 The Sariska National Park is a nature lovers delight with a range of flora and fauna. In the eras gone by, it used to be the hunting grounds for the Royal family of Alwar. The park still has remnants of the richness of the past with forts as well as temple ruins lying in the park.
Location
The Sariska National Park lies in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. The park covers a vast expanse of 800 square kms. The National Park is close to Delhi; 3 hours drive from the city. The nearest airport is the Jaipur Airport, which is at a distance of 110 kms.
Flora and Fauna
The vegetation of the Park mainly consists of dry deciduous forests, arid forests and grasses. The various species of trees one can find here easily are Goria, Surwal, Ber Tendu, and Khair. It is also famous for its tiger reserves. It was accorded the status of a tiger reserve in the year 1979. There are estimates stating that there are about 25 tigers in the park. However, it's difficult to spot the tiger here during the day, as they mainly come out in the nights. The other animals one can find here include the panther, jungle cat, jackal, hyena, fox, sambhar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai, civet, four-horned antelope, gaur and porcupine. One can also find here birds like peafowl, grey partridges, sand grouses, tree pies, white-breasted kingfishers, golden-backed woodpeckers, crested serpent eagles, vultures, wood sandpiper, collared scops owl, chestnut-tailed starling, mottled wood owl, temminck's stint, spotted owlet, common redshank, common coot, painted spurfowl, jungle bush quail horned owls and caracals. The climate here is erratic with varied rainfall through the year. At the periphery of the forest reserve lies the Siliserh Lake where you could easily spot crocodiles
You can do a host of activities at Sariska. It is fun to explore this Park in your car. You can also experience wildlife photography here. Visit the ancient temples situated here, to discover the religious heritage of the past. You'll also come across the ruins of Garh Rajor Temple, a temple dating back to 10th century. There are many medieval temples also, one of them being the Neel Kanth Temple.
Other Tourist Attractions
For discovering the past grandeur visit the Kankwadi Fort. The Kankwadi fort, a majestic fort with Mughal architecture, is situated within the Park. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb used fort to confine his own brother, Dara Shikoh. The fort is situated atop a hill and overlooks the Kankwadi Plateau and a few villages around the Lake. You will also find here many tribes in the area around the Lake.
The best season to visit the park is from November to June. The time for visitors is limited to daylight hours due to fears of poaching in the night.
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