List of Biosphere Reserves in India

• This national park is in Western Himalayan region. It is characterized by alpine peaks, alpine meadows & riverine forests.
• Its glaciers are sources of rivers like Sainj, Jiwa Nal, Tirthan and Parvati Rivers (all tributaries of Beas River). Covers: Great Himalayan National Park, Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary and Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Important Flora & Fauna: Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Himalayan Serow. Himalayan Yew forms the undergrowth of forests.

• Last unmodified natural areas in northeast India. This park accounts for 2/3rd of world population of one-horned rhinoceros.
• West alluvial grassland formed by elephant grass occupies most of the area. It is also a tiger reserve.
• Fauna: Tiger, One-Horned Rhinoceros, Wild Water Buffaloes, Ganges River Dolphin, Hoolock Gibbon.

• This former duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas is one of the major wintering areas for large numbers of aquatic birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China and Siberia.
• Some 364 species of birds, including the rare Siberian crane, have been recorded in the park.

• It is located on the borders of Bhutan and spans districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Buxa and Udalgiri in North-West Assam. It is separated from the Royal Manas National Park of Bhutan by the River Manas, and it is separated by Buxa Tiger Reserve of West Bengal by River Sankosh.
• It forms part of a large conservation landscape which includes Buxa-Nameri-Pakke-Namdapha tiger and protected areas of Bhutan and Myanmar.
• Flora: Sal Forests, Bhabar Savannah, Dry deciduous forests.
• Fauna: Tiger, Pygmy Hog, One-horned Rhinoceros and Elephant, Bengal Florican. Wild Buffalo population is probably the only pure strain.

• Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadow of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty.
• The landscape is dominated by Nanda Devi peak which approached through Rishi Ganga gorge.
• Fauna: Asiatic Black Bear, Snow Leopard, Brown Bear and Blue Sheep, Himalayan Musk Deer.

• It is a biosphere reserve, national park and tiger reserve.
• It houses saltwater crocodiles. Some common species of plants which are found include Sundari tree, Gulati, Champa, Dhundul, Genwa and Hetal. Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger, other animals found in these areas are fishing cats, macaques, leopard cats, Indian grey mongoose, wild boar, flying fox, pangolin, and Indian grey mongoose.
• The chital deer and rhesus monkey are common sightings.
• A species of river turtles called Batagurid Baska (which are classified as endangered by the IUCN) are found on the Mecham Beach. They are identified by their small head, a snout which always goes upwards and an olive brown colored carapace.
• The barking deer also deserves a special mention, as it is found at a place called Halliday Island.

• It has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism and is recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity.
• The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere. The Ghats traverse the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Khangchendzonga National Park

• It is a fluvial riverine island. It is the first island to be made a district in India. The island is formed by Brahmaputra River in the South and Kherkutia Xuti, a branch of Brahmaputra, joined by Subansiri in the north.
• The island is the cultural capital of Assamese culture whose foundation is laid by Srimanta Sankardeva.
• Jadhav Payeng, an environmental activist, also known as forest man of India, has planted Molai Forest which one of the largest afforested this forest to protect Majuli from riverine erosion.

• This national park along with Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary is in the eastern extremity of Arunachal Pradesh, close to trijunction of India, China & Myanmar. Located between Patkai bum and Mishmi hills.
• The park has northernmost lowland evergreen rainforests in the world along with alpine forests in the higher reaches.
• It is the fourth largest national park in India by area. Dihing River, tributary of Brahmaputra passes through it. Dapha Bum (4571 m) is the highest point of this national park.
• Fauna: Namdapha Flying Squirrel (IUCN status: Critically Endangered) is endemic it. The park boasts of four large cats: Snow Leopard (IUCN status: Vulnerable), Leopard, Tiger and Clouded Leopard (IUCN status: Vulnerable).

One of the last places where endangered wild ass sub-species Indian Wild Ass (IUCN Status: Near Threatened) can be spotted.

It is a compact patch of virgin late succession forests, rich in biodiversity located in the Eastern Himalayan region. Altitude varies between 183 m to 3200 m. It has Temperate & Sub-tropical forests. Fauna: Red Panda (IUCN Status: Endangered)

• It is one of the Hot deserts of the world with highest human density. It is spread across two districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer.
• Fauna: Only landscape having breeding population of Great Indian Bustard. Spiny Tailed Lizards. Desert Fox, Chinkara, Desert Cat Flora:
• Sewan Grass found here which is a major source of nutrition for birds and animals found here. Rohida state flower of Rajasthan is found here.
• Orans are grasslands found here. Khejri tree is commonly found here and protected by local community called Bishnois. There are settlements in the National Park called Dhanis.

Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh

• It is a brackish water lake & a shallow lagoon with estuarine character spread across districts of Puri, Khurda & Ganjam. Located on the mouth of Daya River.
• It the largest coastal lagoon in India & largest brackish water lagoon in the world and largest saltwater lake in India.
• Fauna: Irrawaddy Dolphins

• It is a separate island part of A&N islands.
• This volcanic island has a endemic population of Narcondam Hornbill (Only found here) which has the smallest range of all Asian Hornbills.

• It stretches in the Himalayas from Ladakh to Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. This region is known for its harsh climate due to its high altitude and location on the leeward side of Himalayas, which makes it a rain-shadow zone.
• This area is inhabited by Indo-Mongoloid people who are Buddhist in faith. Buddhist monasteries known as Gompas with a trademark prayer flag fluttering on top.

• It is a prime example of central Indian highland eco-system. Species from both Himalayan and Western Ghats meet here.
• Pachmarhi a famous tourist destination is located near it and Dhoopgarh the highest peak of Madhya Pradesh are located in it. Pandav Caves which are group of 5 caves.

• This lake was added to Montreux Record in 1993 as a result of ecological problems such as deforestation in the catchment area, an infestation of water hyacinths, and pollution.
• Thick, floating mats of weeds covered with soil (phumdis) are a characteristic feature

• It accompanies three protected areas: Nokrek National Park, Bapakram National Pak & Siju Sanctuary. Garo mountains and its caves gives an idea about earth’s evolutionary history.
• Fauna: Insectivorous plants such as Sundew and Pitcher Plant. Bhedaghat-Lametaghat in Narmada Valley, MP:National Citrus Gene Sanctuary in Nokrek is noted for wild varieties of citrus fruits. Indian Wild Orange found here is considered to be progenitor of all citrus species in the world. Fauna: Hoolock Gibbon.

• Bhedaghat (Dhuandhar waterfalls), known as Grand Canyon of India, is in Jabalpur, MP. It appears as if smoke is coming out of the river.
• The site has outstanding beauty of marble rocks. These magical marble mountains assume different colors and even shapes of animals and other living forms as one moves through them.

• Locally known as Jingkieng Jri. They are ficus based rural connectivity and livelihood solutions within dense moist forests in Meghalaya.
• Roots of Indian Rubber Tree are engineered for the construction of these structures. They are grown by Khasi tribal communities

• Geoglyphs are rock art produced on the surface earth (open-air) either by positioning rocks, rock fragments or by carving out or removing part of a rock surface to form a design. The geoglyphs found in the Konkan region are the only evidence of prehistoric human occupation in this region.
• The geoglyphs have been prominently made in the period starting from Prehistoric to Mesolithic period. Important sites where Geoglyphs are found in Konkan region.
• Important sites where geoglyphs are found in Konkan region: (a) Jambhrun (Maharashtra) (b) Ukshi (Maharashtra) (c) Kasheli (Maharashtra): Largest rock engraving in India (18X13 in Elephant) (d) Rundhetali (Maharashtra) (e) Devi hasol (Maharashtra) (f) Barsu (Maharashtra) (g) Devache Gothane (Maharashtra) (h) Kudopi (Maharashtra).