5 Lesser-Known Wildlife Sanctuaries You Must Visit
India's rich biodiversity is home to diverse flora and fauna, with some ecosystems thoroughly explored while others hold untapped wonders waiting to be discovered. As the summer season draws near, if you seek solace in serene and less crowded destinations, we present a handpicked selection of unexplored wildlife experiences that will transport you to nature's hidden gems. These pristine locations promise an immersive getaway where you can reconnect with the wilderness and witness the untouched beauty of India's natural wonders. Embark on an adventure of a lifetime and create lasting memories as you explore these lesser-known wildlife sanctuaries and reserves away from the hustle and bustle of popular tourist hotspots.
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is located in Pilibhit District, Lakhimpur Kheri District and Bahraich District of Uttar Pradesh. It was declared a tiger reserve in 2008. Apart from the jungle safari and forest trail, which explores forest regions with elephants and tigers, there are also many other major attractions. These include sunset and sunrise points, a python point, a pond that is the best for Barasingha sightings called The Barasingha Tal, an otter point and a crocodile point.
How to reach The town of Pilibhit is well connected by road to major cities such as Barrielly, New Delhi, Shahjahanpur, and Lucknow. Private and government buses from any of these cities can also be taken. The most comfortable travel, however, is the train. The station of Pilibhit is connected to almost all major cities in India.
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in the city of Guwahati, this place is considered to be home to a lot of one-horned rhinoceros. Rajamayong Reserve Forest and Pobitora Reserve Forest make up the sanctuary. Numerous species, such as the leopard, capped langur, porcupine, and pangolin, can be found in the Rajamayong Hills. The greater one horned rhinoceros, wild water buffalo, monitor lizard, wild boar, and other animals can be seen in the Grasslands of Pobitora. It is a birder's delight because there are also over 375 species of birds that can be spotted here.
How to reach Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport of Assam is 62 km away. While the Jagiroad Railway Station is 32 km, Panikhaiti Railway Station is 25 km from the sanctuary. Closest is the Mayong Bus Stop which is 2.5 km away.
Ntangki National Park
Ntangki National Park is located in the Peren district of Nagaland. This park was established by the British administrators in 1923. The thick rainforests of this place create the ideal habitat for reptiles, birds and mammals. The major attractions around this place include Mt. Kisa, which was one of the frontiers of the Naga tribals and served as a point of contact with other tribes in the region in the past. This park holds a wide variety of fauna like tigers, sloth bears, wild dogs, flying squirrels, wild buffaloes (Mithun) and hoolock gibbon, among others.
How to reach The nearest airport and railway station are in Dimapur, while the town of Peren is well connected by bus with Guwahati and Assam.
Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary
This is located in the Bhandara-Gondia district of Maharashtra. In this beautiful, scenic location, you can actively participate in bird-watching and spot tigers and other animals on jungle safaris. There are a lot of tourist places near this place, too, like the Suryadeo Mando Devi temple, Kanchangadh caves, Hazara Falls and Navegaon Lake etc. The sanctuary is also home to up to 36 species of reptiles, out of which six are endangered. The park remains closed during the rains from July to September.
How to reach From the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, the closest railway stations are in Nagpur (122 km), Gondia (45 km), and Bhandara (75 km). Travellers can hire a private cab to take them to Nagzira from the railway stations. Even state-run buses from Nagpur, Gondia, and Bhandara to the Nagzira National Park are available.
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
Coringa Sanctuary, named after a tiny village, Coringa, in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, a part of Godavari mangroves, was declared a wildlife sanctuary by Govt. of Andhra Pradesh to conserve the mangrove vegetation. Tourists can take a boat to explore the tranquil waters and listen to different birds sing. There are a lot of migratory birds like seagulls, flamingos, pond herons, grey herons, sandpipers, little egrets, red-wattled lapwing, blue kingfisher, pied kingfisher, Brahmini kites, little cormorants, reef heron, crow pheasant, black-capped kingfisher, etc.
How to reach The Kakinada railway station is 20 km away, while the nearest airport is the Rajahmundry airport, 70 km away from the sanctuary. Private cabs and buses are available throughout.
