Introduction
National Parks in India are protected areas established to conserve wildlife, biodiversity, natural habitats, forests and ecological systems. India has a remarkable variety of national parks, ranging from Himalayan landscapes and tropical forests to desert ecosystems, mangroves and marine environments.
For competitive examinations such as ADRE, APSC, UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways and other government exams, questions are frequently asked about the names, states, locations, important species and special features of National Parks.
This article provides a state-wise list of National Parks in India, along with important exam-oriented facts.
What is a National Park?
A National Park is a legally protected area established primarily for the conservation of wildlife, flora, fauna, ecosystems and natural landscapes.
National Parks receive a high degree of legal protection. Activities such as hunting and exploitation of forest resources are generally prohibited, subject to the applicable legal framework and permitted activities.
India's protected-area network is administered under the framework of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is responsible for national-level wildlife policy and support to States and Union Territories.
How Many National Parks Are There in India?
The official Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change wildlife page currently lists 107 National Parks.
Complete State-Wise List of National Parks in India
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Important National Parks include:
1. Campbell Bay National Park
2. Galathea Bay National Park
3. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
4. Middle Button Island National Park
5. Mount Manipur National Park (formerly Mount Harriet)
6. North Button Island National Park
7. Rani Jhansi Marine National Park
8. Saddle Peak National Park
9. South Button Island National Park
Exam Point: Andaman and Nicobar Islands are particularly important for marine biodiversity, coral reefs and island ecosystems.
2. Andhra Pradesh
1. Papikonda National Park
2. Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) National Park
3. Sri Venkateswara National Park
3. Arunachal Pradesh
1. Mouling National Park
2. Namdapha National Park
Important: Namdapha is one of India's major biodiversity-rich protected areas and is famous for its varied Himalayan and tropical ecosystems.
4. Assam ⭐
1. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
2. Kaziranga National Park
3. Manas National Park
4. Nameri National Park
5. Orang National Park
6. Raimona National Park
7. Dihing Patkai National Park
8. Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park*
*Recent sources list Sikhna Jwhwlao as a 2025 addition.
Important Assam Facts
Kaziranga National Park
- Famous for the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
- Also supports tiger, elephant, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.
Manas National Park
- Located in western Assam.
- Important habitat for the golden langur, pygmy hog and several other threatened species.
- Associated with the Manas River system.
Dibru-Saikhowa
- Known for wetland and riverine ecosystems.
- Important for birds and wild horses/feral horses.
Nameri
- Located in northern Assam.
- Known for the Jia-Bhoreli river ecosystem and rich birdlife.
Orang
- Often associated with the one-horned rhinoceros and Brahmaputra floodplain ecosystem.
Raimona
- Located in western Assam.
- Important for biodiversity of the eastern Himalayan foothills.
Dihing Patkai
- Located in Upper Assam.
- Known for tropical rainforest ecosystems and rich biodiversity.
⭐ ADRE Special
For Assam competitive exams, remember:
Kaziranga → One-horned Rhinoceros
Manas → Golden Langur / Pygmy Hog
Dibru-Saikhowa → Riverine & wetland ecosystem
Nameri → Jia-Bhoreli ecosystem
Raimona → Western Assam
Dihing Patkai → Rainforest ecosystem
5. Bihar
1. Valmiki National Park
Exam Point: Valmiki National Park is the only National Park of Bihar.
6. Chhattisgarh
1. Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park
2. Indravati (Kutru) National Park
3. Kanger Valley National Park
7. Goa
1. Mollem National Park
8. Gujarat
1. Vansda National Park
2. Blackbuck (Velavadar) National Park
3. Gir National Park
4. Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh
Exam Point:
Gir National Park → Asiatic Lion
Velavadar → Blackbuck
Gulf of Kachchh → Marine ecosystem
9. Haryana
1. Kalesar National Park
2. Sultanpur National Park
Sultanpur → Important bird habitat
10. Himachal Pradesh
1. Great Himalayan National Park
2. Inderkilla National Park
3. Khirganga National Park
4. Pin Valley National Park
5. Simbalbara National Park
Important: Great Himalayan National Park is a major Himalayan biodiversity site.
11. Jammu and Kashmir
1. City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park
2. Dachigam National Park
3. Kishtwar National Park
Dachigam → Hangul / Kashmir stag
12. Ladakh
1. Hemis National Park
Exam Point: Hemis is famous for the snow leopard and is the largest National Park in India by area in commonly used exam references.
13. Jharkhand
1. Betla National Park
14. Karnataka
1. Anshi National Park
2. Bandipur National Park
3. Bannerghatta National Park
4. Kudremukh National Park
5. Nagarhole National Park
Important:
Bandipur → Tiger
Nagarhole → Tiger and elephant
Kudremukh → Western Ghats biodiversity
15. Kerala
1. Anamudi Shola National Park
2. Eravikulam National Park
3. Mathikettan Shola National Park
4. Pambadum Shola National Park
5. Periyar National Park
6. Silent Valley National Park
Eravikulam → Nilgiri tahr
Periyar → Elephant and tiger
Silent Valley → Tropical evergreen rainforest
16. Madhya Pradesh
1. Bandhavgarh National Park
2. Dinosaur Fossils National Park
3. Fossil National Park
4. Pench National Park
5. Kanha National Park
6. Madhav National Park
7. Panna National Park
8. Sanjay National Park
9. Satpura National Park
10. Van Vihar National Park
Important: Madhya Pradesh is one of India's most important states for tiger habitats.
17. Maharashtra
1. Chandoli National Park
2. Gugamal National Park
3. Nawegaon National Park
4. Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) National Park
5. Sanjay Gandhi National Park
6. Tadoba National Park
Tadoba → Important tiger habitat
Sanjay Gandhi → Urban National Park near Mumbai
18. Manipur
1. Keibul-Lamjao National Park
Exam Point: Keibul-Lamjao is famous as the world's only floating National Park and is associated with the Sangai deer.
19. Meghalaya
1. Balphakram National Park
2. Nokrek Ridge National Park
20. Mizoram
1. Murlen National Park
2. Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park
21. Nagaland
1. Intanki National Park
22. Odisha
1. Bhitarkanika National Park
2. Similipal National Park*
*Recent sources list Similipal as a National Park from 2025, making Odisha an important state to watch for updated exam questions.
Bhitarkanika → Saltwater crocodile and mangrove ecosystem
Similipal → Tiger and elephant habitat
23. Rajasthan
1. Desert National Park
2. Keoladeo Ghana National Park
3. Mukundra Hills National Park
4. Ranthambore National Park
5. Sariska National Park
Desert National Park → Great Indian Bustard habitat
Keoladeo → Famous bird sanctuary/National Park
Ranthambore → Tiger
Sariska → Tiger
24. Sikkim
1. Khangchendzonga National Park
Exam Point: Khangchendzonga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
25. Tamil Nadu
1. Guindy National Park
2. Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
3. Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) National Park
4. Mudumalai National Park
5. Mukurthi National Park
Gulf of Mannar → Marine biodiversity
Mudumalai → Nilgiri Biosphere landscape
Mukurthi → Nilgiri tahr
26. Telangana
1. Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park
2. Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park
3. Mrugavani National Park
27. Tripura
1. Clouded Leopard National Park
2. Bison (Rajbari) National Park
28. Uttar Pradesh
1. Dudhwa National Park
Dudhwa → Terai ecosystem and swamp deer
29. Uttarakhand
1. Jim Corbett National Park
2. Gangotri National Park
3. Govind National Park
4. Nanda Devi National Park
5. Rajaji National Park
6. Valley of Flowers National Park
Jim Corbett → India's first National Park
Nanda Devi + Valley of Flowers → UNESCO World Heritage Site
30. West Bengal
1. Buxa National Park
2. Gorumara National Park
3. Jaldapara National Park
4. Neora Valley National Park
5. Singalila National Park
6. Sundarban National Park
Sundarban → Mangrove ecosystem and Royal Bengal Tiger
Jaldapara → One-horned rhinoceros
States/UTs Without National Parks
The National Park network is not evenly distributed across India. Some States and Union Territories do not currently have a National Park.
Important examples include:
- Punjab
- Delhi
- Chandigarh
- Lakshadweep
- Puducherry
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
Most Important National Parks for Competitive Exams
National Park| State/UT| Famous For
Jim Corbett| Uttarakhand| First National Park; Tiger
Kaziranga| Assam| One-horned Rhinoceros
Manas| Assam| Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog
Gir| Gujarat| Asiatic Lion
Keibul-Lamjao| Manipur| Floating National Park; Sangai
Hemis| Ladakh| Snow Leopard; largest by area
Sundarban| West Bengal| Mangroves; Royal Bengal Tiger
Ranthambore| Rajasthan| Tiger
Kanha| Madhya Pradesh| Tiger; Barasingha
Bandipur| Karnataka| Tiger; Elephant
Periyar| Kerala| Elephant; Tiger
Eravikulam| Kerala| Nilgiri Tahr
Dudhwa| Uttar Pradesh| Terai wildlife
Great Himalayan| Himachal Pradesh| Himalayan biodiversity
Khangchendzonga| Sikkim| UNESCO World Heritage Site
Valley of Flowers| Uttarakhand| Alpine flora
Bhitarkanika| Odisha| Mangroves; Saltwater Crocodile
Gulf of Mannar| Tamil Nadu| Marine biodiversity
Desert National Park| Rajasthan| Great Indian Bustard
Important "First, Largest and Unique" Facts
First National Park of India
Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, established in 1936 as Hailey National Park.
Largest National Park
Hemis National Park, Ladakh is generally listed as India's largest National Park by area.
Floating National Park
Keibul-Lamjao National Park, Manipur
Famous Lion National Park
Gir National Park, Gujarat
Famous One-Horned Rhinoceros Parks
- Kaziranga – Assam
- Orang – Assam
- Jaldapara – West Bengal
- Dudhwa – Uttar Pradesh
Famous Snow Leopard National Park
Hemis – Ladakh
Famous Sangai Deer Park
Keibul-Lamjao – Manipur
Famous Nilgiri Tahr Parks
- Eravikulam – Kerala
- Mukurthi – Tamil Nadu
National Parks vs Wildlife Sanctuaries
National Park| Wildlife Sanctuary
Generally has a higher degree of protection| Protection can be comparatively less restrictive
Human activities are more strictly regulated| Certain activities may be permitted subject to law
Focuses on conservation of ecosystems and wildlife| Can focus on particular species or habitats
Declared under the Wild Life (Protection) Act framework| Also declared under the Wild Life (Protection) Act framework
Why National Parks Are Important
National Parks help to:
- Protect endangered species.
- Preserve biodiversity.
- Maintain ecological balance.
- Protect forests and natural habitats.
- Support scientific research.
- Promote environmental education.
- Support regulated eco-tourism.
- Preserve important ecosystems for future generations.
ADRE/APSC/UPSC Quick Revision
Remember these combinations:
Assam → Kaziranga → One-horned Rhinoceros
Gujarat → Gir → Asiatic Lion
Manipur → Keibul-Lamjao → Sangai
Ladakh → Hemis → Snow Leopard
West Bengal → Sundarban → Royal Bengal Tiger
Kerala → Eravikulam → Nilgiri Tahr
Uttarakhand → Corbett → First National Park
Rajasthan → Desert → Great Indian Bustard
Odisha → Bhitarkanika → Saltwater Crocodile
Sikkim → Khangchendzonga → UNESCO World Heritage
Conclusion
National Parks are an essential part of India's wildlife and biodiversity conservation system. For ADRE, APSC, UPSC and other competitive examinations, candidates should focus not only on memorising the names of National Parks but also on their states, important species, ecosystems and unique features.
The most effective approach is to remember each park through a simple combination:
National Park → State → Famous Species/Feature
Regular revision of the state-wise list can significantly improve performance in Indian Geography, Environment, General Knowledge and Current Affairs sections.
Keep revising, practise MCQs regularly, and update your notes whenever new National Parks are officially notified.
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