughua Fossil NP

## **Maharashtra (6)**

1. Tadoba NP

2. Sanjay Gandhi NP

3. Chandoli NP

4. Gugamal NP

5. Navegaon NP

6. Pench NP (MH)

## **Manipur (1)**

1. Keibul Lamjao NP

## **Meghalaya (2)**

1. Nokrek NP

2. Balpakram NP

## **Mizoram (2)**

1. Murlen NP

2. Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) NP

## **Nagaland (1)**

1. Intanki (Ntangki) NP

## **Odisha (2)**

1. Simlipal NP

2. Bhitarkanika NP

## **Rajasthan (5)**

1. Ranthambore NP

2. Sariska NP

3. Desert NP

4. Keoladeo Ghana NP

5. Mukundra Hills NP

## **Sikkim (1)**

1. Khangchendzonga NP

## **Tamil Nadu (5)**

1. Mudumalai NP

2. Mukurthi NP

3. Guindy NP

4. Indira Gandhi (Anamalai) NP

5. Gulf of Mannar Marine NP

## **Telangana (3)**

1. Kasu Brahmananda Reddy NP

2. Mahavir Harina Vanasthali NP

3. Mrugavani NP

## **Tripura (2)**

1. Clouded Leopard NP

2. Rajbari NP

## **Uttar Pradesh (1)**

1. Dudhwa NP

## **Uttarakhand (6)**

1. Jim Corbett NP

2. Rajaji NP

3. Nanda Devi NP

4. Valley of Flowers NP

5. Gangotri NP

6. Govind NP

## **West Bengal (6)**

1. Sundarbans NP

2. Buxa NP

3. Jaldapara NP

4. Gorumara NP

5. Singalila NP

6. Neora Valley NP

**✔ Total National Parks: 107**

🌿 Famous National Parks of India & Why They Are Famous

1. Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand)

🐅 India’s first National Park (1936)
🌍 First park to come under Project Tiger (1973)
Famous for Royal Bengal Tigers
Located in the Shivalik Himalayas
River: Ramganga

2. Kaziranga National Park (Assam)

🦏 Home to One-horned Rhinoceros (largest population in the world)
🏆 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Located along the Brahmaputra River
Also known for tigers, elephants, wild buffalo
High density of tigers

3. Gir National Park (Gujarat)

🦁 Only natural habitat of Asiatic Lions in the world
Also called Sasan Gir
Dry deciduous forest ecosystem
Conservation success story

4. Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan)

🏰 Famous for tigers roaming near ancient Ranthambore Fort
One of the best parks for tiger sighting
Located at the junction of Aravali & Vindhya ranges
Rivers: Chambal tributaries

5. Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal)

🌊 Largest mangrove forest in the world
🐅 Famous for Royal Bengal Tigers adapted to saline water
🏆 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Delta of Ganga–Brahmaputra
Known for tidal forests

6. Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh)

🦌 Inspired Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book”
🐂 Home of Hard Ground Barasingha (Swamp Deer)
One of India’s best-managed tiger reserves
Grassland + sal forest ecosystem

7. Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh)

🐅 Highest density of tigers in India
Famous for Bandhavgarh Fort
Ancient caves and statues inside the park

8. Periyar National Park (Kerala)

🐘 Famous for elephants and boat safari
Located around Periyar Lake
Evergreen forest ecosystem
Important ecotourism model

9. Hemis National Park (Ladakh)

❄️ Largest National Park in India
🐆 Famous for Snow Leopard
Cold desert ecosystem
High-altitude park in the Himalayas

10. Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur, Rajasthan)

🐦 World-famous bird sanctuary
🏆 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Winter home for migratory birds from Central Asia & Siberia
Man-made wetland

11. Valley of Flowers National Park (Uttarakhand)

🌸 Famous for alpine flowers
🏔️ Located in the Western Himalayas
🏆 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Rich biodiversity & endemic species

12. Silent Valley National Park (Kerala)

🌳 One of the last untouched tropical rainforests
Famous for lion-tailed macaque
Important environmental movement in India

📌 Quick Exam Tips

First National Park → Jim Corbett

Asiatic Lion → Gir
One-horned Rhino → Kaziranga
Snow Leopard → Hemis
Mangrove Forest → Sundarbans
Bird Sanctuary → Keoladeo

Keibul Lamjao National Park (Manipur)

📍 Location

Bishnupur district, Manipur
Situated in Loktak Lake

⭐ Why is it Famous?

🌏 World’s ONLY Floating National Park
Made of floating biomass called Phumdis
🌸 Unique wetland ecosystem

🦌 Key Wildlife

Sangai Deer (Brow-antlered deer)
- 👉 State animal of Manipur
- 👉 Also called “Dancing Deer”
Also home to:
- Hog deer
- Otters
- Migratory birds

📅 Important Facts

Declared National Park: 1977
Area: ~40 sq km
Protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

📌 Exam Highlights (Very Important)

✔️ Floating National Park → Keibul Lamjao
✔️ Sangai Deer habitat → Keibul Lamjao
✔️ Associated Lake → Loktak Lake
✔️ State → Manipur

📝 One-Line for MCQs

Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur is the world’s only floating national park and the natural habitat of the endangered Sangai deer.

Tags: Environment