JUNGLE SAFARI As variegated and magnificent as its natural landscapes and features, is India's wild life splendor. The geographical diversity helps support an equally vast variety of animal and bird species. In fact some of the rarest species of wild life in the world can be encountered in different parts of the country. India is replete with reserves and sanctuaries to protect its wild life resources from exploitation and the ominous threat of extinction. The reserves aim to sustain the delicate balance of ecological factors that promote the need for perpetuation of India's virtually - unmatched diversity of wild life. India's first Wild Life Park, Jim Corbett National Park, was instituted in 1936. It boasts a well-developed infrastructure and is equipped with good facilities for safaris and accommodation for visitors. The Himalayas abound with national parks and Wild Life Sanctuary Dachigaon Wild Sancuary in Kashmir is one of many in this region that is the last and only habitat of some species. For that matter, Rajaji National Park in Uttaranchal (close to Dehradun / Rishikesh) can well be considered a great choice for a true wild life lover. Rajaji National Park is one of the largest reserve forests in the country, yet is lesser known probably due to less promotions and exposure. Fortunately, this place is not too cluttered with resorts and queued up SUVs. The park boasts of a varied variety of flora and wild life, in addition to being the western most limit of the Asian Elephant. Spotted Deers, Swamp Deers, Elephants, Wild Boars, Peacocks, and even…Panthers are seen pretty regularly during the jungle safaris. Reasonably good accommodation options are available close to the park. Game viewing in India can be an exhilarating experience, but also calls for a lot of patience. Sometimes though one can come away from a short excursion tingling with the memory of a close encounter of the wild kind! Sighting an animal of prey or rare endangered species at close range is worth a long wait and can be a well assured, once-in-a lifetime experience. Among the numerous reserves in other parts of the country , Little Rann of Kutch in the Thar desert in Gujarat protects the last lot of Indian Wild Ass (a.k.a. Ghudkas). Similarly, the Keoladeo National Park (formerly known as Bharatpur) is the country's greatest bird sanctuary., protecting over 300 bird species. more on this...