New Delhi: India is a place where one can find nature in its finest forms- from rivers to mountains, from deserts to plains, from hills to plateaus and what not! You will also find some of the world's most beautiful forests in India. India's woods are home to some of the most spectacular living creatures, including tigers, elephants, lush green pine, cedar and deodar trees. Always being surrounded by the noise and commotion of city life, a holiday spent in one of these forests may prove to be both refreshing and enlightening. 


Here are 10 forests that every nature lover should visit:


1. Mawphlang Sacred Forest, Meghalaya


Mawphlang, which is located around 25 kilometers from Shillong, is one of the famous holy woods in Meghalaya. Amazing plant life, including blooming trees, orchids, rhododendrons, and butterflies, may be found in the sacred grove. Small mammals like squirrels, rats, and moles also roam in the forest. The forest, a prime location for nature enthusiasts, has long been protected by ancient religious law. A god called Labasa is believed to guard the woods. Labasa is said to become upset if a piece of the forest is taken, even if it's just a leaf or a little rock. It is rumoured that soldiers from the Indian Army previously removed a few timbers from the forest. They had to return those to the forest because when they loaded their truck, it just wouldn't start. Tourists are drawn to the forest by its splendour throughout the year.  However, the fall between September and October is the ideal season to explore Mawphlang holy forest. 




2. Sundarbans, West bengal


The Sundarbans, a region in the eastern state of West Bengal, is well-known for housing the white tiger (a variant of the Royal Bengal tiger). The enormous Sundarbans National Park is a component of the Sundarbans Delta, which is the biggest delta in the world. A tiger reserve and a biosphere reserve may be found in the beautiful green mangrove forest. The forest, which is home to fishing cats, leopard cats, macaques, wild boar, Indian grey mongoose, fox, jungle cat, flying fox, pangolin, and cheetahs, is covered with a significant number of Sundari trees.  The Sundarbans also provide an essential barrier for the people living in and around Kolkata from the frequent floods brought by storms. The Sundarbans have also been selected as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.




3. Gir Forest, Gujarat


The Gir Forest is well-known for being home to Asiatic lions, but it also has many other types of leopards and wildcats. It was formerly the Nawab of Junagadh's wildlife preserve and was formed as a national park in 1965 with the goal of protecting and increasing the lion population. Gir Forest National Park is a perfect example of a healthy ecosystem in today's world of declining ecological equilibrium. The diversified and dense flora contributes to the region's ecological balance, resulting in a mild climate. Gir has been a key habitat for thousands of wild animals while also helping significantly to their survival.




4. Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh


The Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh is the world's third-largest national park. It is located between the Patkai and Dapha bum ranges of Mishmi Hills. Snow leopards, clouded leopards, common leopards, tigers, dholes, wolves, Asiatic black bears, red pandas, red foxes, yellow-throated martens, Slow Loris, Hoolock Gibbons, Capped Langurs, Assamese Macaques, and Rhesus Macaques may all be found in the park. The severely endangered Namdapha Flying Squirrel, which can only be found here, is its main appeal.




5. Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur


The park is located in the southwestern corner of Loktak Lake. This is the remaining natural home of the brow-antlered deer (Sangai), Manipur's dancing deer. In addition to this, Keibul Lamjao National Park is the world's only floating park. Any wildlife enthusiast must see the deer in this unique wetland environment. Other fauna that can be viewed includes hog deer, otter, a variety of water fowls, and migrating birds, which are often visible from November to March. Within the park, the Forest Department of Manipur maintains two guard towers and two restrooms. There is no shooting game allowed.




6. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh


The Kanha National Park is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. It is well-known for over 300 resident and migratory bird species. However, the barasingha is its most famous feature. Kanha's wide sal and bamboo woods make it easier to view the Royal Bengal tiger, leopards, sloth bears, sambhars, chitals, gaur, and the Indian wild dog. Kanha is widely acknowledged as being the jungle that inspired British novelist Rudyard Kipling to create The Jungle Book.




7. Bandipur National Park, Karnataka


Bandipur National Park, located in the Chamarajanagar district's Gundulpet taluk, has India's second-largest tiger population. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, making it the biggest protected region in Southern India and the home of the wildest elephants in South Asia. Bandipur National Park borders three additional parks: Nagarahole National Park, Wayanad National Park, and Mudumalai National Park. Bandipur National Park is home to tigers, Indian elephants, leopards, dholes, sambars, sloth bears, chitals, and a variety of other species and birds.




8. Pichavaram Mangrove Forest, Tamil Nadu


Pichavaram is a charming estuary village in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore District. Pichavaram village is notable for its location between two estuaries, the Vellar estuary to the north and the Coleroon estuary to the south. Because of its unusual location, the community has one front where the backwater reserve meets the sea and another front where the tidal tributaries flow into its backwaters. Because of its unique natural characteristics, it has become an ideal habitat for mangroves, which infest the backwaters and climb higher. Local birds such as snipes, egrets, and pelicans add to the diversity of this woodland. There are around 117 distinct bird species found in the forest.




9. Saranda Forest, Jharkhand


The forest was the exclusive hunting grounds of the Singh Deo royal dynasty of Saraikela in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district. The forest is home to the Ho people and is rich in iron ore, minerals, sal trees, and other wild species such as leopards. The word 'Saranda' relates to water flowing from rocks, and the area is known for its beautiful green forest and complex biodiversity. The forest of Saranda is nature's most wonderful gift. The scenery is breathtaking, with hills upon hills, densely forested valleys, and flowing living streams. There could not have been a more momentous occasion in one's life than being able to see this kingdom of Sal trees with its natural wealth and diverse species.




10.  Abujmarh, Chattisgarh


Abujmarh, a high forest area, has been a safe haven for Maoists and Naxals and is commonly referred to as the "liberated zone." Many indigenous tribes live there, including the Gond and Muria Maria. The government eased entrance restrictions to this forest in 2009, and it has since become an important forestry where one can learn about the region and its history. This 4,000-square-kilometer region of thick forest, mountains, and multiple rivers is known for its mineral riches.