There are 106 existing national parks in India, covering about 44,403 sq km according to the Wildlife Institute of India's National Wildlife Database. National parks are important protected areas for conserving wildlife, plants and their habitats. For GK preparation, the most useful facts are the park's name, state or Union Territory, notable species and the ecosystem it protects.
How Many National Parks Are There in India?
As of the latest Wildlife Institute of India database information available for this guide, India has 106 existing national parks covering approximately 44,402.95 sq km. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change also describes India's protected-area network as including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves.
The total number can change when new areas are notified, boundaries are modified or protected-area classifications are updated. Therefore, for an examination requiring a current count, it is better to verify the latest government database rather than relying on an old textbook.
Important National Parks by State and Region
The following is a practical state-wise reference covering the best-known national parks and major exam associations. It is intended for GK revision rather than as a replacement for the complete government database.
| State / UT | Important National Parks | Useful GK Association |
|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Campbell Bay, Galathea Bay, Mahatma Gandhi Marine, Mount Manipur, Rani Jhansi Marine, Saddle Peak | Island ecosystems, marine habitats and endemic wildlife |
| Andhra Pradesh | Papikonda, Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram), Sri Venkateswara | Eastern Ghats and forest ecosystems |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Namdapha, Mouling | Eastern Himalayan biodiversity |
| Assam | Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang, Dibru-Saikhowa, Raimona, Dihing Patkai | One-horned rhinoceros, grasslands and Brahmaputra landscapes |
| Bihar | Valmiki | Terai and Himalayan foothill landscape |
| Chhattisgarh | Indravati, Kanger Ghati, Guru Ghasidas | Central Indian forests and biodiversity |
| Goa | Bhagwan Mahavir (Mollem) | Western Ghats |
| Gujarat | Gir, Blackbuck (Velavadar), Marine (Gulf of Kutch), Vansda | Asiatic lion, grassland and marine ecosystems |
| Haryana | Kalesar, Sultanpur | Shivalik forests and wetland bird habitat |
| Himachal Pradesh | Great Himalayan, Pin Valley, Inderkilla, Khirganga, Simbalbara | Himalayan ecosystems and high-altitude biodiversity |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Dachigam, Kishtwar, Kazinag, City Forest (Salim Ali) | Himalayan and temperate habitats |
| Jharkhand | Betla | Chota Nagpur Plateau forests |
| Karnataka | Bandipur, Nagarhole, Bannerghatta, Kudremukh, Anshi (Kali) | Western Ghats, elephants and tigers |
| Kerala | Periyar, Eravikulam, Silent Valley, Anamudi Shola, Mathikettan Shola, Pampadum Shola | Western Ghats, Nilgiri tahr and evergreen forests |
| Ladakh | Hemis | High-altitude cold desert and snow leopard habitat |
| Madhya Pradesh | Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, Kuno, Madhav, Sanjay, Van Vihar and fossil parks | Tiger landscapes, central Indian forests and fossil heritage |
| Maharashtra | Tadoba, Sanjay Gandhi, Chandoli, Gugamal, Navegaon, Pench | Central Indian forests and urban-edge conservation |
| Manipur | Keibul Lamjao, Shirui | Loktak wetland landscape and Sangai deer |
| Meghalaya | Nokrek, Balphakram | Meghalaya plateau and northeastern biodiversity |
| Mizoram | Murlen, Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) | Eastern Himalayan–northeastern forest ecosystems |
| Nagaland | Intanki (Ntangki) | Naga Hills and northeastern forests |
| Odisha | Bhitarkanika, Similipal | Mangrove, coastal and eastern highland ecosystems |
| Rajasthan | Ranthambore, Sariska, Keoladeo, Desert, Mukundra Hills | Tigers, wetlands and desert ecosystems |
| Sikkim | Khangchendzonga | Eastern Himalayas and high-altitude ecosystems |
| Tamil Nadu | Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Guindy, Gulf of Mannar Marine, Indira Gandhi (Anamalai) | Western Ghats, Nilgiri landscapes and marine biodiversity |
| Telangana | Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali, Mrugavani | Urban and dry deciduous habitats |
| Tripura | Clouded Leopard, Rajbari (Bison) | Northeastern forest ecosystems |
| Uttar Pradesh | Dudhwa | Terai ecosystem and grasslands |
| Uttarakhand | Jim Corbett, Rajaji, Nanda Devi, Valley of Flowers, Gangotri, Govind | Himalayan forests, rivers and alpine ecosystems |
| West Bengal | Sundarbans, Buxa, Gorumara, Jaldapara, Neora Valley, Singalila | Mangroves, Terai-Dooars forests and Himalayan biodiversity |
Famous National Parks and Their Wildlife
| National Park | State / UT | Key GK Association |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Corbett National Park | Uttarakhand | India's first national park; famous for tiger habitat |
| Kaziranga National Park | Assam | One-horned rhinoceros; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Gir National Park | Gujarat | Asiatic lion |
| Ranthambore National Park | Rajasthan | Tiger habitat and historic fort landscape |
| Bandhavgarh National Park | Madhya Pradesh | Tiger landscape and ancient fort area |
| Kanha National Park | Madhya Pradesh | Central Indian sal and bamboo forests; barasingha conservation |
| Bandipur National Park | Karnataka | Nilgiri landscape, elephants and tigers |
| Nagarhole National Park | Karnataka | Western Ghats and Nilgiri Biosphere landscape |
| Periyar National Park | Kerala | Western Ghats; elephants and lake-centred forest landscape |
| Eravikulam National Park | Kerala | Nilgiri tahr and high-altitude grasslands |
| Great Himalayan National Park | Himachal Pradesh | High-altitude Himalayan biodiversity; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Valley of Flowers National Park | Uttarakhand | Alpine meadows and Himalayan flora; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal | Mangrove ecosystem and Bengal tiger habitat |
| Keoladeo National Park | Rajasthan | Important wetland and bird habitat; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Hemis National Park | Ladakh | High-altitude habitat associated with the snow leopard |
| Keibul Lamjao National Park | Manipur | Floating wetland landscape and Sangai deer |
| Silent Valley National Park | Kerala | Evergreen rainforest ecosystem in the Western Ghats |
| Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch | Gujarat | Coral, mangrove and marine biodiversity |
| Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park | Tamil Nadu | Coral reefs, seagrass and coastal marine biodiversity |
First National Park in India
Jim Corbett National Park is widely recognised as India's first national park. It was established in 1936 in the United Provinces and was originally known as Hailey National Park. It was later renamed in honour of Jim Corbett. The park is in present-day Uttarakhand and forms part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve landscape.
What Makes a National Park Different?
Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, a national park is an area notified for protecting its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological or zoological importance. The Wildlife Institute of India notes that national parks receive a high level of protection and that human activity is restricted except where specifically permitted under the law and by the competent authority.
| Protected Area Type | Basic GK Difference |
|---|---|
| National Park | Notified primarily for strong protection of ecosystems and wildlife; activities are highly regulated. |
| Wildlife Sanctuary | Created for protection of wildlife and habitat, with legal provisions that can differ from national parks. |
| Conservation Reserve | Usually government land, often serving as a conservation area or ecological corridor around protected habitats. |
| Community Reserve | Conservation area on community or private land where local participation has a formal role. |
Important GK Facts About National Parks in India
- India currently has 106 existing national parks according to the Wildlife Institute of India's national-park database.
- India's first national park was established in 1936 and is now known as Jim Corbett National Park.
- Kaziranga is strongly associated with the one-horned rhinoceros.
- Gir is the best-known Indian national park for the Asiatic lion.
- Keibul Lamjao is associated with the floating wetland ecosystem of Loktak Lake and the Sangai deer.
- Hemis is a high-altitude national park in Ladakh and is associated with snow leopard habitat.
- Eravikulam is famous for the Nilgiri tahr and its high-altitude grassland landscape.
- Sundarbans protects part of the world's famous mangrove-dominated delta ecosystem and is associated with Bengal tiger habitat.
- Keoladeo is an important wetland and bird habitat in Rajasthan and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Great Himalayan and Valley of Flowers are among India's national parks recognised within UNESCO World Heritage properties.
- A national park can protect terrestrial, wetland, high-altitude, coastal or marine ecosystems.
- The number of national parks is a changeable administrative fact and should be checked against current government data for exams.
One-Minute Revision: National Park and Key Fact
| National Park | Remember This |
|---|---|
| Jim Corbett | First national park in India, 1936 |
| Kaziranga | One-horned rhinoceros |
| Gir | Asiatic lion |
| Ranthambore | Tiger habitat |
| Kanha | Barasingha and central Indian forests |
| Eravikulam | Nilgiri tahr |
| Hemis | Snow leopard habitat |
| Keibul Lamjao | Floating wetland and Sangai |
| Sundarbans | Mangroves and Bengal tiger habitat |
| Keoladeo | Wetland and birds |
How to Prepare National Parks for GK
Do not try to memorise 106 names randomly. Build a simple three-layer map in your notes: Park → State/UT → Key species or ecosystem. Then revise the first national park and major UNESCO-associated parks separately.
- Step 1: Learn the most frequently asked parks such as Corbett, Kaziranga, Gir, Kanha and Ranthambore.
- Step 2: Add the state or Union Territory for each park.
- Step 3: Attach one identifying species or ecosystem to each name.
- Step 4: Group parks by Himalayas, Western Ghats, Northeast, central India, desert and coastal/marine regions.
- Step 5: Recheck the current national-park count from an official source before an examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many national parks are there in India?
The Wildlife Institute of India currently lists 106 existing national parks in India.
Which was the first national park in India?
Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1936 and originally known as Hailey National Park, is recognised as India's first national park.
Which national park is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros?
Kaziranga National Park in Assam is especially famous for its one-horned rhinoceros population.
Which national park is famous for Asiatic lions?
Gir National Park in Gujarat is the best-known protected area associated with the Asiatic lion.
Which national park is associated with the Sangai deer?
Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur is associated with the Sangai deer and the floating wetland ecosystem of Loktak Lake.
Which national park is associated with the snow leopard?
Hemis National Park in Ladakh is a major high-altitude habitat associated with the snow leopard.
Which national park is famous for the Nilgiri tahr?
Eravikulam National Park in Kerala is strongly associated with the Nilgiri tahr.
Are national parks and wildlife sanctuaries the same?
No. Both are protected areas, but their legal provisions, permitted activities and management frameworks differ.
Can the number of national parks in India change?
Yes. New notifications, boundary changes and administrative updates can change the official count or details. Current government databases should be used for time-sensitive figures.
Where can I verify the current list of national parks in India?
The Wildlife Institute of India and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provide official protected-area information. State Forest Departments can also provide current park-specific notifications.
Related General Knowledge Guides
Continue with CalcuPortal's General Knowledge guides, including Important Rivers in India, Important Lakes in India, Highest Mountains in India, Indian States and Capitals and Indian States and Languages.