Sariska Tiger Sanctuary

The Sariska Tiger Sanctuary was established as a protected area in the 1950s, and was declared a wildlife sanctuary after 20 years. It is located around 200 kilometers away from Delhi, on the Jaipur-Delhi highway. Therefore, reaching the sanctuary is easy by road. Many visitors also prefer to travel down by train to Alwar and then take a cab or bus to the sanctuary.

Geography :

Sariska is located close to the Aravalli ranges – and thus has a typically hilly terrain. Rocky plains are a common feature in this wildlife sanctuary, though parts of it are covered in high grasses. The climate is dry for most of the year. Only during the brief monsoons does the area receive rainfall.

Plants :

One of the striking features of Sariska is the presence of tall grasses in the numerous grasslands. The trees found here have quaint local names such as tendu, dhok, surwal, and goria.

Animals :

The Sariska Tiger Sanctuary is, of course, home to the majestic Indian tiger. The Project Tiger, which was extended to Sariska in 1973, has managed to save many of these lordly beasts from extinction. Some of the other animals found at the Sariska Tiger Sanctuary are: sambar, jungle cat, chausingha, leopard, nilgai, wild dog, chital, jackal, langoor, wild boar and hyena.

The Sariska Tiger Sanctuary also shelters many feathered creatures of the wild. These include purple sunbird, Indian peafowl, wattled lapwing, lesser flameback, sirkeer malkoha, jungle quail, bulbul, green pigeon, rufous treepie, eurasian thick-knee, grey shrike, grey babbler, grey francolin, prinia, turtle dove, painted sandgrouse, marshall's iora, blue-tailed bee-eater, and alexandrine parakeet.

Attractions :

Within the park, you can visit the major tourist attractions that have made the park a hit with wildlife enthusiasts as well as amateur historians. The Kanwadi Fort, located on a hill, was supposedly the place where Dara Shikoh was imprisoned. Then there are some very old temples, built around the sixth century, that attract visitors. The Sariska Palace, once the hunting lodge of the kings, has been converted to a heritage hotel.

Best Season :

The park is open to visitors all year round. However, to get the best out of your trip, it is advisable to schedule it in the months of October to June.