The state of Uttar Pradesh, boasts a fascinating variety of flora and fauna. Wildlife abounds all over the state, and special areas, national parks and sanctuaries have been created to protect the various species and to enable tourists to view them in their natural surroundings.

National Chambal Sanctuary

The National Chambal Sanctuary is famous for the rare gangetic dolphin. The sanctuary was founded in 1979 and is part of a large area co-administered by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from the gangetic dolphin, the other inhabitants of the sanctuary include magar (crocodile) and gharial (alligator), chinkara, sambar, nilgai, wolf and wild boar.
How to get there

Rail: The nearest airport is at Agra, 70 kms.
Air: The nearest railhead is at Agra, 70 kms.
Road: The sanctuary is 70 kms from Agra and 5 kms from Etawah.

Kishanpur Sanctuary

Kishanpur Sanctuary was founded in 1972 over 227 sq. kms of terai forests and open meadows. It is home to the tiger, leopard and swamp deer.

How to get there

Rail: Nearest railhead is Mailani, 3 kms on North-Eastern Railway's metre gauge section.

Road: Mailani and Kishanpur are connected by road to all parts of Uttar Pradesh. Mailani is 200 kms from Lucknow. It is also connected by bus services with Bareilly, Lakhimpur-Kheri and other major centres in the area.

The Nawabganj bird sanctuary is a huge marshland and shallow lake laced with mixed dry forest. It is home to several migratory and resident water-birds and is an ideal site for bird-watching and photography. The avian population of the sanctuary comprises among others the pochard, shoveller, woodpecker, parakeet, coot, purple moor hen and common teal.

How to get there

Air: The nearest airport is at Lucknow, 45 kms approx.
Road: The sanctuary is located on National Highway No. 25, 45 kms both from Lucknow and Kanpur. Nawabganj is well connected by bus to Lucknow and Kanpur.

The sanctuary, 125 kms from Jhansi, spreads over an area of 5.4 sq. kms. Jhansi provides for a wonderful gateway to the Bundelkhand region and has been rendered famous by the legendary Rani Laxmi Bai. Some of the key attractions of the sanctuary are the leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar.

How to get there

Air: The nearest airport is at Jhansi, 125 kms.
Rail: The nearest railhead is at Jhansi.

This little known sanctuary near the Nepal border sprawls over an area of 400 sq. kms and was established in 1976. Tiger, leopard, swamp deer, blackbuck, chital, barking deer, sambar, nilgai, sloth bear and wild boar are some of the inhabitants of the sanctuary. Gharial and magar can be found in the Girwa river and its tributaries.

How to get there

Katarniaghat is connected by road to various parts of the state. It is 205 kms from Lucknow and 44 kms from Mihinpurwa.

The Ranipur sanctuary spreads over an area of 230 sq. kms and abounds in wildlife. It is the natural habitat of several animals including the tiger, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, blackbuck, peafowl, spur fowl, jungle fowl, painted partridge, fishing cat and chinkara.

How to get there

Road: The sanctuary is 150 kms from Allahabad, 80 kms from Banda and 350 kms from Lucknow.

This small sanctuary is sprawled over an area of 78 sq. kms. and has a rich and varied wildlife which comprises panther, chinkara, sambar, chital, partridge and peafowl. On the way to the sanctuary, a visitor can also make an excursion to Varanasi, just 65 kms away. 

How to get there

Rail: The railhead is at Mughal Sarai (55kms) and Varanasi.
Air: The nearest airport is at Varanasi, 65 kms.

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

How to get there

Air: The nearest airport is Varanasi (100 kms).
Rail: The nearest railhead is Varanasi.
Road: Kaimoor is accessible by road from Varanasi and Mirzapur (100 kms). The nearet town, Robertsganj, 3 kms, is connected by bus services to major centres in the region.