The 10 Oldest National Parks In India

As of May 2019, India had 104 national parks covering a total of 40,501.13 square km that comprises 1.23% of the total surface area of the nation. Below is a list of five of the oldest national parks in India.

1. Jim Corbett National Park - 1936

Amir Jacobi [Attribution]

India's oldest national park, the Jim Corbett National Park was established as early as 1836 by the British who were then ruling in India. It covers parts of the Nainital and Pauri Garhwal districts of the Uttarakhand state of India. Initially, a reserve area of 323.75 square km in the area was created. It was named Hailey National Park after Sir Malcolm Hailey, the then governor of United Provinces. It also became the first national park in Asia. Hunting was then completely prohibited in the area. In 1954-55, the park was renamed as Ramganga National Park. A year later in 1955–56, it was once more renamed to Jim Corbett National Park after the famous naturalist and author, Jim Corbett. In 1974, the park became the first site for the launching of Project Tiger. Today, India's oldest national park occupies an area of 520.8 square km that includes spectacular landscapes of grasslands, lakes, hills, riverine belts, and marshes. The elevation of the park ranges from 1,300 to 4,000 ft. Around 110 species of trees, 50 mammalian species including the Bengal tiger, 580 bird species, and more are found in this national park.

2. Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary - 1940

PP Yoonus [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Set up in 1940, the Mudumalai National Park is India's second oldest national park. Before that, Mudumalai was a game reserve encompassing an area of 62 square km. When the Madras Presidency took control of the area, Mudumalai was declared a national park. In 2007, it was made into a tiger reserve. Today, the national park occupies 321 square km on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is home to many threatened species like the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian elephant, gaur, 266 species of birds, and more.

3. Tadoba National Park - 1955

Manoj Sabale [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

Located in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district, the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is India's third-oldest and Maharashtra's oldest national park. It was created in 1955. The area was once ruled by the Gond kings. Hunting was banned here in 1935. In 1955, 116.54 square km of this forest area was designated as a national park. In 1986, the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was established nearby. In 1995, both the national park and sanctuary were merged to form the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. The reserve covers an area of 577.96 square km.

3. Sariska National Park - 1955

Tanishq Jain 662 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

The Sariska National Park is located in Rajasthan's Alwar district. It was also founded in 1955. It covers an area of 866 square km that includes grasslands, rocky hills, scrub-thorn forests, and dry deciduous forests. In the past, the area served as a hunting preserve of the royals of the Alwar state. In 1955, it was designated a national park and in 1978, it was made part of a Tiger Reserve. Sariska is home to tigers, leopards, jungle cats, dholes, Indian jackals, striped hyenas, Indian peafowl, and many other species of fauna.

3. Kanha National Park - 1955

Ashishmahaur [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

The Kanha National Park was also established in 1955. It is the biggest national park in Madhya Pradesh. In 1973, it was made into the Kanha Tiger Reserve. Today, this protected area covers 940 square km in the Balaghat and Mandla districts of Madhya Pradesh. The park hosts a significant population of tigers, Indian leopards, dholes, sloth bears, and the barasingha.