Wildlife In Rajasthan

Rajasthan, a land where epics of the past stand tall amidst the contemporary development of the present world. Its hard to believe that Rajasthan despite of urbanization has still maintained its royal and regal past with all its grandeur.

Apart from grandiose forts, lavish palaces and luxurious heritage hotels, Rajasthan has much more alluring things to offer to its guests. It is a land of varied topography that ranges from Great Thar Desert to scrub-thorn arid forests to rocks and ravines to wetlands and lush, green forests. All these regions are known as haven for endless array of flora and fauna.

To preserve this wide spectrum of wildlife, Rajasthan is embellished with some of the famed national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, dotted in each and every nook and corner of the state. Rajasthan proudly boasts three national parks and dozens of wildlife sanctuaries within its territory.

Some of the most sought after national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Rajasthan are

Ranthambore National Park: Positioned at the outer boundary of the Great Indian Thar Desert and surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravali hill ranges in the Sawai Madhopur district , Ranthambore National Park is one of the celebrated national parks of Rajasthan. It is also a well known Tiger reserve established in the year 1973 under the 'Project Tiger”. 392 sq km of this park provides shelter not to only to Tiger but also to various other species of wildlife such as sambhar, cheetal, wild boar, leopard, sloth bear, jackal, hyena and some species of birds, reptiles and plants among others.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park: Previously, known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a World Heritage Site. Built 250 years ago by the Maharajah Suraj Mal of Bharatpur, this park has attained its national park status in the year 1983. This national park is an ornithologist delight as it is a nestling and feeding ground of both resident and migratory birds. Every year thousands of migratory birds comes here to spend their winter from Siberia and Central Asia. Besides 375 avifauna species, you can even spot some exotic mammals such as sambhar, blackbuck, chital, nilgai, fishing cat, otter and mongoose etc.

Desert National Park: Encompassing a vast land of 3,150 sq km, Desert National Park is situated in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. It is assumed that this park of Rajasthan is probably the largest park of India. Craggy rocks, compact salt lake bottoms and vast sand dunes that comprises 20% of the park are the varied topography of this national park. Even the flora and fauna which is available in this park is unique and unparalleled to other national parks of India such as small grasses, shrubs and xerophytic trees are the main type of vegetation present here. The wildlife comprises of the spiny- tail lizard, desert monitors, sand fish, chameleons, snakes like deadly viper and krait, chinkara, blackbuck, the desert fox, and Bengal fox among many others. Besides them the greatest attraction of the park are the Indian Bastard.

Sariska Tiger Reserve: Sariska Tiger reserve, another tigerland of India is located in Alwar district of Rajasthan with Aravali hills at the backdrop. It was declared as a Tiger Reserve in the year 1978. Apart from Tiger, other attraction of this reserve are leopard, sambhar, nilgai, wild dog, and chinkara, the ruins of 9th and 10th century temples exist here.

Bhensrod Garh Sanctuary: Established in 1983, this wildlife sanctuary of Rajasthan spreads across a n area of 229 sq km of scrub and dry deciduous forest. Leopards, Chinkara, Sloth Bear are the prime attractions of this wildlife sanctuary. October to May is the ideal time to visit this sanctuary.

Darrah Sanctuary: Famed as the hunting ground of Kota Maharajahs, Darrah wildlife sanctuary is located 56 km south of Kota. It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1955. Encompassing an area of 266 sq km, this sanctuary is home to wolf, sloth bear, chinkara and leopard. The best time to visit this sanctuary is between February and May.

Jaisamand Sanctuary: Located 51km southeast of Udaipur in Rajasthan, Jaisamand Sanctuary was established in the year 1957. It has derived its name from the nearby man-made lake by the same name. Sprawling across an area of 160 sq km, this sanctuary provides shelter to the sloth bear, leopard, chital, chinkara, wild boar and a number of birds. The most favorable time to visit this wildlife sanctuary is from November to January.

Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary: Positioned in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, Kumbalgarh sanctuary surrounds the majestic Kumbhalgarh Fort and covers an area of 578 sq km. Home to the various rare wildlife species like wolf, leopards, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, smabhar, nilgai, chaisingh (the four horned antelope), chinkara and hare, Kumbalgarh sanctuary attarcts thousands of tourists during the month of November to April. It also consist various species of birds.

Other wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan include Mount Abu, Sitamata, Chambal, Tal Chapper, Jamwa Ramgarh, Kaila Devi, Van Vihar, Ramgarh, Shergarh, Todgarh-Rad and Jawahar Sagar.