Wildlife & Bird Sanctuatries > Sariska - by Anil Benipuri

Hot Tip:
Waterholes at Sariska are a good place to watch wildlife. At times one may see Sambhar, Chital,wild boars,neelgai, peacocks and langurs all drinking at the same time.

Langur’s have got used to the presence of humans and are often found in groups on the road especially around the temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman inside the sanctuary.

The Sariska National Park is a tiger reserve located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. The sanctuary covers an area of 800 sqkm. You can see ungulates in large numbers and the bird life is very good and varied. The park, a hunting ground for the royalty of Alwar, was declared a sanctuary in 1958 and a tiger reserve in 1979. The park encompasses ruins of a fort, temples dating to the 9th and 10th century, and the hunting lodge of the maharajas that has been converted into a luxury hotel.

Sariska's forests are typical of the Aravallis with their rolling terrain of low hills, hill plateaus, steep escarpments and wide valleys. A natural habitat for the tiger, it would have held a commendable population of these tigers had the forests around the park not been vandalised in the recent decades. For all that, Sariska is a heavily forested reserve and a drive through the park shows up a large number of deer species (sambhar, chital, neelgai) as well as langurs that inhabit the tree cover and of course wild boars. Residents of the reserve, though almost as elusive as the tiger on account of the cover of vegetation, are leopard, jungle cat, jackal, hyena and wild dog. Observers often gather at hides close to waterholes to view and photograph wildlife though, of course, they cannot stay beyond evening. When deers come to feed at these waterholes, they attract the presence of leopards, tigers and wild dogs, especially in summer when all other sources of water shrink and vaporise.

Facilities for visitors include accommodation at the park and organised safaris. Camping facility is also available. Most wildlife is seen in the evenings though you are more likely to see a tiger during the day. With a population of around 28 tigers spread over a real estate of 800 sqkm the you need a fair share of luck to see one.

It is possible to take private cars into the sanctuary, but they are allowed only over the central metalled roads. If you go during the early morning hours or after 2.30 in the afternoon you will get to see all the wildlife on either side of this road . Many waterholes are just beside the road. The best way to see the park is by petrol Gypsies, which are available for Rs.600 per trip which lasts around 3 hours and can accommodate five people. Diesel jeeps are cheaper costing. These vehicles are allowed to ply off the road on the trails also. It is best to enter the sanctuary in these vehicles or your own vehicle around 2.30 pm as the wildlife sightings are plenty between this time and evening.

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