Amidst the rocky snowclad mountains of Ladakh, Spiti and neighbouring valleys, rules the Snow Leopard. Often referred to as the ‘grey ghost’, and he is undoubtedly the top predator of these high mountains and shares space with other competitive predators such as the Tibetan Wolves, the rarely seen Eurasian Lynx and the ever so sly and cunning Red Fox. Prey here is scarce and include the Blue Sheep or Bharal, the impressive Asiatic Ibex, Ladakhi Urial, and Argali (an Asian cousin to the big horned sheep found in the Americas). Other highly endangered mammals found in remote pockets in small numbers include the Kashmiri Markhor, and the Tibetan antelope. While Marmots form a large prey base of small sizes, they are often hunted as prey by the magnificent Golden Eagle.
Don’t be surprised if you manage to sight the Bearded Vultures in these mountains. They help clean up the bone marrows of old carcasses. While man-animal conflict is un-avoidable, deep linked roots of the Ladakhi people to Buddhism ensures reverence to life large and small, domestic, or wild. High altitude lakes in these regions are home to summer breeders of large flocks of Bar Headed Geese and Ruddy Shelduck to name a few while the Chuker partridge happens to be the most noticeable and striking of all. Move southwest towards Kashmir, a carpet of wild flowers cover the meadows and pastures where small high-altitude rodents such as Pika surprisingly serve as a significant prey for a large mammal like the Brown Bear. The last of the higher dry mountains eventually give way to montane forests home to the Hangul, or the Red Deer as well as Asiatic Black Bears.

There is a noticeable increase in bird life with Magpies and warblers. Very much within the Himalayas but moving eastward into the regions of Himachal, Garhwal and Kumaon are a continuous stretch of temperate coniferous forests. This includes Old Cedar, Oak and Rhododendrons to name a few that make the forests well wooded while ferns and wild mushrooms cover the moist forest floor. A little further down in the Himalayan range at altitudes over 1100 feet, begins the pine line. Throughout this large stretch of the Western Himalayas are avian fauna in high numbers. From Golden Bush Robins to Sunbirds, Spotted Fork tails and Red starts down in the streams to a variety of Tits near remote village orchards, birding is endless.
Apart from the ever chattering White-throated laughing Thrush there are Woodpeckers, Jays, Schimitar Babblers and Rufous Sibia  to highlight a few of  the many iconic birds sought after. Secret mammals too seclude themselves in these dense forests such as the Tahr, Goral, Musk Deer and Muntjac. One would also see the first signs of primates including the Rhesus Macaque and Langur monkey. While Jackals and Red Fox play the role of both scavengers and small hunters, the top predator appears in the form of the fearless Leopard. Since the time of Corbett, Leopard and man have been criss-crossing paths in these hills and at times conflict is serious and inevitable. It is in these regions from where the true story and book ‘The Man Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag’, finds its origins.

In the foothills of the Himalayas in Northern India is one of the most famed and the first national park and Tiger Reserve of India that we know as Corbett National Park. Grasslands abundant with Elephants, River Otters and Gharials are the fauna to watch out in the Ramganga River, that traverse through the park and is rich for Mahaseer fishing . Further east is the less explored park Dudhwa on the border of India and Nepal. Another region of the Himalayan foothills, Dudhwa is home to another large mammal apart from the Tiger and Elephant, that is the One-horned Rhinoceros.

Both Corbett and Dudhwa are also good introduction to India’s common Wildlife such as Spotted Deer-our most common Deer, the Sambar- also our largest Deer, and more of the Langur Monkeys. The forests of Dudhwa are some of the finest and are home to unique specie of Deer- the Swamp Deer found only in such habitats of large grasslands, typical of the terai region along with large tracts of semi-evergreen forests of Sal trees.

Even further east, and we cross the hardly visited yet rich forests of Valmiki in Bihar. The river channels here are home to River Dolphins. Continue towards East India, and we touch upon the Sunderbans on the Indo-Bangladesh border recorded to be the largest mangrove delta in the world. Cruise through narrow creeks and large channels to look for Saltwater Crocodiles, Sea Eagles, Kingfishers, water monitors, mudskippers and multiple species of crabs. Home also to the infamous man-eating Swamp Tiger, sighting the big Cat here would be as good as one in Siberia or Sumatra.

Eastward and onto remote Himalayan forests once again, and you find delightful magnolia and Rhododendrons in plenty. Highlight species found in these hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim is the Red Panda. These ancient forests also hide other smaller mammals such as Yellow Throated Martens, the strictly nocturnal Red Giant Flying Squirrel and more exotic species of birds including minivets, parrotbills and colourful pheasants such as the Kalij and Satyr Tragopan. Lakes of these mountains are a home to a rarely studied amphibian- the Himalayan Salamander. Further east while entering Buxa, once haunt of Tigers in north Bengal, harbours a promising record of the smallest of Big Cats- the Clouded Leopard.
In these very flood plains, tea and rail cut through much of what was once undisturbed forests, showcasing the challenge that Elephants face in world created by man. Amidst this, to note is the abundant life of butterflies of colourful species -Himalayan jester to dark beauties and peacock pansies. Into the Northeast is the Khaziranga National Park, a major conservation success story reflected in it population of 2000 Rhinos. Once reduced to less than 200, strict conservation measures have helped them multiply in thousands to what it once was.This is also a thriving habitat for a whole array of birds including storks, kingfishers, fish eagles, ospreys etc. and herbivores such as Wild Elephants, Water Buffaloes, Hog Deer, Sambar and Swamp Deer. The nearby Orang forests harbour the endangered Pygmy Hog, and interestingly home to a very high density of Tigers too. Into more remote corners of the north-eastern region, are moist tropical forests hiding unique and rarely seen Lesser Cats such as the Golden Cats and Marbled Cats. These are also hornbill country- from Oriental Pied Hornbills to Rufous Necked and Wreathed Hornbill, impressive bird making the swooshing sound as they fly through and above the thick canopies. It would be difficult to overlook the rich primate diversity here from Spectacled Monkeys to Hoolock Gibbons to Slow Loris and Assamese Macaques.

Moving south, where we enter into a gigantic contiguous forest cover that includes ever green to semi-evergreen to tropical moist Shola Forests together forming the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.  This gives you a great chance to see not just Tigers, but also Black panthers. The Nilgiris are home to a rich population of Elephants and unique primates such as Nilgiri Langurs and Lion Tail Macaques. Here the macro life becomes more visible- Malabar gliding Frogs to Blue-eyed Bush Frogs to Pit Vipers and King Cobras.

The reptile and amphibian world comes alive in the forests of the Western Ghats apart from Endemic birds such as Black and Orange flycatchers to Malabar trogons which add their colours to this green word while in many junctures’ large plantations of tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom interspread and overlap with the Nilgiris. West towards the islands of Lakshwadeep remains some of the richest corals in the country.

Making our way up from South towards Central India – the land that inspired Kipling’s Jungle Book. Here the characters of Bagheera the Leopard, Sher Khan the Tiger, Bhaloo the Sloth Bear and the Wolf or Wild Dog packs play out their part. These are also some of the finest homes for wild Tigers, still intact. Yet within the Central Indian Wilderness of the world of Kipling and diaries from Cp. James Forsythe, there is much diversity from semi-evergreen Sal in Kanha, to teak dominated landscape of Pench to a bamboo haven in Tadoba. Multiple flora including the Ghost Tree, the ancient Ficus, fruiting trees such as Mahua and flowering trees of Palash (Butea monosperma) and Red-cotton silk are only some of the many that the rest of the forests comprise of. And it is in the dense forests of Satpura where the Malabar Squirrel, native to Nilgiris has made this its northern most kingdom. Notice also great works of weaver ants as they dominate much of the insect world. Canoeing up from the Denwa to the Sonbhadra river, during the colder months one would encounter an amazing variety of birdlife – shanks, stilts, terns, storks, Indian skimmer and winter visitors in large numbers from the Himalayas like the Bar headed Geese.

As we move west towards Gujarat, the landscape changes to semi-arid and dry forests. Winter Migrant birds such as Demoiselle Cranes throng to rural villages in thousands. Other important roosting places are for Birds of Prey are the savannah grasslands of Velavadhar, a paradise for the Harrier enthusiasts – Pallid, Montagu, Hen and the Western Marsh roost here, also home to huge number of Black Buck antelope, along with a fair chance to see Wolves and Striped Hyenas. While Kutch brings an unexpected landscape in the form of a salt basin, it is home to the Asiatic Wild Ass and flamingos, additionally one can also sight Desert Cats and Desert Fox. A special mention of Gir Forests in this region as it is the last wild home for Asiatic Lions in the World. India’s yet another success story where the numbers once reduced to less than 30, are now a thriving population of over 400 Lions. Ironically this is also home to a large number of Leopards along with a significant number of Nilgai (India’s largest antelope), Chinkara (India’s only Gazelle), Striped Hyena and Golden Jackal creating a landscape that is akin to Africa.

A little up North-West, is an interesting open wilderness not bound by rules or restriction where Leopards have been living beside man for generations close to the village of Jawai. Further in the semi-arid forests of India’s famed Ranthambore National Park, a Tiger may be seen resting peacefully inside a fort, once the abode of Kings of a kingdom that is now a beautiful forest. Ranthambhore is also home to Machili – the iconic symbol for wildlife tourism.

Diversity in such vastness that is the Indian sub-continent, as such a mere passage to tick a box or two will not do justice to the wilderness that is in store; it is for the explorer and nature lover in you to come and unearth the endless stories waiting to reveal themselves to you.