India is renowned for its wildlife and biodiversity. Forests in India are rich with native populations of tigers and lions. India is just 2% of the world’s landmass but it is home to the world’s 8% of the biodiversity. Forests in India have certain plants that re nowhere available in other parts of the world. Indian Mangroves account for about 3% of the world’s entire mangrove vegetation. India, also, is home to some of the highest waterfalls.
India is known for having some of the biggest forests. Here are 13 biggest forests in India arranged in alphabetical order:
13 Biggest Forests in India
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Abujmarh
Total Area: 3,900 km2
Located: Chhatisgarh
Some Useful Information: This forest is the residence of Naxalites. Hence, civilians aren’t allowed to visit.
Vegetation: Tribal people here cultivate a small-grained rice korsa and for the rest of the period survive by selling the rice along with forest products’ like the Tendu leaves.
Baikunthapur Forest
Total Area: 257 km2
Located: Dooars, West Bengal
Main Attraction: Gajoldoba barrage
How to reach: The nearest airport is Bagdogra airport which is 30 minutes away.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good. The nearest hotel is 6.7 km away.
Best time to visit: From mid-November to January
Common Animals: Elephant population here is healthy and expanding.
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Bhavnagar Amreli Forest
Total Area: 1600 km2
Located: Amreli district, Gujrat
Main Attraction: Gir National Park
How to reach: The nearest airport is Keshod airport which is 70 km away.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good. Nearest hotel is 17.3 km away.
Best time to visit: From December to March
Common Animals: Asiatic Lion
Bhitarkanika Mangroves
Total Area: 650 km2
Located: Odisha
Main Attraction: Bhitarkanika National Park
How to reach: The nearest airport is Bhubaneshwar airport which is 190 km away.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: From October to March
Common Animals: Saltwater crocodile, king cobra, Indian python, and water monitor.
Jakanari Reserve Forest
Located: Coimbatore
Main Attraction: Forest College and Research Institute
How to reach: The nearest airport is Coimbatore airport.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: From November to February
Kukrail Reserve Forest
Total Area: 5200 acres
Located: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Main Attraction: Alligator Nursery
How to reach: The nearest airport is Lucknow airport which is 20 km away.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: From October to March
Common Animals: Black Buck, deer, and gharial.
Molai Forest
Total Area: 1360 acres
Located: Jorhat, Assam
Main Attraction: Tigers
How to reach: The nearest airport is Jorhat airport which is 13.5 km away.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: Winter season
Common Animals: Rhinoceros and tigers
Nallamala Hills
Total Area: 430 km2
Located: Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh
Main Attraction: Mahanadi Temple
How to reach: A state highway and the Nallapadu-Nandyal line of the Guntur railway division pass through the hills.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: Winter season
Vegetation: Terminalia, Hardwickia, and Pterocarpus.
Nanmangalam Reserve Forest
Total Area: 320 hectares
Located: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Main Attraction: Migratory birds
How to reach: The nearest railway station is Tambaram.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: November to February
Common animals: Reptiles and other mammals
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
Total Area: 1100 hectares
Located: Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu
Main Attraction: Achalporam Shivaloka Temple
How to reach: The nearest railway station is Chidambaram.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: November to February
Common animals: Snipes, cormorants, egrets, storks, herons, spoonbills, and pelicans.
Saranda Forest
Total Area: 820 km2
Located: West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand
Main Attraction: Pundul Waterfall
How to reach: The nearest airport is Sonari airport.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: Winter season
Common animals: Wild elephants, sambar, chital, bison, tigers, and leopards.
Vandalur Reserve Forest
Total Area: 1265 acres
Located: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Main Attraction: Arignar Anna Zoological Park
How to reach: The nearest airport is Chennai International airport.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: Winter season
Common animals: White tiger, lions, lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri langur, and ostriches.
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Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
Total Area: 578 km2
Located: Chandrapur district, Maharashtra
Main Attraction: Tadoba National Park
How to reach: The nearest airport is Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International airport, Nagpur which is 140km away.
Staying Options: Hotel availability is good.
Best time to visit: Winter season
Common animals: Bengal tiger, Indian leopards, sloth bears, gaur, nilgai, dhole, striped hyena, small Indian civet, jungle cats, sambar, barking deer, chital, chausingha and honey badger.
I feel that for your next vacation, you should definitely take a trip to any of these to know more about Indian forestry and its ecological importance. You’ll also get a fair about the idea of the people putting up there.
