Set amidst Aravalli hill ranges near Alwar town (24 km) in eastern Rajasthan, Sariska is home to one of the best tiger reserves of India. Once a hunting ground of the royal family of Alwar, Sariska wildlife sanctuary is primarily known for its tigers. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 and was covered under the famous "Project Tiger" as a tiger reserve in 1979. It attained the status of a national park in 1982. The Sariska wildlife sanctuary covers an area of over 800 sq km, 480 sq km of which form the core area of the national park. Sariska is primarily known for its tiger population, but lately a remarkable fall in the number of tigers has been reported in the park. The Sariska National Park is easily accessible from Delhi and Jaipur, and so it's one of the most visited parks in India.
The vegetation in Sariska chiefly consists of scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, and grasses, providing the necessary nutrition for wildlife in the park. Among prominent wildlife in Sariska include tigers, leopards, deer, nilgai, gaurs, sambars, chitals, hyenas, four-horned Antelope, jungle cats, chausingha (four-horned antelope), mongoose and porcupine to name a few. Among commonly seen birds, peafowl, gray partridges, quails, sand grouses, white-breasted kingfishers, golden-backed woodpeckers, crested serpent eagles, vultures and horned owls are most important.
Other tourist attractions in and around Sariska National Park include the 9th and the 10th centuries temple ruins, the Sariska Palace, and the 17th century Kanakwari Fort, where mughal emperor Aurangzeb one imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh. The picturesque Siliserh Lake and numerous hides near water holes are other attractions in the park. Visitors can also enjoy an exciting jeep safari or book a 'hide,' overlooking one of the water holes, for an unforgettable wildlife viewing.
The season during which the jungles can be properly explored is from November to June. The summer months are better for animal viewing but are extremely hot with temperatures going up to as high as 49 degrees centigrade. In the winter months, the temperature touches a low of 4 degrees.
General Information
Best Time to Visit: October to June.
Nearest Town: Alwar (21 km).
How to Reach
By Air: Jaipur (108 km) is the nearest airport from Sariska.
By Rail: Alwar (24 km) is the nearest railhead from Sariska National Park.
By Road: Alwar (24km) is the nearest town from Sariska. Alwar lies on National Highway (NH) 8, and is well linked by road with Delhi and Jaipur.
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