Goa and Manali are two of the most happening tourist destinations in India. While Goa is a beach paradise, Manali is one of the most enchanting hill stations in the country. Goa and Manali attract lacks of tourists from all over the world. Both the places are diverse with regard to wildlife as well. Here is a glimpse of the wildlife attractions of Goa and Manali.

Goa and Manali house very diverse in wildlife and the diversity is simply amazing. While Goa houses flora and fauna which thrives in the coastal tropical climate, Manali houses Himalayan animals which are rare. Many animals here are on the brink of extinction and are alive because of the conservation attempts in these wildlife sanctuaries. When you choose to go on a Goa trip or Manali tour, make sure to visit some of these wildlife havens.

Manali wildlife sanctuary is located just a couple of kilometers from Manali. It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary on February 26 1954 as per the Punjab Birds and Wild Animals Protection Act of 1933. Spread over 3,180 hectares, this wildlife sanctuary is breathtakingly beautiful. With the backdrop of snowcapped Himalayas and lush greenery, the wildlife sanctuary resembles paradise. It lies in the Manalsu khad catchment area. The forest consists of horse chestnut, robinia, walnut, kail, deodar, poplar and maple trees. Fir and willow trees grow abundantly in the forest. The wildlife park houses hundreds of varieties of colorful birds and rare Himalayan animals. Some of the animals which you can spot in your Manali tour of the forests are musk deer, leopard, snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan yellow throated marten, striped hyena, Indian hare, goral, flying fox, barking deer, Himalayan palm civet, flying squirrel, herds of the mountain goat Ibex and numerous other animals.

If you are a bird lover, you will want to live in the Manali wildlife sanctuary forever. Try spotting chakor, kingfisher, tree creepers, snow pigeons, the stunningly beautiful monal and kokla. If you choose Manali packages in summer, which is in fact the best time to visit the hill station, you can spot myriad migratory birds amidst the trees. Choosing Manali packages which include a visit to the forest is a great idea.

Another thing which you can enjoy in Manali tour of this wildlife sanctuary is trekking. The beautiful sceneries, along with the undulating trekking routes provide an adventurous trekking experience. May and June are the best months to trek in these hills and forests. Camps for trekkers are provided at Gallant thatch and Lambadug.

Goa trip, on the other hand, offers completely different wildlife treats. There are four wildlife sanctuaries in this little state. Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary is the largest one. The sanctuary is spread over an area of 240 square kilometers. So thick is the forest in this sanctuary that sunlight does not penetrate to the ground in many places. The forests, which are part of the Western Ghats, house animals such as the spotted deer, jungle cats, sambhar deer, Indian bison, leopards, slender toris, Malayan giant squirrels and huge numbers of poisonous and non poisonous snakes. You also get to spot many species of birds.

The other wildlife sanctuaries which you can see during your Goa trip are Catigao wildlife sanctuary, Bondla wildlife sanctuary and Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary. Herds of elephants are a majestic sight in these jungles.

You can customize Goa and Manali packages to include a trip to these wildlife havens.

Author's Bio: 

Wildlife is a major attraction in holiday packages. If you are a nature lover, you can have your Manali tour and Goa trip customized to include a visit to the wildlife sanctuaries. Goa and Manali packages can be customized to suit your tastes.