Sariska Tiger Reserve is a national park in the Alwar district of the state of Rajasthan of India. In 1978, it was given the status of a tiger reserve making it a part of India's Project Tiger scheme.

Understand

Tiger bathing

The Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the most famous national parks in India. Originally a hunting preserve of the erstwhile Alwar state, the area was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955. The present area of the park is 866 km². The park is situated 107 km from Jaipur and 200 km from Delhi.

History

There is an ancient isolated fort in the forest reserve. This fort is said to be built by Aurangzeb to imprison his elder brother Dara Shekoh. The fort is called Kankarwari. The fort is not well maintained but the views are nice and provide breathtaking panoramic view of the valley. It is a steep climb to the top of a hill where the fort is built.

There are the ruins of a temple complex where excavations are still occurring and one of the prominent temples is the Pandupol temple and not the Neelkantha temple, as some people mistake it to be. Legends say that at Pandupol Bhim was tested by Lord Hanuman for strength and humility. The ruins date back to a period between 6th and 13th century. The broken yet noble statues lying littered on the grounds tantalisingly tease and will not yield their secrets easily. It is a fascinating place for those that have a passion for romance with the past.

Flora and fauna

Spotted owl

Wildlife found in the Sariska Tiger Reserve includes the Bengal tiger, leopard, jungle cat, hyena, jackal, chital, sambar deer, caracal, langur, wild boar, four-horned deer (chowsingha), nilgay, monkeys and several species of birds. By 2004 the tigers had all disappeared, probably due to poaching. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and state government of Rajasthan reintroduced tigers by relocating five of them from Ranthombor tiger reserve between 2008 and 2010.

Climate

Best time to visit the park is from November to March.

Get in

By car

Sariska is 195 km from Delhi and 115 km from Jaipur by car. Road condition is pretty good. From Delhi take a digression from Dharuheda on SH25 that will take you directly to Alwar through a newly constructed toll road. From Alwar, Sariska Booking Office is hardly one hour drive. Safari timings vary as per the seasons, but generally it starts from 6AM and ends at 10AM in morning safaris, and 2PM to 6:30PM in evening safaris.

Fees and permits

Jeep safari for Indian nationals starts from ₹816/- per person and canter safari starts from ₹484/- per person. Additional camera charges are also applicable.

Admission is ₹200

You can take your own vehicles on Saturdays and Sundays and it costs ₹250/- But you cannot go off the main track. Hence if you would like to experience off the track jungle then it is better to hire the vehicles available at the reception.

Get around

Diesel/petrol jeeps cost around ₹800/₹1000 for three hours hire, or ₹1700/₹2000 for a full day, max 5 people. You must also pay a fee for the jeep.

See

The reserve is also the location of several archaeological sites such as the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple and Garh Rajor temples from the 9th and 10th centuries. The 17th-century Kankwadi fort, located near the centre of the park, was where the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb briefly imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh in the battle for succession of the Mughal throne. The area also has historical buildings associated with the Maharajas of Alwar such as the Sariska Palace, which was used as a royal hunting lodge of Maharaja Jai Singh.

• 1 Rusirani ka Mahal (Rusirani Village) (just south of the park). A hidden village known for its old architecture and ancient remains. (updated Dec 2018)
• Siliserh Lake, Alwar (near Sariska). It has a lake palace in the middle of the lake which was made for the then Maharaja's beloved. (updated Aug 2020)
• Viratnagar. Popularly known as the Lost City of Bairath. 
• Bijak Ki Pahadi. Ruins of an old Buddhist monastery dating back to the 3rd century BCE. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 Bhangarh Fort. The Bhangarh Fort is a 17th-century fort built in the Rajasthan state of India. It is popularly said to be the most haunted place in India. (updated Aug 2020)

Do

On the way back to Alwar from Sariska, do make it a point to visit Siliserh RTDC hotel Lake palace. The view of the hotel overlooking a vast lake is breathtaking. Worth enjoying a tea sitting on the terrace

Eat

Outside the Pandupol temple, ensure to eat the bhajiyas, kachoris etc with the traditional khadi. This is one of the best things to be done inside the jungle.

Sleep

RTDC Hotel Tiger Den ph 2841342, Dorms/Single/Double ₹50/₹600/₹700

• 1 Bikamp Aravallis, Village Novrangpura, NH248A (Jaipur - Sariska - Alwar Highway), ☏ +91 9549919666, toll-free: +91 9818824450, info@bikamp.com. Check-in: noon, check-out: 10AM. Bikamp Aravallis Camp Resort in Sariska is surrounded by 360 degrees Aravalli hills and jungle. Accommodation consists of rustic-style yurt tents with private toilets. ₹999–4999. (updated Jan 2020)

Stay safe

A very good stay near Sariska Tiger Reserve is RTDC hotel, very near to Sariska Tiger Reserve, good stay, helping staff, good food, and stay is affordable.

Go next

There are frequent buses to:

• Alwar - (express ₹14, one hour, at least hourly).

These also head on to:

• Jaipur - (₹65). Buses stop in front of the reception office.