click here to book your tour to Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary

Located 107 kms from Jaipur, the Sariska National Park is in a wooden valley, surrounded by barren mountains. The dry deciduous forests of the ancient Aravalli range cover the area of the Sariska National Park and Tiger Reserve.

The forest type is dry deciduous, represented by dhok (Anogeissus pendula), khair (Acacia catechu), tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) and ber (Zizyphus maudrentiana). It remains lush green during the monsoon period and dry in summer. Today the tiger population in Sariska is around 25 (as per government census of 1995). That's not much, but it's also not bad considering the fact that tiger population is shrinking everywhere.

The best time to spot tigers is in summer, when they move to waterholes and there's not much foliage to camouflage their stripes. In Sariska, these waterholes have been constructed by the Forest Department quite near the roads on which tourist vehicles ply. Animals have got so used to prying human eyes that they sometimes completely ignore human presence (not that their attention is desired!). Sometimes tigers can be sighted even lounging around the roads.

These same forests, ages ago, are supposed to have sheltered the exiled Pandava brothers, heroes of the epic Mahabharat. The dense forest and difficult terrain of Sariska shielded them until they reached the court at Viratnagar 66 km away and lived there disguised as servants of the king. Only five boulders now remain to testify to the presence of the five Pandavas and their wife, Draupadi. Though the material relics of that age are scarce, the whole countryside is teeming with evidence of the presence of the heroic brothers. Bhima, the strongest brother, smote his scepter in the rock face of a cliff and created a passage for them through a gorge deep in the sanctuary.

This is the place known as Pandupol, the most commonly visited spot within the Sariska area. It was here also that Bhima, who had acquired the strength of many thousand elephants by drunk from the eight jars of the nagas, received a setback to his inflated ego by Lord Hanuman. Hanuman lay across the road disguised as an old monkey and challenged Bhima to lift him when he was ordered to clear the way for the Pandavas to pass. Bhima could not even move his tail and accepted defeat. A temple here is dedicated to Hanuman in the human form.

Wild Attractions of Sariska
Best known for its great Tiger Reserves, Sariska is also inhabited by numerous wild species, the prominent carnivores are Chitel, Leopard, Hyena, Jackal, Wild Boar, Sambar, Nilgai, Barasinga (antelope), Jungle Cat, Wild Dog, Langur. Besides these mammals, there is a treasure of avian world with exotic and diverse water birds, it includes Crested Serpent Eagle, Great Indian Horned Owl, Peafowl, Grey partridge, Golden back Wood Pecker and lot more.

Safari
The park can be explored through jeep as well as on elephant’s back. Jeep safaris can be arranged at the Forest Reception Office on Jaipur Road. Wildlife viewing and phtography in Sariska are, indeed, spectacular experiences.

Topography
There aren't many prominent water bodies present within the park. There is a small lake to the left of the main road only a small distance from the entrance.One of these is located just to the right of the main road, past a place called Kalighati. There is some excellent grassland with water channels criss-crossing all over them. The park bears a completely different look in the summer months and in the months post-monsoon. It appears extremely dry in the summers and becomes so dense and lush green after the monsoons that it is difficult to see beyond a few feet off the track.

How to reach

• Air
  The nearest airport from Sariska is at Jaipur, at a distance of 115 km.
• Rail
  Sariska is located at the Delhi Jaipur high way at Kankwari fort. The Nearest Rail Head Alwar-36km is well connected to all major cities of India.
• Road
  By road Sariska is 200 km from Delhi and can easily be covered in 5 hrs.drive. Jaipur is 107 km from the city. Sariska is well connected to Alwar by easy roadways, from where one can avail bus services.

click here to book your tour to Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary