Good Friday long weekend escapes from Delhi: Top national parks in India for a wildlife break

Good Friday weekend is the perfect time to explore India’s vast wilderness. For wildlife lovers, travellers and photographers planning a long weekend escape, India has some famous national parks which are easily accessible and offer high chances of wildlife sightings. On this note, let’s have a look at India’s top five national parks which are worth exploring for memorable short getaways into the wild.Have a look:Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan Ranthambore undoubtedly is your best bet if you wish to witness a tiger in its raw habitat. If there’s one national park that perfectly blends history with wildlife, it is Ranthambore in Rajasthan. The park makes a perfect weekend escape and is easily accessible from Delhi and Jaipur. The park is home to the royal Bengal tigers.How to reach from Delhi (560 km) To reach Ranthambore National Park from Delhi, you can take a train to Sawai Madhopur which is the nearest station. It takes around 3.5–4 hours. Travellers can drive via NH52 from Delhi which takes around 6–7 hours.The nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport which is about 3–4 hours, depending on the road traffic.Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand) Not many must be aware of the fact that Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India. It is considered a perfect wildlife sanctuary promising a range of wildlife sightings including the royal Bengal tigers, elephants and leopards along with hundreds of species of birds. It’s a haven for both wildlife enthusiasts and photographers.How to reach from Delhi (250 km):It takes around 5-6 hours to reach Jim Corbett National Park (Ramnagar, Uttarakhand) from Delhi via NH9/NH734. Travellers can also take a train to Ramnagar Railway Station or a bus from Delhi. The nearest airport is Pantnagar Airport, which is around 80 km away.Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh) Kanha is the park that inspired the iconic “The Jungle Book”. The park is among India’s most scenic tiger reserves and is noted for its successful conservation of the rare barasingha (swamp deer). It’s a perfect weekend escape offering a less crowded wildlife experience, making it perfect for travellers seeking adventure in silence.How to reach from Delhi:The nearest airport is Jabalpur Airport or Raipur Airport. From there, it’s a 3–5 hours drive. You can also take a train to Jabalpur or Gondia. Kaziranga National Park (Assam) Kaziranga, the land of one-horned rhinos, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses. This park in Assam offers a unique and is a perfect place to spot rhinos, elephants, wild buffalo, swamp deer, and tigers. Jeep and elephant safaris offer perfect opportunities to see the wildlife up and close.How to reach from Delhi:From Delhi, regular flights are available to Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Assam. From there, the park is about 220 km away, which takes around 4–5 hours to drive. Sundarbans National Park Sundarbans National Park is another must visit national park which offers a completely unique adventure. It is a mysterious escape noted for its mangrove forests. If you are lucky, you can also spot elusive Royal Bengal tigers in the park safari. It’s an experience you won’t get at any other national parks in India. How to reach from Delhi:The nearest airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata. From here, the park is 3–4 hours drive to Godkhali. Then take a boat to enter the Sundarbans. Happy long weekend!