Information on Wildlife Sanctuaries in Rajasthan
The topography of Rajasthan ranges from the hog-back hills of the Aravallis, sharp scarpments and syncline slopes of the Vindhyas, bad-land ravines of the Chambal, numerous temporary marshlands and the vast lands, extremely arid of the Thar desert house a wide spectrum of wildlife. In the open leafless jungles of state the tiger’s ecological tolerance is on test. The species has done surprisingly well all through history. And today two Project Tiger Reserves, Ranthambhor and Sariska protect the tigers of state for the coming days. The country’s largest population of black bucks, Chinkara, the last of the surviving wolves the rarest desert fox, the endangered caracal, the vanishing Great Indian Bustard, gavial and the monitor lizard are still safe in the state. A vibauna of the state is the richest in the country. Also Visit – Jodhpur Jaisalmer Tour Package
The world’s unparalleled heronry is Keoladeo of Bharatpur National park, where the migratory common cranes, ducks, coots and pelicans arrive in thou-sands to escape severe winter of their home lands in Eurasia and China. Nearly 38 of the world’s 300 surviving rarest Siberian cranes winter in India only at Bharatpur. Thousands of imperial sand grouse, hundreds of lesser bustards, floricans, demoiselle cranes and their predators, eagles including imperial eagle, falcons, harriers and buzzards, arrive during winter in the desert region. Tawny eagle and the Bonelli’s hock-eagle nest in the scrublands of the state. Typical areas representing each of the ecosystems have been constituted as special areas for protection and management of wildlife as National Parks (2) Sanctuaries (12) and closed areas (2) most of them are approachable throughout the year expect for a brief period of monsoon.
Some of the important stations for wild life are:
Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpnr: Literally a Paradise of Ornithologists, there is a beautiful water bird sanctuary at Keoladeo, 5 km. south west of Bharatpur. The rich aquatic plant and animal life in the shallow, freshwater marsh of Bharatpur has been attracting resident and migratory aquatic birds in thousands since times immemorial. It has a recorded history of 100 years of duck shoots. It is one of the best known heronries of the world where over 10,000 nests of egrets, darters, cormorants, grey herons and storks hatch nearly 20,000 to 30,000 chicks every year. In winter over 10,000 coots, 3,000 grey-lag gees and unlimited number of pintails teals and wig eons arrive. The Siberian cranes visit no other waters in India except the marshes of Keoladeo. Numbering over 400 dalmation and roy pelicans stay here for about a month. Also Visit – Udaipur Mount Abu Tour Package
Ranthambhor National Park is a Naturalist’s delight, a famous tiger reserve under the Project Tiger. Here 3000 sambar, 3000 Chita], 303 Chinkara, 1500 nilgai, 2000 wild boar and 2600 common langur provide a good spectrum of prey range for the 32 resident tigers and their co predators, about 13 leopards and about 120 jackals, 61 sloth bears and 58 hyenas also live in the 392 sq km of unique habitat of dry deciduous forests. This wildlife paradise is 162 km from Jaipur in Sawai Madhopur district and approachable by road and rail it is 14 km. away from Sawai Madhopur, a railhead on Delhi-Bombay trunk route.
Sariska Tiger Reserve is the nearest tiger land from Delhi. The land scape of Sariska is dominated by sharp cliffs of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravallis. It offers unique opportunity for viewing a variety of wildlife. The native rhythm reveals wildlife in its own natural habitat. This sanctuary is established in 1955. The forests Lre dry deciduous sometimes more deciduous and dry than the words mean. The grassy glades and woodland covers are excellent niches of the prey species, sambar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild-boar and common langur, tiger. It also provides a top view of flying Egyptian vultures and eagles. The tiger reserve extends over 800 sq km. It is on the regular bus route from Alwar to Jaipur.
Van Vihar Ramsagar is the place where wildlife preserves of the princely days of Dholpur here the Maharana used to feed deer and even jackals with his own hands. The reserves had also been the duck shooting resorts of the British during the Raidays. The chinkara, nilgai and sambar can be seen even today. The relics of the shooting lodges of the Mughals at Bari, 60 km. from, Agra are still visible at Talab-e-Sinhi in the Van Vihar and Ramsagar wildlife sanctuaries.
Darrah wildlife sanctuary is that where the formers Maba-raja made outstaying photo-documentation of the life of tiger. It is still worth a visit and situated in the Hadoti tourist complex, 60 km from Kota.
National Gavial Sanctuary: is also in Kota, here the Chambal waters are unpolluted and hold a promise for revival of the Gangetic gavial. The whole length of the river from Rana Pratap sagar to its confluence with the Jamuna is a sanctuary. The gavials nest and bask in the winter sun on shore$ of deep river pools. These can be seen from boats.
Sitamata Sanctuary: Is 200 km. from Udaipur. Here you find squirrel, Flying squirrel first climbs on the top branch of a tree it lives in, then glides from tree to tree to travel in search of food. These gliders make an interesting spectacle here at sunset. The squirrel is now an endangered species. The 500 sq km. of the miscellaneous forests of Pratapgarh have been reserved to save the remaining wildlife, four horned antelopb, chinkara, sambar, wildboar, common langur and their predator, the common leopard in the Bhil region. Also Visit – Rajasthan Wildlife Tour
Jai Samand Sanctuary: A one day excursion from Udaipur brings you to the Jai samand sanctuary. The man-made lake spreading over 160 sq. km. was once the biggest water body of the region holds a sizable population of crocodiles and enormous quantity of fish. The chital, chinkara, wildboar and variety of birds live in open forests of the adjoining hills. Common leopards also from part of the fauna of the sanctuary.
Kumbhalgarh Reserve: A real challenge to trackers is the ruggedness of the kravalli hills. It becomes more challenging with the presence of sizable population of sloth bears. It is only sanctuary where Indian wolf is breeding successfully, A Hess hill for greater part of the year become lush green in rains and beautifully colourful in October when leaves begin to fall. The four horned antelope with two pairs of horn, the only member of the genus tetracerus, is at home in the habitat.
Mt. Abu Sanctuary is a geomorphologic ally significant high (1220 m.) dome of granite. Trekking in its subtropical climate through rounded rocks in inexperience, especially when Mt. Abu is festive in March and April with red flowers of Dhak and Erythrina air scented with sweet fragrance of wild roses arcl Carissa and Bauhinia adding beauty to the landscape. In the jungles live the common langur, sloth-bear, wild boar and sambar. The lower slopes winch are dry are inhabited by chinkara. The common leopard is common here, but the specialty of the sanctuary is the grey jungle fow.
Tal chhaper Sanctuary: Over a thousand black bucks, does and fawns in treeless saline flat land sometimes reflecting their in a distant lake, is an optical illusion. The lake that appears is mirage but the black bucks are a reality. Thimatural home of the bucks is on the desert sojourn about 200 km. from Jaipur on way to Bikaner. Also Visit – Rajasthan Cultural Tour
Desert Sanctuary: A vast arid land of 3,000 sq km. with natural vegetation and its fauna and unobstructed horizons on all sides still exists only 30 km. from Jaisalmer. Life in the unique ecosystem is a lesson in the desert philosophy minimum needs, maximum conservation, best use and alternatives for existence or migration to return when conditions become favorable. The first part of the desert discipline is fully demonstrated by the chinkara, desert box, desert cat, desert hare, lizards including spiney tail uromastix and the burrowing sand-fish. And the second one of migration, by thousands of sparrows, imperial sand grouse demoiselle cranes, the lesser bustard and their predators, eagles, falcons and harriers who come in winter and return in summer. The Great Indian Bustard breeds well in the desert and a continued protection is sure to bring back the bird from the brink of extinction. The landscape of rolling sand-dunes blooms when tecomella tree fog shurbs and bitter melons flower. The largest active sand-dune at sam is the spectacle of the real desert. The wood fossils of Akal aged 180 million years and sea shells records i the geological history of the desert.
Folk music of Rajasthan: Rajasthan is well-known for its desert and its chivalry. It deserves a similar reputation for its folk music, suld folk musicians. Sirangi, Kamayacha, l’Aor-chang, Dusk, Rawan!iatta, Satara, Murlas, Nad, Bankia, Sheh-nai Nagphani Mashak, Jaltaal, Bell, Khurtal, Gliara., Nagara, Dhap. Derum are folk musical instruments. Among the folk dances of state pride of place has to be accorded the Ghoomar and the Gair.
For more information on wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan and Rajasthan tour packages contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India.
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