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| Sariska Tiger Reserve |
Sariska, in Rajasthan,
the erstwhile royal preserve of the rulers of Alwar, became
a sanctuary in the year 1958. The sanctuary came under the Project
Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982. It is located
at Kankwari fort, near Alwar, on the Delhi - Jaipur Highway.
The terrain is predominantly hilly, as it lies in the Aravalli
range. It has total area of 788 sq. kilometres, with a core
area of approximately 474 sq. kilometres. The beautiful Siliserh
Lake runs along the edge of the reserve, with a quaint hunting
lodge overlooking it.
At last count in 1985, there 35 tigers were reported. Other
carnivores of the area are the panther, jungle cat, jackal and
hyena. Three caracals were also reported during the last census
in 1985. Other animals include the sambar, chital, wild boar,
hare, nilgai and umpteen porcupines.
The bird-life comprises of the pea fowl, gray partridge, quail,
sand grouse, tree pie, white breasted kingfisher, golden - backed
woodpecker, crested serpent eagle and great Indian horned owl.
Magnificent ruins peppered around the neighbourhood of Sariska
add to the region's fascination. The Neelkanth (Shiva) temples
(6th-13th century AD) are just 32 kms from the Park and the
ancient Kankwari Fort inside the Reserve, is where Emperor Aurangzeb
once held his brother Dara Shikoh captive. A beautiful palace
complex built in 1902 has been converted into a hotel.
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Entry Requirements
All visitors to Sariska Tiger Reserve need
entry permits to get into the park. for these permits,
available at the office of the Field Director, or at the
gate to Sariska.
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How to get there
The town closest to Sariska is Alwar, and
the park itself lies off the Delhi-Alwar-Jaipur highway,
just over 100 km from Jaipur, and about 200 km from Delhi.
Alwar, a mere 21 km from Sariska, is the nearest railhead,
and has frequent trains from Deeg, Bharatpur, Jaipur and
other towns. In addition, the high-speed Shatabdi Express
comes daily from Delhi, except on Sundays. The train stops
only for two minutes at Alwar, so you’ll have to
be quick on your feet, getting on or off.
The nearest airport is Jaipur, which, by virtue of its
being the state capital, and an important tourist destination,
is well connected to the rest of the country.
Regular buses connect Alwar to Delhi and to other towns
and cities within Rajasthan as well. From Alwar, there
are buses to Sariska, and rented vehicles or taxis can
be taken to get to the park.Within Sariska, jeeps can
be hired from the Forest Reception Office to tour the
park. The other option for avid wildlife-watchers is to
hire a machan or `hide’ near one of the waterholes.
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Best time to visit
Sariska is open to visitors throughout the
year, although certain jungle tracks are closed during
the monsoon and the breeding season. The best time to
visit the park is late in the winter around January or
February. If you don’t mind the heat, April to June
is a great time to see animals at the waterholes.
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Accommodation and other facilities
Hotel accommodation is available in close
proximity but outside the park limits. The RTDC has two
hotels on the periphery of Sariska, and the forest department
operates a small rest-house. A room at the resthouse costs
between Rs 300 to 700 per night, while rooms at the RTDC
hotel range between Rs 700 to 1,900 per night.
A little further from Sariska is the Hotel Sariska Palace,
a heritage hotel where a double room costs between Rs
3,000 – 4,000 a night. Rates at the nearby resorts
are also approximately the same as at the Sariska Palace.
The other option is to stay at Alwar, which offers accommodation
facilities ranging from budget to deluxe.
Further information on Sariska can be obtained from
the Field Director, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Distt Alwar,
Rajasthan, or from the offices of the Rajasthan Tourism
Development Corporation (RTDC).
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