what is a national park?
National parks in India are IUCN category II protected areas. The first national park in India was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now it is known as Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand. By 1970, India only had five national parks. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act Project Tiger to safeguard the habitats of conservation-reliant species.
What is the Difference between National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries?
- The difference between a National Park and a Wildlife Sanctuary is that no human activity is allowed inside a national park, while limited activities are permitted within the sanctuary.
- In Biosphere Reserve, limited economic activity (sand and stone mining) is permitted.
National parks in India are IUCN category II protected areas. India’s first national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand.
In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard the habitats of conservation-reliant species. Here is the complete list of National Parks in India.
List of National Parks in India:
| State/Union Territory | Name of the National Park |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Campbell Bay National Park
Galathea National Park Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Wandur National Park) Middle Button Island National Park Mount Harriet National Park North Button Island National Park Rani Jhansi Marine National Park Saddle Peak National Park South Button Island National Park |
| Andhra Pradesh | Papikonda National Park
Rajiv Gandhi National Park Sri Venkateswara National Park
|
| Arunachal Pradesh | Namdapha National Park
Mouling National Park |
| Assam | Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Kaziranga National Park Manas National Park Nameri National Park Orang National Park |
| Bihar | Valmiki National Park
Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary |
| Chhattisgarh | Indravati National Park
Kanger Ghati National Park (Kanger Valley) Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park |
| Goa | Bhagwan Mahavir (Mollem) National Park |
| Gujarat | Vansda National Park
Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar Gir National Park Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park |
| Haryana | Kalesar National Park
Sultanpur National Park |
| Himachal Pradesh | Great Himalayan National Park
Pin Valley National Park Inderkilla National Park Khirganga National Park Simbalbara National Park |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Dachigam National Park
Hemis National Park Kishtwar National Park Salim Ali National Park |
| Jharkhand | Betla National Park
Dimna National Park Hazaribag National Park |
| Karnataka | Anshi National Park
Rajiv Gandhi National Park Bandipur National Park Bannerghatta National Park Kudremukh National Park |
| Kerala | Eravikulam National Park
Mathikettan Shola National Park Periyar National Park Silent Valley National Park Anamudi Shola National Park Pambadum Shola National Park |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bandhavgarh National Park
Mandla Plant Fossil National Park Kanha National Park Madhav National Park Panna National Park Pench National Park Sanjay National Park Satpura National Park Van Vihar National Park |
| Maharashtra | Chandoli National Park
Gugamal National Park Navegaon National Park Pench National Park Sanjay Gandhi National Park or Borivili National Park Tadoba National Park |
| Manipur | Keibul Lamjao National Park
Sirohi National Park |
| Meghalaya | Balphakram National Park
Nokrek National Park |
| Mizoram | Murlen National Park
Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park |
| Nagaland | Ntangki National Park |
| Orissa | Bhitarkanika National Park
Nandankanan National Park Simlipal National Park |
| Punjab | Harike Wetland |
| Rajasthan | Darrah National Park
Desert National Park Keoladeo National Park Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary Ranthambore National Park Sariska National Park |
| Sikkim | Khangchendzonga National Park |
| Tamil Nadu | Mudumalai National Park
Mukurthi National Park Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) National Park Guindy National Park Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park |
| Tripura | Bison( Rajbari ) National Park
Clouded Leopard National Park |
| Uttar Pradesh | Dudhwa National Park |
| Uttarakhand | Gangotri National Park
Govind Pashu Vihar Jim Corbett National Park Nanda Devi National Park Rajaji National Park Valley of Flowers National Park |
| West Bengal | Gorumara National Park
Buxa National Park Neora Valley National Park Singalila National Park Jaldapara National Park Sundarbans National Park |
Test Your Skills now – Take a Quiz on National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
Did You Know?
- An international organization, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and its World Commission on Protected Areas, has defined “National Park” as its Category II type of protected areas.
- The United States established the first “public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people”, Yellowstone National Park, in 1872.
- Northeast Greenland National Park is the world’s largest and most northerly national park. It is the largest protected land area in the world.
