Sariska Tiger Reserve Alwar

At a distance of 36 km from Alwar, 111 km from Jaipur & 195 km from New Delhi, Sariska Tiger Reserve is a popular national park and wildlife refuge located at Sariska in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. It is one of the best places to visit near Delhi & also one of the popular tourist places in Rajasthan.

Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the prominent national parks in India. Formerly a hunting ground of the Maharaja of Alwar, the park was declared as a wildlife reserve in 1955 and then a Tiger Reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger. Sariska is among the 28 Tiger reserves in the country and it is spread across an area of 850 sq. km with core area of approximately 500 sq. km. Sariska has varied topography that includes grasslands, dry deciduous forests, cliffs and rocky landscape. The Aravalli mountain ranges surround the park which is covered with thick forests.

This reserve is famous for Bengal tigers along with many species of wildlife like leopard, jungle cat, caracal, striped hyena, Indian jackal, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, four-horned antelope and wild boar. Sariska is also famous for bird watching with some of the rarest feathered species like grey partridge, white-throated kingfisher, Indian peafowl, bush quail, sand grouse, treepie, golden-backed woodpecker, crested serpent eagle and the Indian eagle-owl.

Within the sanctuary there is the Kankwari Fort which attracts many tourists. The sanctuary also houses Neelkanth Mahadeva, Bhartrihari Temple and Pandupol. It is believed that Pandava brothers spent time here during their exile period. There is an old Hanuman Temple in Pandupol built by Saint Nirbhaya Das Ji which attracts large number of devotees. The best way to explore Sariska Sanctuary is by jeep which can be arranged at the Forest Reception Office on Jaipur Road. Private vehicles are not allowed inside the Reserve. Visitors are advised to make online booking in advance for safari. Sariska Palace in the park has now been turned into a heritage hotel. Best time to visit Sariska Park is from November to March. The park is open throughout the year for pilgrims to visit Pandupol, but wildlife visits are closed in monsoon between July- September.

History

The park is spread over an area of 866 square kilometers. Before independence the reserve was a part of the erstwhile Alwar state that served as a hunting ground for the royalty. In the year 1955, it was unlawful to capture, hunt, trap, snare and shoot any kind of animals. In the year 1958, the reserve was upgraded into a sanctuary. The park came under the Project Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982.

Safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve

Jeep is one the best ways to view this park. These jeeps are available at a cost of Rs. 500-600 and can be hired from the Forest Reception Office.

Monuments in Alwar

Monuments in Alwar is a where the journey of the Fairy Queen ends! The oldest working engine in the world and one of India’s national treasure, Fairy Queen leads a train from Delhi encampment to Alwar in Rajasthan. The engine was built in 1855 and acquired by the Eastern Indian Railways from a British firm. The train that harnesses this engine is now used for tourism. The journey of the city of Alwar and its origins can be traced back to 1500 BC. Nestled in the lap of the green hills of the Aravalli range, it is home to beautiful palaces and forts from an era long gone. The deep valleys and thick forest cover of the hills are a haven for many species of birds such as grey partridge and white-throated kingfisher and animals, most notably, the Bengal tiger and golden jackal. It is this splendour and exquisite architecture, along with the calm lakes, royal hunting chalets, dense jungles and a socio-cultural environment unlike any other that makes Alwar a traveller’s delight. Alwar is one of the oldest cities in Rajasthan. Paradoxically, the city is also the most recent of the Rajput kingdoms. Its traditions can be traced back to the realms of Viratnagar that flourished here around 1500 BC. Also known as Matasya Desh, this is where the Pandavas, the mighty heroes of the Mahabharata, spent the last years of their 13-year exile.