Keoladeo Ghana or Bharatpur National Park: Rajasthan.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the most spectacular bird sanctuaries in India, nesting indigenous water- birds as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds. Sambar, chital, nilgai and boar also inhabit it. More than 300 species of birds are found in this small park of 29 sq. km. of which 11 sq. km. are marshes and the rest scrubland and grassland. Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which stands at the centre of the park. 'Ghana' means dense, referring to the thick forest, which used to cover the area. While many of India's parks have been developed from the hunting preserves of princely India, Keoladeo Ghana is perhaps the only case where the habitat has been created by a maharaja. In earlier times, Bharatpur town used to be flooded regularly every monsoon. In 1760, an earthern dam (Ajan Dam) was constructed, to save the town, from this annual vagary of nature. The depression created by extraction of soil for the dam was cleared and this became the Keoladeo lake. At the beginning of this century, this lake was developed, and was divided into several portions. A system of small dams, dykes, sluice gates, etc., was created to control water level in different sections. This became the hunting preserve of the Bharatpur royalty, and one of the best duck - shooting wetlands in the world. Hunting was prohibited by mid-60s. The area was declared a national park on 10 March 1982, and accepted as a World Heritage Site in December 1985.
Fauna: Over 350 species of birds find a refuge in the 29 sq km of shallow lakes and woodland, which makes up the park. A third of them are migrants, many of whom spend their winters in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds, as far away as Siberia and Central Asia. Migratory birds at Keoladeo include, as large a bird as Dalmatian pelican, which is slightly less than two meters, and as small a bird as Siberian disky leaf warbler, which is the size of a finger.
Other migrants include several species of cranes, pelicans, geese, ducks, eagles, hawks, shanks, stints, wagtails, warblers, wheatears, flycatchers, buntings, larks and pipits, etc. But of all the migrants, the most sought after is the Siberian Crane or the great white crane, which migrates to this site every year, covering a distance of more than half the globe. These birds, numbering only a few hundred, are on the verge of extinction. It is birds from the western race of the species, that visit Keoladeo, migrating from the Ob river basin region, in the Aral mountains, in Siberia via Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are only two wintering places, left for this extremely rare species.One is in Feredunkenar in Iran, and the other is Keoladeo Ghana. The journey to Bharatpur takes them 6,400 kms from their breeding grounds, in Siberia. They arrive in December and stay till early March. Unlike Indian cranes, the Siberian crane is entirely vegetarian. It feeds on underground aquatic roots and tubers in loose flocks of five or six.

Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary: Rajasthan

Sariska became a sanctuary in the year 1958. The sanctuary came under the project Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982. It is located at Kankwari fort, near Alwar, on the Delhi Jaipur Highway. The terrain is predominantly hilly, as it lies in the Aravalli range. It has total area of 788 sq. kilometres, with a core area of approx. 47 sq. kilometres.
Fauna: At last count in 1985, there 35 tigers were reported. Other carnivores of the area are the panthe, jungle cat, jackal and hyena. Three caracals were also reported during the last census in 1985. Other animals include the sambhar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai and umpteen porcupines.
The birdlife comprises of the peafowl, gray partridge, quail, sandgrouse, tree pie, white-breasted kingfisher, golden woodpecker and great indian horned owl.

Desert National Park: Rajasthan

Desert National Park: The Desert National Park is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar desert and its diverse fauna. Sand dunes form around 20% of the Park. The major landform consists of craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes, which are quite suitable for the chinkara to move at high speed. The blackbuck is another common antelope of this region. Its other notable inhabitants are the desert fox, Bengal fox, wolf and desert cat.Sudashri forest post is the ideal place for observing the wildlife of Desert National Park and is the most suitable in the entire 3162 sq. kms. of this park for watching and photographing the activities of the animals from behind cover.Bird life in this sandy habitat is vivid and spectacular. Birds such as the sand grouse, partridges, bee-eaters, larks and shrikes are commonly seen. Demoiselle crane and houbara arrive in the winter. The birds of prey seen here are tawny and steppe eagles, long legged and honey buzzards, falcons and kestrels. But the most outstanding of the avifauna is the great Indian bustard. This tall, heavy bird is an epitome of confidence and grace. It is good to see five or six bustards near Sudashri water hole.
This park is also very rich in reptiles. Spiny tail lizard, monitor lizard, saw sealed viper, Russel's viper, Sind krait, toad agama and sandfish are found in large numbers.
18 kms from Jaisalmer is the Akal Wood Fossils Park, which is about 180 million years of age. Seashells and massive fossilised tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert.  

Ranthambore National Park: Rajasthan

Near the township of Sawai Madhopur, in the state of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is an outstanding example of Project Tiger's efforts at conservationin the country. The forests around the Ranthambore Fort were once, the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The desire to preserve the game in these forests for sport, was responsible for their conservation, and subsequent rescue by Project Tiger.
The Park sprawls over an estimated area of 400 sq kms. Steep crags embracea network of lakes and rivers, and a top one of these hills, is the impressive Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century. The terrain fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bushland. The forest is the typically dry deciduous type, with dhok, being the most prominent tree. The entry point to the Park, goes straight to the foot of the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The latter boasts of the second-largest banyan tree in India.
The Padam Talab, the Raj Bagh Talab and the Milak Talab are some of the lakes in the area, that attract the tiger population . They have been spotted at the edges of these lakes, and Jogi Mahal itself. Old crumbling walls, ruined pavilions, wells, and other ancient structures stand witness to the region's glorious past. The entire forest is peppered with the battlements and spillovers of the Ranthambore Fort - tigers are said to frequent these ruins, too. As a result of stringent efforts in conservation, tigers, the prime assets of the Park, have become more and more active during the day. More than in any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers are easily spotted here in daylight. They can be seen lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down sambar around the lakes. 

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Uttar Pradesh

Chandra Prbha Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Established in 1997,Chandra Prabha Sanctuary, a small sanctuary sprawling over an area of 78 sq. kms, is located on Naugarh and Vijaigarh hillocks in Vindhya forest range, in Chandauli district. The sanctuary, rich in varied types of flora and fauna is a feast to the eyes and a perfect treat for the nature lover.
Fauna: The sanctuary has a rich and varied wildlife, which comprises of panther, chinkara, sambar, chital, partridge and peafowl. Leopard, hyena, jackal, wolf and 'sehi' bear can be seen roaming around in the tranquil environs of the park.The park is a bird watchers' paradise, as one can see around 150 species of birds. The wild vegetation comprises mahua, saagun, amaltas, tendu, koraiya, ber etc. 

Dudhwa National Park: Uttar Pradesh

Further east along the Terai, the Dudhwa National Park, which is also a Tiger Reserve, is localted in the district of Lakhimpur - Kheri, very close to the Nepal border. The 498.29 sq.km. Park has fine sal forests and extensive grasslands.Tall coarse grass, sometimes-forming impenetrable thickets, swampy depressions and lakes characterise the wetlands of the Park. These are the habitat of large numbers of barasingha, the magnificent swamp deer, noted for their multi-tined antlers (bara-12 singha-horn). These in turn support the predators-the tiger and leopard. Though the PARK has a fair population of tigers, they are rarely seen owing to the nature of the forest cover. The grasslands are also ideal terrain for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. In an exciting project undertaken in 1984, a number of rhinos were trans located here from Assam and Nepal, in an attempt to extend their habitats and to exclude the possibility of wiping out entire populations through diseas and epidemics. Presently, 13 rhinos can be seen in Dhudwa. Other inhabitants include the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig and the lesser cats- fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and civet. Dudhwa has also an abundance of birds. There are spectacular painted storks, black and white necked storks, sarus cranes and varied night birds of prey, ranging from the great Indian horned owl to the jungle owlet, Colorful woodpeckers, barbets, kingfishers, minivets, bee eaters and bulbuls flit through the forest canopy. 

Hastinapur Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Founded in 1986, in Meerut, Ghaziabad, Bijnore and Jyotiba Phule Nagar, The Hastinapur Sanctuary sprawling in an area of 2073 sq. kms.The population of the wild animals includes various species of animals including antelope, sambhar, cheetal, blue bull, leopard, hyena, wild cat, and different types of birds. It also houses alligators.

Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Kaimoor sanctuary, located on the Uttar Pradesh - Bihar border, is spread over an area of 500 sq. km. The sanctuary, established in 1982 is easily accessible by road. The wildlife population comprises leopard, blackbuck, chital, chinkara, ratel and peafowl.

Katrnighat Wildlife Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Spread over an area of 400 sq. kms near the Nepal border, the little known, Katarniaghat Sanctuary was established in 1976. It is located in the Terai area on Indo-Nepal border of Bahraich district. Tiger, leopard, swamp deer, blackbuck, chital, barking deer, sambar, nilgai, sloth bear and wild boar are some of the inhabitants of the sanctuary.

Mahavir Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Located in Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh, the Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 5.4 sq. km. The sanctuary is 125 km from Jhansi, the magnificent gateway to the Bundelkhand region, rendered famous by the legendary Rani Laxmi Bai. The main population of the sanctuary consists of animals such as leopard, neel gai, wild boar and sambhar and there is a rich variety of avian population. The region is also very rich in flora.

National Chambal Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

The rare Gangetic dolphin is the main attraction of National Chambal Sanctuary. The other inhabitants of this sanctuary are magar (crocodile) and gharial (alligator), chinkara, sambar, nilgai, wolf and wild boar. Founded in 1979 the sanctuary is a part of a large area co-administered by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

Nawab Ganj Bird Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

Nawabganj bird sanctuary, located 45 kms from Lucknow is Home to several migratory and water birds.
Fauna: An ideal site for bird watching and photography, this sanctuary has a huge marshland and shallow lake bordered with mixed dry forest. The avian population of the sanctuary comprises among others the pochard, shoveller, woodpecker, parakeet, coot, purple moorhen and common teal.

Ranipur Sanctuary: Uttar Pradesh

This 230 sq. kms of sanctuary near Allahabad is rich in wildlife. It is the natural habitat of many animals including leopard, tiger, sloth bear, sambar, blackbuck, peafowl, spur-fowl, jungle fowl, printed partridge, fishing cat and chinkara