Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is a sanctuary located in the Churu district of Northwestern Rajasthan, in the Shekhawati region of India. It is known for blackbucks and is also home to a variety of birds. Tal Chhaper Sanctuary is with almost flat tract and interspersed shallow low-lying areas. It has open grassland with scattered Acacia and Prosopis trees which give it an appearance of a typical savanna. The word “tal” means plane land. The rain water flows through shallow low-lying areas and collect in the small seasonal water ponds.
The sanctuary area is mostly covered by grasses with a very few trees. The Sanctuary comes alive with the chirping of various migratory birds such as harriers. These birds pass through this area during September. Birds commonly seen in the sanctuary are harriers, eastern imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short-toed eagle, sparrow, and little green bee-eaters, black ibis and demoiselle cranes, which stay till March. Skylarks, crested larks, ring doves, and brown doves are seen throughout the year. Desert fox and Wildcat can also be spotted along with typical avifauna such as partridge and sand grouse.
In the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, a special type of grass is found. This grass is called Mothiya locally. The shape of the seed of this grass is like very fine round shaped pearls. Mothiya has a very sweet taste. People enjoy eating it, but it is found in very small quantities. Production is only a few kilograms every season. Mothiya is also food for blackbucks and birds which dig it from the earth with their starks Wildlife in Rajasthan.
Flora and Fauna
The sanctuary area is mostly covered by grasses with a very few trees. It lies on the way of the passage of many migratory birds such as harriers. These birds pass through this area during September. Birds commonly seen in the sanctuary are harriers, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, sparrow, and Little Green Bee-eaters, Black Ibis and Demoiselle Cranes, which stay there till March. There are many other birds like skylark, crested lark, Ring Dove, brown dove and blue jay are seen throughout the year. Desert fox and desert cat can also be spotted along with typical avifauna such as partridge and sand grouse.
Tal Chappar wild life sanctuary comes alive with the chirping of various migratory birds including montagur’s, marsh harrier, pale harrier, imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short toed eagle, sparrow hawk, skylark, crested lark, ring drove, brown dove, blue jay, green bee- eaters, black ibis and demoiselle or the Kurja cranes. You can also see the Kurja these migratory bird from far off countries as Siberia, Magnolia, Tajikistan, central Asia and starts to migrate in the month of September Rajasthan wildlife tour packages.
Among the other wildlife beauties then it is a fact that Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is famous for black-bucks. Talchhapar wildlife sanctuary is the sole place having a good population of Black buck in such a small area. The sanctuary is a home to nearly 1680 Black Bucks. Being a natural home of Blackbucks and you can easily see 500-700 animals in a single herd. It is the only sanctuary in India in which is having a good number of blackbucks in an almost tree-less, saline and flat-land. These black bucks have “Mothiya” for their food.
Best time to visit Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
The best time to plan a trip to this sanctuary is from November to February. The climate here actually reaches extreme in all summer and winter seasons. On May and June, this part experiences extremely hot weather that pushes most of the animals to their dens; so not a good time to visit Tal Chhapar Sanctuary.
From November to February, however, the temperature drops to as low as 5 degree Celsius, whereas from mid-December to mid-January, the fogs will clear your way only post 9 AM. However, as compared to extremely hot weather, this period is a good time to visit this place.
How to Reach Tal Chappar Sanctuary
This famous bird park is located in the Sujangarh Tehsil of Churu District.
By Road : It is located in the Nokha-Sujangarh state highway and about 85 km from Churu. Tourist can take bus or can hire taxi to reach the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary.
By Air : Jaipur Airport is the nearest airport to Tal Chappar Sanctuary about 215 km away.
By Rail : Chappar is the nearest railway station to Tal Chappar Sanctuary and is located in the Degana-Churu-Rewari line.