Parks and Sanctuaries of Rajasthan

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park of Bharatpur in Rajasthan is one of the finest bird parks in the world. Though the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is basically a bird sanctuary it offers protection to various faunal species as well. Today, the Keoladeo Ghana National Park is home to over 120 species of birds. In the winters the national park is home to several visitors, as far as from Siberia. Amongst the popular migrants to the national park is the endangered Siberian crane. You may explore a range of birds at the national park by navigating the narrow paths in between the artificially created lakes on bicycles, cycle rickshaws and on foot. Amongst the easily spotted birds at Keoladeo Ghana are the painted storks, spoonbills, ibises, geese, ducks, cranes, herons, egrets, pelicans, flamingos, cormorants, darters, kingfishers, blue jays, shrikes, orioles, paradise flycatchers, parakeets, eagles and harriers. Besides the avian population, there are several mammalian and reptilian species at the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. You may check out the wild boar, deer, chital, blackbuck, nilgai, mongoose, otters, jackals, fox, hyena, hare, porcupine and rock python. Amongst the feline species are the leopard, jungle cat and fishing cat. It is noteworthy that the national park may be visited any time of the year. The park is easily accessible. It is located close to the township of Bharatpur. It makes an excellent excursion trip from the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

Ranthambor National Park

The Ranthambor national Park is home to the majestic Indian tiger. Besides the tiger you may spot other predators like the leopard. Crocodiles, caracals, jungle cats, jackals, hyena, sloth bears, deer, wild boar, hare, mongoose and monitor lizard are the other habitants of the national park. In terms of the avian population of the park, there are over two hundred and fifty species of birds that may be spotted. Amongst the birds you may find painted storks, white-necked storks, black storks, peafowl, crested serpent eagles, Bonelli's eagle, Indian horned owl, quail, partridge, spur fowl, paradise flycatcher and jacanas. In case you visit the national park in winter season chances are that you spot the migratory birds like graylag goose, ruddy sheiduck and pintails too. The Ranthambor National park is surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravali hill ranges. The park lies close to the outer fringes of the Thar Desert. Before being declared a game sanctuary in 1955, Ranthambor was the hunting ground of the maharaja of Jaipur. Ranthambor became a Project Tiger Reserve in 1973 and a national park in 1980. Now, the Kaila Devi Sanctuary, also famous for its tigers, and Mansingh Sanctuary also form part of Ranthambor Reserve. It is noteworthy that the Ranthambor National Park is closed for the visitors during peak summer and monsoon months.

Sariska National Park

The Sariska National Park is a natural habitat for a wide range of wildlife and is best known for the tigers. Sariska was declared a sanctuary in 1955; was brought under the Project Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982. When you drive in the forested reserve of Sariska, you are likely to come across a large number of species of deer including sambhar, chital and nilgai. For photographers and wildlife watchers, the water holes in the national park are the perfect location to catch the leopards, jungle cat, jackal, hyena, wild dog and tigers. Amongst the birds, you may spot the gray partridge, white-breasted kingfisher, golden-backed woodpecker, serpent eagle and great Indian horned owl. In case you wish to sight the tiger then the summers are the best time to plan your visit to Sariska national park. Else the winters are the most preferred. During the monsoon months the national park remains closed.

Desert National Park

The Desert National Park of Rajasthan comprises of the vast tracts of desert sands around Jaisalmer and their wood fossils. The eco system of a desert supports a unique variety of wildlife species. The great Indian bustard and houbara, the lesser bustard are the endangered species that live in the Desert National Park. Faunal species like the spiny-tailed lizard, desert monitors, sandfish, chameleons and snakes including the saw-scaled viper and Sind Krait are amongst the habitants of the national park. The desert hare, hedgehog, the predatory Indian wolf, desert fox, desert gerbil are the other species supported by the desert environment. Besides the great Indian bustard the other avifaunal species in the Desert National Park include the sandgrouse, gray patridge, quails, peafowl and insect eating birds like bee-eaters, shrikes, orioles, drongos, warblers and babblers are found in the khair bushes.

Amongst the smaller sanctuaries and wildlife reserves in Rajasthan are the Bhensrodgarh, Darrah, Jaisamand, Kumbalgarh, Mount Abu, Chambal, Sitamata and Talchappar.