Sariska National Park, Alwar

The Sariska National Park is a tiger reserve in the Alwar district of Rajasthan and has a good connectivity with Delhi (200Kms) and Jaipur (107 Kms) and can be easily accessed via railways and roadways. The Prime attraction of the park is the rich population of tigers. Apart from Royal Bengal Tigers, Sariska is home to a large number of wild species such as chinkara, sambhar, nilgai, golden jackals, striped hyenas, leopards, and many more. Moreover, the park has a significant bird population too. The species such as Woodpecker, Bush Quail, Grey, Eagle, Great Indian Horned Owl, and grey partridge are found within the park.

Sariska Tiger Reserve is also the first ever Tiger Reserve in the country where tiger relocation and rehabilitation have been made successful.

History at a Glance

Sariska Tiger Reserve was the hunting ground of the Alwar state before it was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955. It was a hunting reserve for the royal families of Alwar in Rajasthan in the past. The Park was given the status of a tiger reserve making it a part of India’s Project Tiger in 1978. The wildlife sanctuary was entitled a national park in the year of 1990, with a total area of approximately 273.8 square kilometres. Moreover, Sariska National has now become the first tiger reserve in the world to have successfully relocated tigers.

The Topography of Sariska National Park comprises hills and narrow valleys of the Aravalli range. The Landscape of Sariska supports scrub-thorn arid forests, rocky landscapes, tropical forests, grasslands, dry deciduous forests, rocks, and hilly cliffs. The Area of Sariska National Park is rich in mineral resources, such as copper. The Apex Court of India banned mining activity inside the area of Sariska National Park in 1991.

Quick Facts about Sariska National Park

The total area of the sanctuary is about 881 square kilometres
The total area of the national park is about 273.8 square kilometres
Forest types found- tropical, dry, deciduous, and tropical thorn
Altitude: between 300 meters and 722 meters MSL

Highlights - Sariska National Park

First Tiger Reserve in the world to have successfully relocated tigers.
The first aerial translocation of the male tiger from Ranthambhore to Sariska was done on 28 June 2008
Its Wild life comprises Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Caracal, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Chital, Sambhar, Blue Bull, Chinkara and Four Horned antelope.
Flora of Sariska is found in the Dhok tree, Salar, Kadaya, Dhak, Gol, Ber, Khair, Bargad, Arjun, Gugal, Bamboo, etc.
The Park is home to numerous carnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Civets Hyenas, Jackals, and Tiger.
A Famous temple of Lord Hanuman is situated at Pandupol which is related to Pandavas.
Access to Sariska is in very good condition now and one can reach easily from Delhi to Dharuhera, Alwar, and Sariska.
Entry of private vehicles is not allowed inside Sariska Tiger Reserve. Though entry to Sariska Tiger Reserve is open to private vehicles on Tuesday & Saturday only.

Sariska Tiger Reserve Safari Timings

Safari Timing in winter:

Morning Safari Timings – 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Evening Safari Timings – 2 PM to 6 PM

Safari Timing in summer:

Morning Safari Timings – 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Evening Safari Timings – 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM

What is the Best Time to Visit Sariska National Park?

Sariska National Park can be visited and explored throughout the year, but the most suitable time to visit is between the months of October to June. The Tiger Reserve is open for tourists round the year except between the first of July to thirtieth of September.

How to Reach Sariska National Park?

By Air:
Jaipur Sanganer Airport is the nearest airport to Sariska National Park which is located at a distance of 110 kilometres from the tiger reserve. The National Park is well connected by road and rail network to the airport.

By Train:
Alwar is the nearest railway station, which is located at a distance of 35 kilometres from Sariska National Park. Once you reach Alwar railway station, a private taxi/cab is available to reach Sariska National Park.

By Road:
Sariska Tiger Reserve is well connected with an excellent network of roads to major cities and places of Rajasthan. There are several government and privately runned vehicles that go to Sariska National Park at regular intervals.

Distance from Major Cities to Sariska National Park

Hyderabad to Sariska Tiger Reserve – about 1510 kilometers
Chandigarh to Sariska Tiger Reserve – about 501 kilometers
Bengaluru to Sariska Tiger Reserve – about 2100 kilometers
New Delhi to Sariska Tiger Reserve –about 200 kilometers
Indore to Sariska Tiger Reserve – about 640 kilometers
Jaipur to Sariska Tiger Reserve – about 110 kilometers
Jaipur to Sariska Tiger Reserve – about 110 kilometers
Mumbai to Sariska Tiger Reserve – about 1295 kilometers
Kolkata to Sariska Tiger Reserve – about 1485 kilometers
Ahmedabad to Sariska Tiger Reserve – about 780 kilometers

Must-visit Attractions in and Around Sariska National Park

Rajgarh:
Rajgarh is a beautiful place overlooking captivating valleys, with green wheat fields. It was the old capital of the rulers of Alwar, prior it was shifted to Alwar town. It has a hilltop fort by the name of Rajgarh Fort which was constructed by Raja Pratap Singh in the mid-18th century.

However, the capital was moved to Alwar in the year 1775 when Raja Pratap Singh conquered Bala Quila. The fort was used as a summer residence and once had a very captivating Sheesh Mahal with many frescoed walls. Rajgarh is one of the most attractive tourists spot to explore near Sariska Tiger Reserve. However, it is an abandoned place at present and towers above Rajgarh town, which is located at the foot of the hill.

Neelkanth Temple:
Neelkanth Temple is situated in proximity to the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Reserve near Rajgarh village. The temple is possibly one of the oldest tourist attractions and the most popular travel destination in the entire region surrounding Sariska. It is a bunch of more than 300 temples dedicated to Hindus and Jains dating back from 6th to 9th century.

Sariska Palace:
Sariska Palace is situated amidst the Sariska National Park and Silliserh Lake. It is one of the great Palaces to explore in the vicinity of Sariska. The Palace was once the hunting ground for the royal families of Rajasthan. This architectural excellence and marvel piece was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. At present, this palace is transformed into five star rated heritage hotel.

The architectural style of this palace is unique in whole Sariska and can be seen as a marvel piece, in and around the lush green landscapes of the palace and the thick forests, the beauty of the Palace attracts everyone to visit here.

Bhangarh Fort:
Bhangarh fort is known to be a haunted place located near Sariska. It is one of the best spots for thrillers. This fort was crowned as the most haunted place in Asia. It best showcases the beautiful architectural styles of the Mughal period. Bhangarh fort was built by Madho Singh.

An important thing to note about this fort is no tourist is allowed to enter the fort after sunset. Even the departmental Archeological Survey of India is strictly prohibited and not allowed to enter inside after 6:00 PM.

Siliserh Lake
Siliserh Lake is one of the most beautiful artificial lakes in the city commissioned by Maharaja Vinay Singh. This Picturesque lake is a major tourist attraction. The abundance of natural settings and serene ambiance of the lake pulls the attention of every tourist coming to Sariska. Moreover, it is located very close to Sariska Tiger Reserve and hence its glory and charm gets doubled.

Sariska Palace on a small hillock is the major attraction of this lake. Once this palace was a hunting lodge for royal families of Rajasthan but now this Palace was converted into a heritage hotel.