India's game parks promise almost as much adventure, mystery and beauty as their African counterparts and contain similar animals: hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, antelope, buffalo, elephants, monkeys, crocodiles and a splendid assortment of colorful birds. But India is the only place in the world where you can see lions, tigers and bears in the wild. As a bonus, park fees are generally lower, and many parks are easily reached by public transportation.
However, visitors to India's game parks need patience. You're unlikely to see the vast herds common in many African safari parks and probably will encounter solitary animals that prefer the cover of thick forest. The best time to spy them is at dawn or dusk; look around watering holes. We don't recommend visiting game parks during the hot, dry spring, but if you do, you'll meet fewer people and the animals may be easier to spot.
India's game parks include Bandhavgarh, Bandipur and Nagarahole, Bhadra, Bharatpur, Dandeli, Dudhwa, Gir, Jim Corbett National Park, Kanha, Pench, Kaziranga, Kudremukh National Park, Mudumalai, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Ranthambore, Sariksa and Sunderbans. For more information, see the individual destination guides. Others that should be seen if you're already in the area include Shivpuri (270 mi/430 km south of Delhi), Manas (near the Bhutan border) and Jaldapara (also near Bhutan).
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