Beyond wildlife safari: 6 must-enjoy activities in national parks

While safaris are the primary attraction in India's national parks, there's an entire other world out there beyond the jeep. Here are six experiences you won't want to miss the next time you're at a national park.

Nothing gets you nearer to the wild than cinching your boots and taking on the trails. Whether you're walking in Hemis' alpine stillness in Ladakh or winding your way through Periyar's rainforests in Kerala, trekking allows you to hear each crunch of leaf and rustle of wind. You may also discover secluded waterfalls or time-shaped rock formations along the way. Local guides will tell you forest secrets you would have no idea about otherwise.

Silence and patience are what you need if you're a traveler who likes to keep quiet. For birdwatching, which is a quiet but profoundly rewarding activity, you can go out at sunrise in locations such as Keoladeo in Bharatpur or Kaziranga in Assam, where the forest rings with birdsong. Binoculars at the ready, you may catch a glimpse of a splash of bright feathers or the sound of a hornbill's unmistakable call. It's as if you're tuning into a hidden frequency of the wild.

Sailing quietly over mirror-flat jungle waters is an experience like no other. While in Periyar or Satpura, boat safaris provide a peaceful, pensive means of viewing wildlife. You might see elephants walking into the river or birds diving to catch fish. The tree reflections on the water, only interrupted by your splash, are almost surreal. It's just the right combination of excitement and tranquility, enjoyed best with a balmy wind and open eyes.

There is something enchanting about overnight camping in the woods. In such wilderness parks as Pench and Jim Corbett, you can overnight camp in specially designated campsites under skilled guidance. Imagine this: a sky full of stars above you, a warm campfire crackling nearby, and jungle sounds all around. Every sound in the forest feels louder and more alive like hooting owls, rustling leaves, distant howls, or even the soft hum of crickets.

Just beyond the protected forests live villages that have lived in coexistence with nature for centuries. Traveling through villages close to Kanha or Similipal introduces you to an entirely new world. As you walk through the village, you’ll see mud homes with hand-painted walls, people weaving baskets or crafting pottery, and children running freely under the open sky. You can learn to do local crafts yourself, or attend traditional music and dance performances. These trips are not about seeing the sights, they're about knowing.

Ever wanted to see what the forest is like from a bird's perspective? In destinations such as Wayanad and Chinnar in Kerala, walkways in the canopy allow you to amble through the trees. Hovering above the forest floor, these bridges open up an entirely new realm. You can see birds' nests, butterflies flitting, even a monkey swinging from branch to branch. The ideal time to visit is early morning or sundown. It's serene, slightly thrilling, and absolutely unforgettable.