Tuesday 5 February 2013

Sariska Tiger Reserve


Location Alwar District, Rajasthan, India
Nearest city Alwar
Area 866 km2
Established 1955
Governing body Project Tiger, Government of Rajasthan, Wildlife Warden, 
Sariska National Park
Summer Temperature 24° C to 37° C
Winter Temperature 11° C to 31° C
Weather Moderate
The Sariska tiger reserve is basically a national park which is situated in the district of Alwar in Rajasthan. The geographical conditions of this place allow it to support dry deciduous forests, rocks, grasses and scrub-thorn arid forests. At one time this reserve served a hunting ground for the people and it was announced as a wildlife reserve in the year 1955 and it was in the year 1978 that Sariska was awarded with the status of being a reserve and it came under the India’s Project Tiger. Sariska tiger reserve stretches to an area of around 866 square kilometers and its distance from Jaipur and Delhi is 107 kilometers and 200 kilometers respectively.
The entire region of Sariska is a portion of the famous Aravalli range and has plentiful supplies of copper and although the mining was restricted in the area by the Supreme Court it still continues sadly to this day. Some of the commonly found wildlife animals in Sariska tiger reserve are golden jackal, nilgai, striped hyena, four-horned antelope, wild boar, antelope, Bengal tiger, leopard, jungle cat plus lots of bird and reptiles species. Some of the birds found in the area are tree pie, golden backed wood, great Indian horned owl, crested serpent eagle and peafowl.
History
Sariska tiger reserve was established in the year 1978 with the motive to serve as hunting ground for the royal families prior to independence. It was after the attainment of independence that bans were formulated on any kind of hunting activity in the area and it was converted into a reserve and later on in 1958 it was upgraded to a sanctuary. The main notice to announce portion of the core as a national park was issued in the year 1982 although the concluding notification is still to be released and it is pending as it is considering the resettlement of few villages from the park.
Weather And Best Time To Visit
The two main seasons that are prominent in the reserve are summer and winter, the summer season is at its best in the months of May, April and June when the temperature is quite high and ranges between 24° C and 37° C. The wildlife in Sariska however is more likely to be spotted in the summer season. If the tourists wish to visit the sanctuary then it is favorable the entire year except for the months of July and August as that is when the animals shift to the higher portions of the ground. The summer season is quite hot in Sariska but the visitors are bound to catch the maximum views at that time.
In order to spot the maximum wildlife the visitors must tour the forest either in the morning or in the evening although the tiger can be found in the afternoon as well.
Best Time To Visit
The national park is open for tourists all year round but some portions of the jungle remain closed in the rainy season as well as in the breeding season.
Places To Visit
The Grand Sariska Palace
The palace was designed by the royal highness of Alwar so that it could be used as a hunting lodge back in the year 1892 and the palace is now been transformed into a nice hotel. This magnificent palace is located in the premises of the national park.
The Kankwari Fort
The fort is a celestial structure of the beautiful Mughal architecture dating back to the 10th century. This fort is also situated inside the boundaries of the Sariska and it happens to be the legendary spot where Dara Shikoh was arrested by his brother, the great emperor Aurangzeb.
The Ancient Shiva Temples
The remains of Neelkanth temples which belong to the 6th till the 13th century AD are definitely something that cannot be missed as they are most royal and mesmerizing.
Other than these beautiful and historical sites the tourists can also visit places like the Buddha Hanuman temple near Pandupol, the Bharthari temple located near the park office and of course the hot and cold springs of Taalvriksh which are also renowned for their medicinal qualities.
How To Reach
Air
The closest airport from Sariska tiger reserve is the Jaipur airport which is around 115 kilometers from the reserve.
Rail
This national park is situated on the Delhi-Jaipur highway and the closest railhead happens to be Alwar which is at a distance of 36 kilometers and well linked from the major destinations in India.
Road
Sariska tiger reserve is well linked by roads from major cities like Jaipur and Delhi which are located at a distance of 200 km and 107 km respectively. The tourists can also reach the national park by taking bus service from Alwar.
Flora And Fauna
Flora
This national park portrays a look of a valley which is surrounded by bare mountains and cliffs. Most of the vegetation found in the area is shrubs, thorns along with dry deciduous vegetation. The visitors will also encounter various trees in the national park such as jamun, dhok, salai, arjun and bahera. Among all the dhok trees takes away the limelight as they cover almost 90 percent of the total area. There is also a beautiful lake that flows around the boundary of the Sariska tiger reserve.
Fauna
People can encounter not one but many flesh-eating animals in the area such as leopard, hyena, jackal, wild dog and tiger. This national park is also well known for the Rhesus Langurs which can be found in fairly large numbers in the area and they are specially found in Taalvriksh.
Wildlife
Sariska tiger reserve is home to many carnivores and herbivores animals plus there are many species of birds also that can be found in the area such as golden backed woodpecker, tree pie and great Indian horned owl.
Timings
  • 7 am to 4 pm in winters from October till February
  • 6 am to 5 pm for the remaining year.
Entry Fee
Rs.25 for Indians and Rs.200 for Foreigners, Rs.125 for vehicles and Rs.200 for cameras.

Where To Stay

The tourists can find many good accommodation facilities ranging from economical lodges to luxury hotels in Sariska and some of the famous names are Sariska Palace and Hotel lake palace.
General Information
  • If the tourists plan to spend their time in hide to watch wildlife then it is better to carry food sleeping bag and water.
  • The rent for hiring jeep to and from Alwar varies throughout the year.
  • Always carry necessary medicines, torch and sleeping bag as such facilities might not be instantly available.
  • Money changing amenities plus post facilities are readily available.
Location Map
Photo Gallery

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