There are many parks & sanctuaries of outstanding natural beauty, with a healthy population of wild animals. As late as the 1940's large herds of blackbuck grazed on large open areas throughout northern India. Now the herds are greatly reduced & are confined to the sanctuaries such as Tal Chappar, near Bikaner (Rajasthan), & Velavadar, near Bhavnagar (Guajrat).

The Swap Deer are now restricted to Kaziranga & Dudhwa national parks. In Kashmir Valley, Dachigam National Park is only 23 Kms from Srinagar & can be easily visited . In Rajasthan the Tiger reserves of Sariska, nera Alwar & Ranthambore National Park, southeast of Jaipur, are both within easy distance of Delhi & have a range of accommodation. Rajasthan is also home to one of the world's most important wetland sanctuaries. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur, 53 Km west of Agra is host to numerous nesting species of storks, herons, spoonbills, cormorants & ibises. In Uttar Pradesh, along the Himalayan Foothills, are two important Tiger reserves. Corbett National Park, is 7 hour drive northeast of Delhi. In Madhya Pradesh there are is an excellent park, with good private facilities & game viewing from Elephant back & Jeep. The Kanha National Park, 160 Km south of Jabalpur is one of them. In Gujarat there is the Gir National Park which is now the last refuge of the Asiatic lion. You can see blackbuck, chinkara & the Indian Wild ass at the edge of the little Rann of Kutch at Dhrangadhra Sanctuary. In Karnataka near Kabini Lake is the Nagarahole National Park.

Bandipur Tiger Reserve is bisected by the Mysore-Ooty national Highway. Then there is Mudumalai Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu has a large number of locally migrant elephants. West of Bandipur is the Wynad Sanctuary in Kerala. Eravikulam National Park, 16 Km from Munnar, has the largest population of Nilgiri Tahr.