The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 established Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in India. According to this law, the Central and State Governments are responsible for declaring and managing the country’s National Parks. Presently, India has 106 National Parks. Among those 106 National parks in India,

1. The largest national park in India is Hemis National Park, located in Jammu and Kashmir.

2. The smallest National Park in India is South Button Island National Park, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

3. Khangchendzonga National Park, located in Sikkim, is the fifth largest national park in India with an area of about 1,784 sq. km.

The primary objectives of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India are to protect wildlife, conserve plant and animal species, and restore the ecological balance. India has a network of more than 880 protected areas, encompassing approximately 166,550 square kilometres. Candidates can download this PDF from the link below. For any queries, kindly visit the FAQs listed below.

Download the Largest National Parks in India PDF

Top 10 Largest National Parks in India List

The top 10 national parks in India are listed below in the table with their area in sq. km, state, and their established year.

Top 5 Largest National Parks in India

Here are some key points about the top 5 national parks in India.

1. Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is located in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir.

• This park is well-known to tourists for its snow leopard population.

• It stands as the only national park in the northern Himalayas and is recognized as the largest national park in the nation.

• The park is situated within the Tibetan plateau, encompassing a diverse landscape that includes pine forests, alpine tundra, meadows, and shrublands.

• It serves as a habitat for over 200 snow leopards, primarily found in the Rumbak catchment area.

2. Desert National Park

The Desert National Park, situated in Rajasthan close to Jaisalmer, stretches across the Thar Desert.

• It is recognized as the largest national park in Rajasthan, as well as one of the largest in India.

• The park's total area is 3,162 square kilometres.

• It contains three significant lakes: Rajbaugh Lake, Malik Talao Lake, and Padam Talao, crucial watering points for the park's inhabitants.

• The park's diverse flora includes species such as dhok, ronj, salai, and various palm trees.

• Vegetation is sparse, with noticeable patches of sewan grass and aak shrubs.

• Additionally, the Desert National Park is home to a significant collection of fossils representing animals and plants that date back approximately 180 million years.

3. Gangotri National Park

Gangotri National Park is situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

• It is the largest protected area in the region, encompassing approximately 2,390 square kilometres.

• This park is located in the upper catchment area of the Bhagirathi River and is renowned for being the source of the Ganga River and the Gangotri Glacier.

• It boasts a rich variety of Himalayan flora and fauna, as well as stunning alpine meadows, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts, trekkers, pilgrims, and adventure seekers.

• The spiritual ambience of Gangotri Dham, along with its picturesque waterfalls and lush forest canopies, renders it an ideal location for a holiday.

4. Namdapha National Park

Namdapha, a National Park and Tiger Reserve, is a true wilderness known for its lush vegetation and pristine forests.

• Covering 1,985.23 square kilometres, this area boasts diverse flora and fauna and lies along the India-Myanmar border in the Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India.

• The Government officially recognized it as a Tiger Reserve in 1983.

• It is unique for hosting all four big cat species: Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Clouded Leopard.

5. Khangchendzonga National Park

Khangchendzonga National Park is located in the central Himalayan range in Sikkim, northern India.

• This national park features diverse landscapes, including plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers, and snow-covered mountains, surrounded by ancient forests.

• It is home to Mount Khangchendzonga, which ranks as the third-highest peak in the world.

• The park features an impressive vertical elevation of over 7 kilometres (from 1,220 meters to 8,586 meters) within a relatively compact area of 178,400 hectares.

• It encompasses a distinctive array of lowlands, steep valleys, and magnificent snow-capped mountains, contributing to its status as a region of global biodiversity importance.

• Notably, it occupies 25% of the State of Sikkim, recognized as one of India's most vital biodiversity hotspots.

Largest National Park in India Map

Candidates can easily understand the largest national parks in India from the following map below.

FAQs

Q: Which is the largest national park in India?

The biggest national park in India is Hemis National Park, situated in Jammu and Kashmir.

Q: Which is the smallest national park in India?

The smallest National Park in India is South Button Island National Park, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Q: Which is the oldest national park in India?

Jim Corbett National Park, in Uttarakhand, is the oldest national park in India.

Q: Which state has no national park in India?

Punjab is the only state in India which has no area notified as a national park.

Q: Which is the newest national park in India?

Dehing Patkai National Park in Assam's Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts was designated a national park on June 9, 2021.