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There are plenty of activity options opened for you within the Indian
Wild life Sanctuaries and they are not just restricted to watching
the animals and birds. |
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Home >> Wildlife
Sanctuaries in India >> Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary
Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary
About Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary
Home of the majestic Tiger, Sariska is one of the protected sanctuaries
in India where Project Tiger was a success. Set amidst the scrubby Aravali
Hills, the sanctuary sprawls with dry thorny deciduous forests, covered
almost ninety per cent by the Dhok tree. Sariska was declared a Sanctuary
in 1955 and became a Tiger Reserve in 1979.
Within the Sanctuary, there are also historical ruins of monuments symbolic
of its past. The Kankwari Fort, the ancient Shiva Neelkanth Temples that
date back to the 6th-13th century A.D. and the Palace built by the Maharajahs
of Alwar, now converted into a hotel, are all great sights.
Sariska is open to visitors throughout the year, although certain jungle
tracks are closed during the monsoon and the breeding season. The best time
to visit the park is late in the winter around January or February. If you
don’t mind the heat, April to June is a great time to see animals at the
waterholes.
Wildlife Attractions in Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary
Sariska National Park is known for its tigers, its most popular resident.
According to the latest available data, there are about 35 tigers at Sariska.
Rajasthan is a pristine platform for viewing wildlife in the country because
of its two national parks and over a dozen sanctuaries. Other wildlife in
the park includes sambhar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai, civet, four-horned
antelope, gaur (Indian bison) and porcupine.
Flora
The landscape of Sariska comprises of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravali
hill range. The topography of Sariska supports scrub-thorn arid forests,
dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses. The broad range of wildlife here
is a wonderful example of ecological adoption and tolerance, for the climate
here is variable as well as erratic, especially in terms of rainfall, which
is an important source to replenish the region.
Avian Population
The bird life comprises of the pea fowl, gray partridge, quail, sand grouse,
tree pie, white breasted kingfisher, golden - backed woodpecker, crested
serpent eagle and great Indian horned owl
Safaris
The best way to explore the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is in a Jeep. Vehicles
can be arranged at the Forest Reception Office on the Jaipur Road. Booking
an inconspicuous 'hide', overlooking one of the waterholes, can provide
an excellent opportunity for wildlife viewing and wildlife photography.
Other Attractions
Kankwari Fort
The historic Kankwari Fort, located inside the park is the place where Emperor
Aurangzeb kept his brother Dara Shikoh, in captivity. The place is a major
attraction for tourists visiting the park and a trip will take you back
in time to the Mughal era.
Shiva Temple
The Shiva temples, also known as the Neelkanth temples, is an important
religious sight for the Hindus. The ancient temples, mostly in ruins, date
back to as early as the 6th century.
Sariska Palace
The park was a former hunting reserve for the rulers of Alwar. The palace
built by the maharajahs to act as a retreat during their hunting expeditions
has now been converted into a luxury hotel.
How to get there
By Air: Jaipur is the nearest airport from Sariska at a distance
107-kms. The place is well connected by Indian Airlines flights from Delhi
(6:05, daily), Mumbai (15:30, daily) and Kolkata (15:45, daily). Jet Airways
also connects Mumbai and Delhi to Jaipur through daily flights.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Alwar (37-kms). The place
is connected to Delhi through the Jammu JP Exp. (4:40, daily), Mandor Exp.
(20:50, daily), Ashram Exp. (156:05, daily), DLI JSM Exp. (18:00, daily)
and HW ADI Mail (22:50, daily).
By Road: Sariska wildlife sanctuary is situated off the
Delhi-Alwar-Jaipur Road. Sariska is well connected with Alwar, which is
further directly connected with bus services from Delhi and Jaipur. The
road route from Delhi is through the NH8 to Shahpura via Gurgaon and Behror.
From there state road leads to Sariska via Bairat and Thana Ghazi. To travel
by road from Jaipur, take the NH8 to Shahpura via Amer and Chandwaji, and
state road to Sariska.
Distances from Major Cities
Delhi : 240 km (SW)
Jaipur : 110 km (NE)
Kolkata : 1307 km
Bangalore : 1636 km
Agra :189 km
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