Discover The Real Jungle Book in India

Many of us are familiar with the tale of the Jungle Book, whether it’s Rudyard Kipling’s original children’s story, Disney’s famous animated classic, or the newest adaptation released recently this year. What many may be less familiar with is the fact that the inspiration for this story actually came from India and the wildlife that dwells there. While the movie adaptations may have exaggerated the truth a little, sorry to say you won’t find any Orangutans swinging in the wild in India, many of the animals that feature in both the movie and original book can actually be viewed in destinations across India. Here we take a look at some of the best places to view animals in their natural habitat, so you can enjoy your very own real life Jungle Book in India.

Pench National Park

One of the national parks that inspired the Jungle Book, Pench National Park with its lush forests and abundance of wildlife is a great destination for animal spotting, as well as just to admire India’s wild natural beauty. For those keen to see tigers, you’re in luck, as Pench is known for being one of the better places to spot these elusive creatures, alongside other animals including Indian leopard, wild dog, wild pig and more. There are also several species of bird present in this park, making it a great destination for birders.  With the Pench River running through the park, giving the park its name, this is also a great place for rafting for those who want to add even more excitement into their adventure.

Kanha National Park

Another one of India’s national parks commonly associated with the Jungle Book, in Kanha National Park expect to find lush bamboo forests, grasslands, rivers and streams, all supporting a wide variety of wildlife. Perfect for those who are looking for an all-round nature experience rather than to necessarily spot one particular species, as one of the biggest national parks in India you can expect to see all kinds of different animals, plants and more here. However, with that being said there is a significant population of tiger, sloth bear, leopard, and swamp deer present, so you can rest assured that your safari will be an exciting experience.

Bandhavgarh National Park

The beautiful surroundings have to be one of the main attractions of this national park, as well as the fact that it has the highest concentration of Bengal tigers out of any other destination on earth. It is slightly more difficult to reach and more expensive to enter, however it is well worth it for the fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities it affords, if you want to spot a tiger your best bet would be to come here. As well as tiger there is also the chance of spotting leopard, deer, and other species of animals, as well as a variety of birds too making it a varied safari experience.

Kaziranga National Park

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you know you are in for a treat when it comes to Kaziranga National Park. Made up mostly of swamp and grasslands, the environment provides the perfect habitat for a wide range of different animal species, one of the main attractions being the one-horned rhinoceros, with the largest population of the species in the world being found here. Alongside these rhinos, visitors can expect to find wild elephants, tigers, buffalo, otters, leopards and many other species present here, making it an ideal destination for a rewarding safari. Thousands of migratory birds are also known to arrive in this park each year, so there’s plenty here to keep bird-watchers entertained too.

Ranthambore National Park

Possibly India’s most popular national park, largely due to its proximity to Delhi which makes it more convenient for visitors to reach it, this does mean that at times Ranthambore National Park can attract large crowds and become slightly busier than other parks. That being said, it is still a fantastic destination for wildlife viewing, with tiger sightings being fairly common and other species such as leopards, sloth bears, striped hyenas, macaques and more also being spotted here. This park is also great for those wanting to discover India’s history a little more, with the park featuring a fort built in the 10th Century that can be explored.

 

If you are interested in visiting any of India’s national parks, get in contact with one of our travel experts by calling 020 7843 3531 or emailing info@clevelandcollection.co.uk and they will be able to assist you in tailor-making a bespoke itinerary including any of the national parks that you would like to visit.