Sariska National Park
Sariska lies in Rajasthan, some 100 km east of the state capital of Jaipur. It is the closest large national park to India’s capital Dehli which is around 200 km to the north west. Sariska covers an area of 866 km2, and its terrain primarily consists of arid scrub throw forests, dry deciduous woodland, grasslands and rocky hills.
On the borders of the park is a lake where you can see animals such as crocodiles. There are a number of historic buildings in the park including Sariska Palace, the 16th century Kankwadi Fort and the Pandupol Hanumanji that attracts many pilgrims.
After being home to a good population of tigers for many years, by 2004 these big cats had been completely eradicated from the park by poaching. From 2008-2010 the authorities relocated five tigers here, two males and three females, from the nearby Ranthambore National Park, making it possible to see tigers in Sariska again. Four of these big cats adapted well to the move, and the current population of tigers here is now at least 13, thanks to the good population of prey animals that live in the park. This makes Sariska the first park in the world to successfully reintroduce tigers, and there are now plans to relocate more tigers into the park in an attempt to prevent inbreeding.
Sariska has robust populations of Axis and Sambar deer, and you can also find four-horned antelope, the large Nilgai antelope and wild boar here. Hanuman langurs and rhesus monkeys are common, and with a bit of luck you may spot predators such as leopard, jungle cat, striped hyena and Indian jackal. The impressive peafowl is common in the park, which is home to a great variety of birds, including many rare species.
Highlights:
- Beautiful hilly park with dry forest, many rocky outcrops and open grasslands
- Many herbivores and an increasing number of tigers, that are now thriving in the park after many years of absence
- Lake with crocodiles, many peafowls and other bird species, and a number of historic buildings
High Season: October to May
