National Parks in India – Complete State-wise List

📑 Table of Contents

Introduction
Quick Facts
My Progress
National Parks List
Compare Two Parks
Key Notes & Memory Tips
Flashcards
Practice Quiz
Key Takeaways
FAQs

The national parks in India list is one of the most tested geography topics in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, Railways, and all State PSC exams.

India has 106 National Parks covering over 44,000 sq. km \u2014 home to tigers, elephants, rhinos, snow leopards, and some of the world\u2019s rarest biodiversity. From Jim Corbett \u2014 India\u2019s oldest \u2014 to the remote Hemis in Ladakh \u2014 India\u2019s largest \u2014 this page gives you a complete, state-wise updated list with establishment years, key wildlife, and exam-critical facts for quick, confident revision.

106 National Parks in India

1936 Jim Corbett (Oldest NP)

4,400 km² Hemis (Largest NP)

7 UNESCO WHS National Parks

⚡ Quick Facts

Must-Know Facts for Exams

India has 106 National Parks covering ~44,372 sq. km \u2014 about 1.35% of India\u2019s total geographical area.
Jim Corbett NP (Uttarakhand, 1936) is India\u2019s oldest national park \u2014 established as Hailey NP during British rule.
Hemis NP (Ladakh, 4,400 sq. km) is India\u2019s largest national park, known for snow leopards.
Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of National Parks (11) and the highest tiger population (\u201cTiger State\u201d).
Gir NP (Gujarat) is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic Lion in the world.

⚠️ Common Exam Trap

There are TWO \u201csmallest NP\u201d answers: South Button Island NP (A&N, 0.03 sq. km) is the smallest overall, but Guindy NP (Tamil Nadu, 2.82 sq. km) is the smallest on the mainland (inside Chennai city). Also: Project Tiger was launched at Jim Corbett NP in 1973, not at Kanha. And Keoladeo Ghana NP is in Rajasthan, NOT Assam \u2014 students sometimes confuse it with Kaziranga or Manas (both Assam).

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🌿 National Parks in India — State-wise List

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# ↕	National Park ↕	State / UT ↕	Area (km²) ↕	Established	Key Wildlife / Feature
1	Jim Corbett National Park	Uttarakhand	520	1936	India\u2019s oldest NP; tigers, elephants; Ramganga River; Project Tiger launched here (1973)
2	Hemis National Park	Ladakh	4,400	1981	India\u2019s largest NP; snow leopards, Himalayan wolf
3	Kaziranga National Park	Assam	430	1974	UNESCO WHS; 2/3 of world\u2019s one-horned rhinos; tigers, elephants
4	Sundarbans National Park	West Bengal	1,330	1984	UNESCO WHS; Royal Bengal Tiger; world\u2019s largest mangrove forest
5	Kanha National Park	Madhya Pradesh	940	1955	Barasingha (Swamp Deer); tigers; inspired Kipling\u2019s \u201cThe Jungle Book\u201d
6	Bandhavgarh National Park	Madhya Pradesh	449	1968	Highest tiger density in India; white tigers historically found here
7	Panna National Park	Madhya Pradesh	543	1981	Tigers; Ken River flows through it; Ken-Betwa Link Project area
8	Sanjay National Park	Madhya Pradesh	466	1981	Tigers, leopards; part of Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve
9	Satpura National Park	Madhya Pradesh	524	1981	Tigers, leopards, wild dogs; dense sal forests
10	Pench National Park	MP & Maharashtra	293	1975	Tigers; spans MP and Maharashtra; also called Jawaharlal Nehru NP
11	Madhav National Park	Madhya Pradesh	375	1958	Former royal hunting reserve; Sakhya Sagar Lake
12	Van Vihar National Park	Madhya Pradesh	4.5	1979	Located in Bhopal; open zoo-cum-national park
13	Gir National Park	Gujarat	258	1975	Only wild habitat of Asiatic Lion in the world
14	Blackbuck NP (Velavadar)	Gujarat	34	1976	Indian Blackbuck; Lesser Florican (endangered bustard)
15	Marine NP (Gulf of Kutch)	Gujarat	163	1982	India\u2019s first marine national park; coral reefs, dugong
16	Ranthambore National Park	Rajasthan	392	1980	Tigers; historic Ranthambore Fort inside park
17	Sariska National Park	Rajasthan	273	1992	Tigers (reintroduced from Ranthambore); Aravalli Hills
18	Desert National Park	Rajasthan	3,162	1992	Great Indian Bustard (most endangered large bird); fossils; Thar Desert ecosystem
19	Keoladeo (Ghana) NP	Rajasthan	29	1981	UNESCO WHS; Siberian cranes; Ramsar Site; best bird sanctuary in Asia
20	Dudhwa National Park	Uttar Pradesh	490	1977	Barasingha, tigers, swamp deer; terai ecosystem
21	Pilibhit Tiger Reserve / NP	Uttar Pradesh	602	2014 (TR)	Tigers; along India-Nepal border; TX2 Award winner
22	Rajaji National Park	Uttarakhand	820	1983	Elephants, tigers; Shivalik Hills; Ganga river basin
23	Nanda Devi National Park	Uttarakhand	630	1982	UNESCO WHS; snow leopard; Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
24	Valley of Flowers NP	Uttarakhand	87	1982	UNESCO WHS; alpine meadow; rare Himalayan flora
25	Periyar National Park	Kerala	350	1982	Elephants, tigers; Periyar Lake; important Tiger Reserve
26	Silent Valley National Park	Kerala	237	1980	No roads inside; lion-tailed macaque; saved from hydroelectric project (1980)
27	Eravikulam National Park	Kerala	97	1978	Nilgiri Tahr (endangered mountain goat); Anamudi Peak (South India\u2019s highest)
28	Bandipur National Park	Karnataka	874	1974	Tigers, elephants; part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
29	Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) NP	Karnataka	643	1988	Tigers, elephants, leopards; Kabini Reservoir
30	Kudremukh National Park	Karnataka	600	1987	Lion-tailed macaque; shola forests; Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot
31	Anshi (Dandeli-Anshi) NP	Karnataka	340	1987	Black panther sightings; tigers; Kali River
32	Mudumalai National Park	Tamil Nadu	321	1990	Elephants, tigers; part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
33	Guindy National Park	Tamil Nadu	2.82	1976	Smallest NP on mainland India; located inside Chennai city
34	Indira Gandhi (Anamalai) NP	Tamil Nadu	958	1989	Elephants, tigers; highest tiger density in South India (Anamalai TR)
35	Great Himalayan National Park	Himachal Pradesh	754	1984	UNESCO WHS (2014); snow leopard, musk deer, western tragopan
36	Pin Valley National Park	Himachal Pradesh	675	1987	Snow leopard; cold desert ecosystem; Spiti Valley
37	Simlipal National Park	Odisha	2,750	1980	Tigers, elephants; melanistic (black) tigers; Biosphere Reserve
38	Bhitarkanika National Park	Odisha	145	1988	Saltwater crocodiles; 2nd largest mangrove forest in India (after Sundarbans)
39	Balphakram National Park	Meghalaya	220	1985	Clouded leopard; red panda; carnivorous plants
40	Namdapha National Park	Arunachal Pradesh	1,985	1983	Only NP in world with 4 big cats \u2014 tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard
41	Manas National Park	Assam	500	1990	UNESCO WHS; golden langur, pygmy hog; Manas River; Project Tiger site
42	Intanki National Park	Nagaland	202	1993	Hoolock gibbon, wild buffalo; relatively unexplored
43	Keibul Lamjao National Park	Manipur	40	1977	World\u2019s only floating national park; Loktak Lake; endangered Sangai (brow-antlered deer)
44	South Button Island NP	Andaman & Nicobar	0.03	1987	Smallest NP in India (0.03 sq. km); saltwater crocodiles
45	Campbell Bay National Park	Andaman & Nicobar	426	1992	Saltwater crocodiles; leatherback sea turtles; southernmost NP in India

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📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips

Note 1 \u2014 The Key Superlatives: Oldest, Largest, Smallest

Oldest NP: Jim Corbett (Uttarakhand, 1936) \u2014 originally named Hailey NP
Largest NP: Hemis (Ladakh, 4,400 sq. km)
Smallest NP (overall): South Button Island NP (A&N, 0.03 sq. km)
Smallest NP (mainland): Guindy NP (Tamil Nadu, 2.82 sq. km) \u2014 inside Chennai city
Highest tiger density: Bandhavgarh NP (Madhya Pradesh)
Most NPs in a state: Madhya Pradesh (11 national parks)

Note 2 \u2014 UNESCO World Heritage National Parks (7 parks)

Seven national parks in India are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Mnemonic: \u201cKaziranga Keoladeo Manas Nanda Sundarbans Great Valley\u201d

Kaziranga NP (Assam) \u2014 1985
Keoladeo Ghana NP (Rajasthan) \u2014 1985
Manas NP (Assam) \u2014 1985
Nanda Devi NP (Uttarakhand) \u2014 1988
Valley of Flowers NP (Uttarakhand) \u2014 1988 (added to Nanda Devi inscription)
Sundarbans NP (West Bengal) \u2014 1987
Great Himalayan NP (Himachal Pradesh) \u2014 2014

Note 3 \u2014 Unique & Record-Holding National Parks

Keibul Lamjao (Manipur): World\u2019s only floating national park (on Loktak Lake phumdis); Sangai deer
Namdapha (Arunachal): Only NP in world with 4 big cats (tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard)
Gir (Gujarat): Only wild habitat of Asiatic Lion in the world
Marine NP, Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat): India\u2019s first marine national park (1982)
Simlipal (Odisha): Famous for melanistic (black-coloured) tigers

Note 4 \u2014 Project Tiger & Key Conservation Launches

Project Tiger was launched at Jim Corbett NP on 1 April 1973 during PM Indira Gandhi\u2019s tenure, with 9 initial Tiger Reserves. It is the world\u2019s most successful conservation programme for a big cat species. Madhya Pradesh (785 tigers, 2022 census) is the \u201cTiger State\u201d with the highest tiger count. Karnataka ranks second. India had 3,167 tigers as of the 2022 tiger census.

Note 5 \u2014 Special Wildlife Associations

One-horned Rhinoceros: Kaziranga (2/3 of world population), Manas, Orang (all Assam)
Sangai (brow-antlered deer): Keibul Lamjao, Manipur (state animal)
Nilgiri Tahr: Eravikulam, Kerala
Great Indian Bustard: Desert NP, Rajasthan (India\u2019s most endangered large bird)
Golden Langur + Pygmy Hog: Manas NP, Assam (both critically endangered)
Barasingha (Swamp Deer): Kanha NP, MP and Dudhwa NP, UP

🧠 Mnemonics

UNESCO WHS NPs: \u201cKaziranga Keoladeo Manas Nanda Sundarbans Great Valley\u201d
K, K, M, N, S, G, V \u2014 (7 parks, 6 UNESCO inscriptions)

4 Big Cats in Namdapha: \u201cTigers Love Spotted Clouds\u201d
T = Tiger | L = Leopard | S = Snow Leopard | C = Clouded Leopard

🃏 Flashcards

Flashcards \u2014 National Parks in India

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Card 1 of 5

🧩 Practice Quiz

National Parks in India \u2014 MCQ Quiz

5 questions · Answer all · Check your score

Question 1 of 5

Which is India\u2019s oldest national park and in which state is it located?

A. Kanha National Park \u2014 Madhya Pradesh

B. Kaziranga National Park \u2014 Assam

C. Jim Corbett National Park \u2014 Uttarakhand

D. Gir National Park \u2014 Gujarat

✅ Explanation

Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand is India\u2019s oldest national park, established in 1936 during British rule under the name Hailey National Park. It was renamed after hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett in 1957. Project Tiger was launched here on 1 April 1973.

Question 2 of 5

Which national park is the only habitat of Asiatic Lions in the world?

A. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

B. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

C. Periyar National Park, Kerala

D. Gir National Park, Gujarat

✅ Explanation

Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only place in the world where Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica) live in their natural wild habitat. Once on the brink of extinction with fewer than 20 lions in the early 20th century, the Gir population has recovered to over 600 lions as of recent census data.

Question 3 of 5

Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous primarily for which animal?

A. Bengal Tiger

B. One-horned Rhinoceros

C. Asiatic Elephant

D. Snow Leopard

✅ Explanation

Kaziranga National Park in Assam is home to approximately two-thirds of the world\u2019s total population of Indian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is also a significant habitat for tigers, elephants, and wild water buffalo.

Question 4 of 5

Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur is unique because it is:

A. India\u2019s highest altitude national park

B. The only national park with four big cats

C. The world\u2019s only floating national park

D. India\u2019s smallest national park

✅ Explanation

Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur is the world\u2019s only floating national park, located on the floating biomass (phumdis) of Loktak Lake. It is the last natural refuge of the endangered Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer). It was established in 1977 and covers 40 sq. km.

Question 5 of 5

Which Indian state has the highest number of National Parks?

A. Rajasthan

B. Maharashtra

C. Uttarakhand

D. Madhya Pradesh

✅ Explanation

Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of National Parks in India with 11 National Parks including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, Sanjay, Madhav, and Van Vihar. MP is also called the \u201cTiger State\u201d as it had the highest tiger population in India as per the 2022 tiger census, with 785 tigers.

✅ Key Takeaways

Remember These for Your Exam

Oldest NP: Jim Corbett (1936, UK) = Hailey NP originally. Largest NP: Hemis (4,400 km², Ladakh). Smallest: South Button Island (0.03 km², A&N). Smallest mainland: Guindy (2.82 km², Chennai).

7 UNESCO WHS National Parks: Kaziranga, Keoladeo, Manas, Nanda Devi, Valley of Flowers, Sundarbans, Great Himalayan NP. Mnemonic: \u201cKaziranga Keoladeo Manas Nanda Sundarbans Great Valley.\u201d

Gir (Gujarat) = only Asiatic Lion habitat. Keibul Lamjao (Manipur) = world\u2019s only floating NP. Namdapha (Arunachal) = world\u2019s only NP with 4 big cats. Marine NP Kutch (Gujarat) = India\u2019s first marine NP.

Project Tiger launched at Jim Corbett NP on 1 April 1973 (PM Indira Gandhi). Madhya Pradesh = Tiger State (785 tigers, 2022 census) + highest NP count (11 parks).

Key wildlife: One-horned rhino \u2192 Kaziranga; Sangai deer \u2192 Keibul Lamjao; Nilgiri Tahr \u2192 Eravikulam; Great Indian Bustard \u2192 Desert NP; Barasingha \u2192 Kanha & Dudhwa.

Simlipal (Odisha) = melanistic (black) tigers. Bandhavgarh (MP) = highest tiger density. Sundarbans (WB) = world\u2019s largest mangrove forest + Royal Bengal Tiger.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs \u2014 National Parks in India

How many National Parks are there in India and which state has the most?

India has 106 National Parks covering approximately 44,372 sq. km \u2014 about 1.35% of India\u2019s total geographical area. Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of National Parks among all states, with 11 parks including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, and Sanjay. MP is also known as the \u201cTiger State\u201d for having the highest tiger population in India as per the 2022 tiger census, with 785 tigers.

Which national parks in India are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

Seven national parks in India have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites \u2014 Kaziranga National Park in Assam (1985), Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan (1985), Manas National Park in Assam (1985), Nanda Devi National Park in Uttarakhand (1988), Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand (1988, added to Nanda Devi inscription), Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal (1987), and Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh (2014). These seven parks protect an extraordinary range of ecosystems \u2014 from the Himalayan alpine meadows to the Gangetic delta mangroves.

What is the significance of Jim Corbett National Park in Indian conservation history?

Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand holds a unique place in Indian conservation history. It is India\u2019s oldest national park, established in 1936 as Hailey National Park during British rule, and renamed after the famous hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett in 1957. It was also the site where Project Tiger \u2014 India\u2019s most successful wildlife conservation programme \u2014 was launched on 1 April 1973 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Ramganga River flows through the park, which is home to tigers, elephants, leopards, gharials, and over 600 bird species.

Why are National Parks in India important for competitive exams?

National parks feature extensively in UPSC Prelims (Environment & Ecology, Geography), SSC CGL, Banking, Railway, and State PSC papers. Key tested areas include the oldest (Jim Corbett), largest (Hemis), smallest (South Button Island/Guindy), state with the most parks (Madhya Pradesh), UNESCO World Heritage parks (7 parks), Project Tiger\u2019s launch site (Corbett, 1973), the only Asiatic Lion habitat (Gir, Gujarat), the only floating national park (Keibul Lamjao, Manipur), the only 4-big-cat park (Namdapha, Arunachal), and specific wildlife associations \u2014 one-horned rhino (Kaziranga), Sangai deer (Keibul Lamjao), Nilgiri Tahr (Eravikulam), Great Indian Bustard (Desert NP, Rajasthan).

Relevant For

UPSC Prelims UPSC Mains GS-III SSC CGL Banking GA Railways RRB State PSC Environment & Ecology Geography GK

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