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The Sariska Tiger Reserve sprawls
across 800 square kilometres of the Aravalis and is
perhaps one of India’s most exciting wildlife
reserves. Spread over a core area of 474 sq km, 250 m
above sea level, the park is easily accessible, lying
just three hours away from Delhi by road. Sariska
is one of the few remaining forest pockets in the
Aravali range that has survived the onslaught of
modern times. Situated in the state of Rajasthan with
a backdrop of the Aravali Hills, the park boasts of
quite a few tigers and other interesting flora and
fauna. There are also historical ruins and monuments
within Sariska’s confines that are symbolic of its
rich past. The park offers a unique opportunity to
observe keenly the behavioural patterns of the animals
at waterholes. With luck, sighting a tiger, chital,
sambar, leopard, chinkara, or crocodile basking in the
sun on the shores of the Siliserh Lake are not rare.
The Sariska National Park offers a wide range of
activities such as motor driving in and around the
park in the mornings and evenings, observing the
wildlife at the waterholes, or photographing wildlife
from the many hideouts provided in the park. There are
also many ancient temples scattered throughout the
park, as well as the Kankwadi Fort that can be
visited. There are many tribes in and around the park
and observing their lifestyle can be an interesting
option.
Sariska became a wildlife sanctuary
in 1958 by a government notification. In 1979, it was
decided to make it a part of the ambitious Project
Tiger and in the same year its status was enhanced to
that of a national park. After getting proper
protection from the wildlife authorities, the number
of wild inhabitants has increased here significantly
and this region has become one of the rare sanctuaries
in India where sighting the fauna is not difficult.
The landscape of Sariska comprises
hills and narrow valleys of the Aravali hill range. The
topography supports scrub-thorn arid forests, dry
deciduous forests, rocks and grasses. The wide range
of wildlife here is a wonderful example of ecological
adaptation and tolerance, for the climate here is
variable as well as erratic, especially in terms of
rainfall, which is scant at times. The major plants
that one can find here are dhok, khair, tendu, and ber.
The plants remain lush and green during the monsoon
period and in the summer.
The Sariska National Park is known
for its tigers. According to the latest available
data, there are about 35 tigers in the park here.
Other predators of the forest include the panther,
jungle cat, jackal, hyena, and fox. Also found are
sambhar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai, civet,
four-horned antelope, gaur (Indian bison) and
porcupine. Birds found here include peafowl, grey
partridges, quails, sand grouses, tree pies,
white-breasted kingfishers, golden-backed woodpeckers,
crested serpent eagles, vultures and horned owls.
Since the last decade, caracals have also been spotted
here.
The Siliserh Lake is at the edge of
the tiger reserve, just off the Alwar-Sariska road,
and has a palace overlooking it, which has been
converted into a tourist resort. Crocodiles are the
major inhabitants of this lake and observing them
basking on the shores of the lake can be an
interesting experience.
The Kankwadi fort is Sariska’s link
with Mughal history. Now overgrown with weeds and
shrubs, it stands majestically on a hill overlooking
the Kankwadi plateau and a small lake surrounded by a
few Gujjar (a tribe) villages. Located inside the park
are ruins of medieval temples of the Hindu God Shiva (Neel
Kanth Temple). The ruins of the temple Garh-Rajor,
built in the 10th century, are scattered all over the
jungle.
Summers (April-June) have high temperatures but the
monsoon season is not marked by very heavy rainfall
and due to this, the fall in temperature is not more
than a few degrees. The best season to visit the park
is from November to June. June is the best month for
game viewing. The park remains closed during the
months of July and August and any visit to the park is
limited to the daylight hours (dawn to dusk) to
protect tigers from night poaching. |
