Wildlife of Rajasthan
RanthamboreNational Park
Ranthambore National Park is in Sawai Madhopur District of Rajasthan state.Located at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya hill range, this is one of the finest places to view animals, especially as they are used to being stared at here.The park covers an area of Approximately 400 sq Km and if combined it with the area of sawai man singh sanctuary area,it is around 500 Sq km.
Ranthambore national park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974 it gained the protection of "Project Tiger". It got it's status of a National Park in 1981.
Ranthambore National Park is dotted with structures that remind you of bygone eras.There are many water bodies located all over the park, which provide perfect relief during the extremely hot summer months for the forest inhabitants. A huge fort, after which the park is named, towers over the park atop a hill. There are many ruins of bygone eras scattered all over the jungle, which give it a unique, wonderful and mixed flavour of nature, history and wildlife.Tigers at Ranthambore National park have been known to even hunt in full view of human visitors. These tigers are famous for being seen in the daytime too, due to their lack of fear of human presence in vehicles. This lack of fear of humans is excellent for tourists, as they get to see the tigers often.
This National park is a wildlife enthusiast and photographer's dream. It offers excellent accommodation and internal transportation facilities. The park remains open every year from October to May.Famous for the exciting and frequent tiger sightings captured dramatically in several books, this park is today affected by ecological pressures and poaching.
In Nutshell, Ranthambore National park is a wildlife enthusiast and photographer's dream. It offers excellent accommodation and internal transportation facilities and remains open every year from October to Mid June.
Sariska National Park
Sariska National Park is situated approximately 200 km from Delhi and 107 km from Jaipur, the Sariska National Park of Rajasthan has a landscape similar to that of Ranthambore. Housing the National Animal of India, Tiger, the Sariska Tiger Reserve of India spreads over an area of 800 km, the core area being 500 km. After being declared a sanctuary in 1955, it was later converted into a National Park, in 1979. Although Sariska remains open almost throughout the year, but the best time to visit is from October to April
The climate of Rajasthan Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is quite inconsistent and unpredictable. Northern Aravalli hills, with their sharp cliffs and long narrow valleys, dominate the topography of Sariska. Scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses are some of the other features of the geography of the park. There are a number of water holes throughout the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary, serving the needs of its inhabitants.
Wildlife at Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary
The rich wildlife of the Sariska National Park consists of Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal, Tiger, Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Chausingha, Wild Boar, Langur, Rhesus Monkeys, etc. Also a habitat to numerous varieties of birds, the park is full of birds like Peafowl, Grey Partridge, Bush Quail, Sand Grouse, Tree Pie, Golden backed Woodpecker, crested Serpent Eagle, The Great Indian horned Owl, etc.
Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary at Bharatpur is one of the most important breeding and feeding grounds for migratory birds in the world. More than 30 sq.km of shallow lakes and scrubby woodland harbour over 350 bird species from as far away as Europe and Siberia. It is possible to see 150 species in a day and as many as 10 species nesting in a single tree. The main migratory season is from mid October to mid February, but many residents nest and breed in the sanctuary during the hotter months and monsoon.
Bharatpur was given National Park status in 1982 to control visitors, and offer protection from illegal grazing. The sanctuary was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985 and is widely held to be the best birding site in India.
The park lies between Delhi and Ranthambhore and is only 50km from Agra, the ancient Moghul city of Fatehpur Sikri is also nearby. The Bund Bhareta Reservoir and National Chambal Sanctuary offer further wildlife opportunities for those with an additional day to spend in the area.
Desert National Park Jaisalmer
The Desert National Park is situated in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. Spread over an area in excess of 3150 sq km, it is probably the largest park of India. Reflecting the ecosystem and flora of the Thar desert, Rajasthan Desert National Sanctuary was set up in 1980. The best time to visit the park is from October to March.
There are three main lakes in this sanctuary - Rajbaugh Lake, Milak Talao Lake and Padam Talao Lake. These lakes are the major watering holes for the inhabitants of the national park. The rich flora of the park consists of dhok, ronj, salai, bear and palm trees. Covering approximately twenty percent area of the park are the sand dunes. Craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, inter medial areas and fixed dunes form the unique features of the landscape of the Desert National Park.
