Go wild this January: Offbeat wildlife experiences in India

Those keen for a wildlife trip in India that is different than Corbett, Ranthambore, Sariska and Kanha are in for a surprise. While we are very much in love with these amazing wildlife destinations in India, the nation is home to many more wonders, treasure troves that could just be your next great love. Here, our favourite offbeat wildlife experiences in India.

Read more: Wildlife experiences in South India you should experience in 2023

This is one of the lushest forest zone in the country, and the wildlife sanctuary comes alive with rivers, wild streams, beautiful valleys and more. It is one of the very few homes to the very rare black panthers; other than the panthers, you can also spot elephants, bisons, sloth bear, antelopes, crocodiles and more. Definitely on our list.

Ladakh is a land of all things wild; more so, when we write about the famous Hemis National Park. It is one of India's most rugged landscapes, and is home to the very elusive snow leopards as well. Of course, you can easily spot the very adorable Himalayan marmots, mountain weasels, and more.

January is one of the best months to visit this bird sanctuary in Maharashtra. It is home to a diverse variety of birds, including the beautiful Oriental dwarf kingfisher (in the photo). But the bird sanctuary is more than just birds; it is also loved for a stunning variety of dragonflies and damselflies.

Read more: Offbeat places to go birding in India

Manipur's Keibul Lamjao National Park is one of the most unexplored and offbeat national parks in India and is great to visit in January. The very famous Loktak Lake is a part of it, and is home to many interesting species including large Indian civet, wild boar, Asian golden cat and the very interesting dancing deers!


Popularly known as Sangai deer, they inhabit the floating phumdis and their walk looks like a dance since the phumdis are soft masses of vegetation.

Head to Mahatama Gandhi National Park in the Andamans for a very interesting experience. It is a cluster of 17 islands between the South Andaman Island and Rutland Island. With some luck, you would be able to spot the gentle giants that are dugongs. Other than the species, the waters of this park are rich with marine life and you can easily go snorkeling here.

This tiger reserve is another unexplored reserve in the very beautiful Arunachal Pradesh. Clouded leopard (in the photo) is just one of the many beautiful species that are found here. It is home to 40 species of mammals, 300 bird species, and 2,000 plant varieties that make for a memorable experience in the wilderness.

This national park sprawls in Kerala's Idukki district, and is inhabited by the endangered Nilgiri martens as well. The park is inhabited by elephant, gaur, leopard, wild boar, sambar, langurs and more animals. The beautiful landscape here is another lure that you should definitely succumb to.

Pobitora is a beautiful and offbeat wildlife experience that is great for the month of January. The sanctuary is home to one-horned rhinoceros, its most famous resident, other than leopards, feral buffalos, Chinese pangolins and more.