India’s vast and varied landscapes offer an incredible array of wildlife, and viewing it from the air can be a spectacular experience. Udan Aviation, renowned for its premium helicopter tours, provides exceptional opportunities to witness India’s diverse wildlife from above. Here are some of the top helicopter tours for wildlife viewing in India offered by Udan Aviation, each offering a unique perspective on India’s rich biodiversity.
1. Kaziranga National Park
- Location: Assam
- Duration: 1.5 hours
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its success in protecting the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, with around two-thirds of the world’s population residing here. The park spans over 1,000 square kilometers of grassland, swamps, and forests along the banks of the Brahmaputra River.
Highlights: The helicopter tour over Kaziranga provides an unparalleled view of its varied landscapes, from the expansive grasslands to dense forests. You can spot the massive one-horned rhinos grazing in the open fields, along with a plethora of other wildlife such as tigers, elephants, and wild water buffaloes. The aerial view also offers a chance to observe the park’s extensive wetlands and riverine systems, which are crucial for its biodiversity.
Tour Experience: The tour often includes a bird’s-eye view of the park’s dense jungle and riverbanks, allowing you to appreciate the scale and layout of the park. This perspective is particularly useful for spotting the large herbivores and understanding their grazing patterns.
2. Jim Corbett National Park
- Location: Uttarakhand
- Duration: 2 Hours
As India’s oldest national park, Jim Corbett holds a special place in wildlife conservation history. It was established in 1936 to protect the Bengal tiger and has since become a sanctuary for a variety of species. The park’s landscape includes dense forests, grasslands, and riverine areas, providing diverse habitats for its wildlife.
Highlights: The helicopter tour over Jim Corbett National Park offers a unique opportunity to see the park’s varied terrain from above. Key wildlife sightings include Bengal tigers, leopards, sambar deer, and barking deer. The park’s extensive river systems and lush forests create a dynamic environment, which can be observed in a new light from the sky.
Tour Experience: The aerial view helps to appreciate the park’s topography, including its valleys, ridges, and river courses, which are often challenging to navigate on the ground. This perspective also helps in spotting the elusive tiger and understanding the park’s ecological dynamics.
3. Ranthambore National Park
- Location: Rajasthan
- Duration: 1 Hours
Ranthambore National Park is one of the most famous wildlife reserves in India, primarily known for its Bengal tiger population. The park is set against the backdrop of the ancient Ranthambore Fort, adding a historical dimension to the wildlife experience.
Highlights: From the helicopter, you can see the park’s distinctive terrain, which includes open grasslands, dense forests, and seasonal water bodies. The fort’s ruins amidst the jungle provide a striking contrast to the surrounding wilderness. The tour offers the chance to spot tigers, as well as other wildlife like leopards, deer, and a variety of birds.
Tour Experience: The helicopter tour provides a panoramic view of the park’s landscape and the fort’s imposing structure, enhancing the experience of the park’s natural beauty and historical significance.
Helicopter Tours in India
- Chardham Yatra by Helicopter
- Do Dham Yatra By Helicopter
- Badrinath Yatra By Helicopter
- Kedarnath Yatra By Helicopter
- Amarnath Yatra By helicopter
- Kailash Mansarovar by Helicopter
- Muktinath Yatra by Helicopter
4. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Location: Kerala
- Duration: 1.5 hours
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Western Ghats, is known for its rich biodiversity and scenic beauty. It encompasses a large lake surrounded by lush evergreen forests, making it a haven for wildlife and a picturesque destination.
Highlights: The aerial view of Periyar reveals the stunning lake and the surrounding forested hills. You can spot large herds of Asian elephants, tigers, and other wildlife such as gaurs (wild bisons) and various bird species. The tour offers a comprehensive view of the park’s lake system, which plays a critical role in supporting its wildlife.
Tour Experience: The helicopter tour allows you to appreciate the scale of the lake and the dense forest canopy, which is crucial for understanding the habitat requirements of the park’s wildlife.
5. Sundarbans National Park
- Location: West Bengal
- Duration: 2 hours
The Sundarbans National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its unique mangrove forests and the elusive Royal Bengal tiger. The park is a labyrinth of tidal waterways, mudflats, and small islands, creating a distinctive and challenging environment.
Highlights: The helicopter tour offers a rare opportunity to view the expansive mangrove forests and the intricate network of rivers and tidal channels. The park’s remote and swampy terrain is better appreciated from the air, revealing the complex interplay between water and land. Spotting the Royal Bengal tiger in this habitat is a rare but thrilling experience.
Tour Experience: The aerial view highlights the unique mangrove ecosystem and the vast expanses of water, providing insight into the challenges faced by both wildlife and conservation efforts in this region.
6. Gir National Park
- Location: Gujarat
- Duration: 1.5 hours
Gir National Park is the last remaining habitat of the Asiatic lion, making it a crucial site for the conservation of this endangered species. The park’s landscape includes dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and hilly terrains.
Highlights: From the helicopter, you can see the park’s varied landscape and spot the Asiatic lions, which are often found in the open grasslands and forested areas. Other wildlife such as leopards, deer, and antelopes can also be observed. The aerial perspective offers a comprehensive view of the park’s layout and the distribution of different habitats.
Tour Experience: The tour provides an excellent view of the park’s topography and helps in understanding the spatial distribution of wildlife and their habitats.
7. Bandhavgarh National Park
- Location: Madhya Pradesh
- Duration: 1.5 hours
Bandhavgarh National Park is known for its high density of Bengal tigers and the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, which adds a historical touch to the wildlife experience. The park’s diverse habitats include dense forests, grasslands, and rugged hills.
Highlights: The helicopter tour offers a unique perspective on the park’s terrain, including the ancient fort and the surrounding forest and grassland areas. The high density of tigers in the park makes it a prime location for spotting these majestic animals from the air.
Tour Experience: The aerial view highlights the park’s historical and ecological features, providing insight into how the landscape supports its rich wildlife.
8. Kanha National Park
- Location: Madhya Pradesh
- Duration: 2 hours
Kanha National Park is renowned for its tiger population and the rare barasingha deer. The park’s diverse habitats, including sal forests, grasslands, and swamps, create a rich environment for its wildlife.
Highlights: The helicopter tour offers a panoramic view of the park’s varied landscapes, including the extensive grasslands where barasinghas are often seen. You can also spot tigers, leopards, and other wildlife from above. The aerial perspective provides insight into the park’s habitat distribution and the interactions between different species.
Tour Experience: The tour allows you to appreciate the park’s topography and the spatial distribution of its wildlife, enhancing your understanding of the ecological dynamics of the park.
9. Nanda Devi National Park
- Location: Uttarakhand
- Duration: 2 hours
Nanda Devi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in the Indian Himalayas and is known for its high-altitude flora and fauna. The park encompasses the Nanda Devi peak and surrounding ranges, providing a dramatic and pristine environment.
Highlights: The helicopter tour provides stunning views of the snow-capped peaks and the park’s alpine meadows and forests. You can spot high-altitude wildlife such as the snow leopard and blue sheep. The aerial view offers a unique perspective on the park’s rugged terrain and the biodiversity it supports.
Tour Experience: The tour highlights the dramatic landscape and the diverse flora and fauna of the high Himalayas, offering a comprehensive view of this remote and ecologically significant area.
10. Great Himalayan National Park
- Location: Himachal Pradesh
- Duration: 2 hours
The Great Himalayan National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its diverse range of ecosystems and high-altitude wildlife. The park’s terrain includes alpine meadows, temperate forests, and rugged mountains.
Highlights: The helicopter tour offers breathtaking views of the park’s varied landscapes and the opportunity to spot rare species such as the snow leopard and the Himalayan tahr. The aerial perspective provides insight into the park’s ecological zones and the distribution of different habitats.
Tour Experience: The tour showcases the park’s dramatic topography and diverse wildlife, enhancing your understanding of the ecological processes at work in this high-altitude environment.
These helicopter tours by Udan Aviation offer an unparalleled way to explore India’s rich wildlife and diverse landscapes. By providing aerial perspectives, these tours enhance your understanding of the ecological dynamics and help in spotting elusive wildlife that might be challenging to see from the ground. Whether you’re interested in the iconic Bengal tiger or the elusive snow leopard, these tours offer a unique and memorable wildlife viewing experience.
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