Wildlife
Travel Rajasthan

The
tiger is the biggest attraction of the state. According to naturalists, Sariska
Tiger Reserve d Ranthambhor National Park are the best irks in the country for
observing and photographing the activities of the tiger. The leopard is common
in almost every sanctuary of Rajasthan. The herbivorous population includes
blue bull, chital and sambar which are the pride different forest areas. Deer
and antelopes can 3 seen frequently during day time. Wild boars and langurs
are a common sight. Black buck is common in Talchhapar sanctuary.
The Great Indian Bustard and chinkara are the pride of the Thar Desert. The
Desert National ark is an excellent example of the ecosystem of Desert and its
diverse fauna. The Indian grey wolf can be seen at Kumbhalgarh sanctuary. The
flying squirrel gliding from one tree to another can be seen at Sitamata sanctuary.
Jawahar Sagar and Chambal sanctuaries are famous for the gavial. The Famous
park of Rakjasthan
» Ranthambore National Park
Earlier the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the Park at Ranthambore
was once the scene of royal hunting parties. Today, it is famous for its tigers
and is one of the best places in the country to see these majestic predators
in the wild.
Tigers can be spotted quit often even during the day, at their normal pursuits
- hunting and

taking
care of their young. With the strict measures that have been taken for their
accustomed to human activity and are not disturbed by it. A good time to visit
is between November and April when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes
sightings common.
Ranthambore has large numbers of sambar, chital and nilgai. Sounders of boar
and an occasional gazelle - the chinkara can be seen, as also the Indian hare,
mongoose and monitor lizards.
The lakes and pools at the Park are where the deer congregate and where it is
easiest to see the animals. Among the other local fauna are the leopard, hyena,
jackal, jungle cats, sloth bear and marsh crocodile. Jacanas. painted sto-k.
hiaci-. stork, and white necked stork are seen along the water bodies. Peafowl
are found in abundance and other birds include Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent
eagle, the great Indian horned owl, quail, partridge, spur fowl and the paradise
flycatcher.
The Park which covers an area of 392 sq. km. is set between the Aravalli and
Vindhya ranges. Its deciduous forests were once a part of the magnificent jungles
of Central India.
The terrain is rugged and there are rocky ridges, hills and open verfteys with
lakes and pools. Ranthambore's royal past manifests itself in the picturesque
ruins that dot the Park.
There are lake palaces, chhatris, old fortifications and a majestic thousand
year old fort. On a height overlooking the Park. The forest rest house at the
foot of the Ranthambore fort is located in the lovely Jogi Mahal. It overlooks
a tank - the pretty Padam Talao, afloat with water lilies.
» Sariska National Park

The
picturesque Siliserh Lake lies along the edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve and
a charming hunting lodge overlooking it, is a marvelous place for visitors to
stay.
The dry Deciduous forests of the ancient Aravalli range, are excellent tiger
country and Sariska, was once the royal reserve of the rulers of Alwa''. Declared
a sanctuary in 1955, it became a Tiger Reserve in 1979 under Project Tiger
Herds of sambar, chital, nilgai and sounders of wild boar - the prey population
for predators like the tiger and leopard, roam the 765.80 sq km Reserve. Other
carnivores include the hyena, jungle cat, and caracal. Interestingly enough,
the dhole or wild dog has been sighted in the Park only in the last few years.
The Park has hides carefully located near the water holes. These afford fine
opportunities for viewing and photographing wildlife. Splendid ruins scattered
in the vicinity of Sariska give it an added interest.
The Neelkanth temples (6th-13th century AD) are just 32 km. from the Park and
the historic Kankwari Fort inside the Reserves is where the Emperor Aurangzeb
one imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh. Splendid palace complex built in with
a 'French' pavilion and swimming pool, is now a hotel.
» Keoladeo National Park ( Bharatpur )

Just
176 km. from Delhi is a very special wilderness - the Keoladeo Ghana National
Park, one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The 28.73 sq. km.
lake and wetland was artificially created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the
19th century.
By building small dykes and dams and diverting water from an irrigation canal,
he converted this low lying area into a fine wild fowl shooting preserve. In
a few years, the new wetland surrounded by marginal forests was able to support
thousands of water birds.
Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the Park is a delight for bird watchers.
Over 300 species of birds are found here and raised paths, camouflaged by babul
trees and undergrowth make viewing easy. A quiet ride by boat in the early hours
of the morning is also an unforgettable experience. There are mixed heronries
on the half submerged babul trees and the cacophony is unbelievable as painted
storks, open

bills,
spoon bills, egrets, cormorants, white ibis and multitudes of others, tend their
young. Jacanas with their iridescent colors and elegant tail feathers and purple
moorhen can be seen delicately treading over the floating vegetation. While
harriers and fishing eagles circle overhead in search of prey, the pied kingfisher
hovers dramatically over the water in a flurry of wings.
There are varieties of storks and cranes and the local sarus crane is elegant
in a livery of grey and red. Every year Bharatpur waits with coated breath for
the arrival of the Siberian cranes.
There are only two wintering places for this rare species -one in Iran and the
other Bharatpur and these beautiful birds with their distinctive red beaks and
facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their summer retreats in Siberia, to get
to them. In 1996, there was great jubilation as a couple of Siberian cranes
with a young one made an appearance in Bharatpur after a lapse of three years.
The forests around the lake at Bharatpur harbor the sambar, chital, nilgai,
jackal, hyena, fox, mongoose and porcupine. Occasionally, a fishing cat can
be seen scooping its prey also commonly seen sunning themselves along edge of
the paths or at Python Point.
Wildlife
Travel Rajasthan Reservation Form