Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
Known for its majestic tigers set against the backdrop of an ancient fort, Ranthambore is now incredibly easy to reach. Several Vande Bharat trains, including those on the Delhi-Ajmer and Udaipur-Agra routes, make a stop at Sawai Madhopur Junction. This
station is just about 12 kilometres from the park’s main entrance, a quick 20 to 30-minute taxi ride. This seamless connectivity makes it one of the most convenient wildlife trips from cities like Delhi and Jaipur. Apart from tigers, you can spot leopards, sloth bears, and crocodiles. For the best chances of tiger sightings, plan your visit between April and June.
Gir National Park, Gujarat
If seeing the magnificent Asiatic lion in its only natural habitat is on your bucket list, the Vande Bharat makes it happen. The Sabarmati-Veraval Vande Bharat Express offers a comfortable and fast journey to the region. You'll need to get off at Veraval station. From there, the main entry gate to Gir National Park at Sasan Gir is approximately 45 kilometres away, a journey that can be easily covered by a pre-booked taxi. Besides the iconic lions, Gir is also home to leopards, striped hyenas, and marsh crocodiles. The ideal time to visit for a lion safari is during the cooler, drier months from December to March.
Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
For those in South India, the Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express opens up a fantastic gateway to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Your destination station is Mysuru. Bandipur National Park, one of the region's premier tiger and elephant habitats, is about 80 kilometres from Mysuru city. The drive takes roughly two hours through scenic countryside. As part of a UNESCO-listed reserve, the park is a biodiversity hotspot where you can find tigers, elephants, gaurs, and over 200 species of birds. The period from October to May is considered the best time to explore the lush forests of Bandipur.
Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh
This park offers a mix of raw wilderness and stunning landscapes, and it's another destination made accessible by the new train network. The Hazrat Nizamuddin-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express directly connects Delhi to the temple town of Khajuraho. Panna National Park is located just a short drive from Khajuraho, making this a perfect dual trip of culture and wildlife. You can explore the famous UNESCO World Heritage temples and then head out on a safari to spot tigers, leopards, and a rich variety of birdlife. The train journey itself is a comfortable 8-hour ride, landing you right at the doorstep of this beautiful region.
Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Reaching India's oldest national park has become quicker with the Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express. While the train gets you into the heart of Uttarakhand fast, it requires a bit more planning for the last leg. You can alight at Haridwar or Dehradun and then take a taxi for a four to five-hour road journey to the park. A more direct option is to take the Vande Bharat to a major junction like Moradabad and then catch a connecting train to Ramnagar. Ramnagar station is the main entry point for Corbett and is just a few kilometres from the park gates. This route lets you enjoy the speed of the Vande Bharat for the majority of your journey before switching to local transport. The park is best visited from November to June.
