National parks of India: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

India's first National park was Hailey National Park, now Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1935. by 1970 India had five national parks; today it has over 85.

In addition to its national parks, India has established many wildlife sanctuaries and forest preserves, some of which were established in the nineteenth century. Many national parks were first established as preserves or sanctuaries.

The Indian government has also established thirteen Biosphere Reserves, which protect larger areas of natural habitat, and often include one or more national parks and/or preserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses. The biosphere reserves include Nilgiri, Pachmarhi, Manas, Great Nicobar, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Agasthyamalai, Khangchendzonga, Dehang-Debang, Dibru-Saikhowa, Simlipal, Sundarbans, and Gulf of Mannar.

Some of India's National Parks are listed below, with the year they were established and the state they are located in.

• Anshi National Park (1987), Karnataka
• Bandhavgarh National Park (1968), Madhya Pradesh
• Bandipur National Park (1974), Karnataka
• Bannerghatta National Park (1974), Karnataka
• Jim Corbett National Park (1935), Uttar Pradesh
• Gir Forest National Park (1975), Gujarat
• Kanha National Park (1955), Madhya Pradesh
• Kaziranga National Park (1974) Assam
• Keoladeo National Park (1981), Rajasthan
• Kudremukh National Park (1987) Karnataka
• Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
• Madhav National Park (1959), Madhya Pradesh
• Manas National Park (1990), Assam
• Nagarhole National Park (1988), Karnataka
• Nanda Devi National Park (1982), Uttar Pradesh
• Pench National Park (1975), Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
• Rajaji National Park (1988), Uttar Pradesh
• Ranthambore National Park (1980), Rajasthan
• Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Borivali National Park) (1983), Maharashtra
• Sariska Tiger Reserve (1982), Rajasthan
• Satpura National Park (1981), Madhya Pradesh
• Sundarbans National Park (1984), West Bengal
• Valley of Flowers (1982), Uttar Pradesh
• Velevadar National Park (1976), Uttar Pradesh