Explore, examine & entail the story of Sariska National Park’s wildlife heritage and the Royal Bengal Tiger’s in motion.

Overview: Sariska National Park/Sariska Tiger Reserve

Sariska National Park, which is situated in the Alwar district of Jaipur, Rajasthan, is one of the most popular national parks. This national park, which is 107 kilometers away from Jaipur, is managed by the Rajasthan government and spans an enormous 881.11 square kilometers of area.

Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is divided into sections. Also, the National Park features cliffs, forests of deciduous trees, and nature. The Bengal tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve are its most appealing feature.

The sanctuary also contains the remains of old Garh-Rajor temples, which date from the 11th century. Additionally, the hilltop fort at Kankwari, built in the 17th century, offers a spectacular view of flying vultures and eagles.

Quick Facts about Sariska National Park

General information:

• Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Alwar, Rajasthan.
• Sariska Tiger Reserve area spans over 881.11 sq. km.
• Sariska National Park Rajasthan’s longitude is 76.4332° E and latitude is 27.3285° N.
• The elevation of Sariska National Park is between 984 ft to 2,369 ft above sea level.
• Sariska National Park receives an average rainfall of 700 mm per year.
• Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary inherits the tropical, dry, deciduous, and tropical thorn forest type.

Historical information:

• 1955 – The Sariska region was originally established as a Wildlife Reserve.
• 1958 – It was designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary.
• 1978 – It was declared as the 11th Tiger Reserve by the Government of India.
• 1982 – The Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary was designated as Sariska National Park.
• 2005 – The tigers became extinct in Sariska Tiger Reserve.
• 2008 – From Ranthambore National Park, 2 male tigers were transferred to Sariska Tiger Reserve by aerial translocation.
• 2009 – One female tiger was relocated to Sariska National Park.
• 2012 – The successful revival of 2 cubs was noted in the Sariska Tiger Reserve area.
• 2013 – The Sariska was expanded to Siliserh Lake and Balaquila forest.
• 2020 – The total population of tigers increased to 20.
• 2023 – The total population of tigers increased to 33.  

History of Sariska  

Sariska, which is surrounded by the magnificent Aravallis, is recognized as the location in the Mahabharata where the Pandavas found refuge during their final year of the exile.

Also, legend has it that Hanuman vanquished Bhima, the strongest of the Pandava brothers here. The thousands of visitors flock to the Hanuman shrine in Pandupol on certain auspicious days, which is known as a “gateway of the Pandavas” in Sanskrit.

Indeed, in the past, royalty has also been drawn to the area’s forests because of their beauty. The 17th-century Kankwari Fort, which is situated in the center of the reserve, was constructed by the Rajput Maharaja Jai Singh II and recently reopened to the public. It became well-known when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb jailed his older brother Dara Shikoh in this location.

And, the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary has the ruins of the ancient 11th-century Garh-Rajor temples. In addition, the 17th-century fort on a hilltop near Kankwari displays a breathtaking view of vultures and eagles flying overhead.

Revival of Tigers: Tiger Relocation in Sariksa

Dated year 2005, tigers became extinct in the Sariska tiger reserve area. And, to maintain the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary it was utmost needed to relocate the tigers. The Department of Forest, Rajasthan, and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a core group constitution, designed the relocation plan in the year 2006–2007.

Under the same, in the year 2008, 2 male tigers were relocated from Ranthambore National Park via aerial translocation to Sariska Tiger Reserve, and 1 female tiger in the year 2009. Also, each tiger was given a number to keep the count.

 In 2012, after the successful relocation, ST2 gave birth to 2 cubs leading the road of revival in Sariska National Park.

According to the survey of March’23, the total number of tigers increased to 27 including 13 female tigers, 8 male tigers and 6 cubs.

Ground tracking (VHF) is leveraging the ranging in and triangulation technique to continuously monitor the radio-collared Tigers. Each of the seventeen committed teams has a vehicle with a forest keeper and a research associate to track tigers.

Flora & Fauna in Sariska

Flora in Sariska

In the dry deciduous forests that make up Sariska National Park, Dhok trees that are delicate to direct inclines make up more than 90% of the tree sheltering. Salar is supported by the edges on steep, arid slants. In valley beds, Khair and Cheela hold place. Katha and Bamboo only grow to a limited extent in damp and colder areas. Aam, Jamun, Arjun, and Bahera grow in clammy despair and grow in enormous sizes.

Fauna in Sariska

The wildlife in the sariska national park is rich. Bengal tigers, leopards, jungle cats, caracals, striped hyenas, Indian jackals, chitals, tarundas, sambars, chinkaras, four-horned antelopes, wild boars, hares, porcupines, Hanuman langurs, rhesus monkeys, and wild dogs are among the creatures that can be found here. Monitor lizards, cobras, and pythons are a few such reptiles.

How to Reach Sariska  

By Air

The closest airport to Sariska is Jaipur International Airport, which is located 123 kilometers away. To get to the park from the airport, you can take a taxi or a private vehicle.

By Road

Road links connect Sariska to all of India’s main cities. Delhi is 216.5 kilometers from Sariska and is accessible to it via NH48. Sariska can be reached from Jaipur, the state capital of Rajasthan which is 107 kilometers.

By Rail

Alwar Junction Railway Station, which is around 37 kilometers from Sariska , is the closest station. The Jaipur Railway Station which is 111km away is the next closest station. To get to the park from the rail, you can take a taxi or a private vehicle.

Best Time to Visit Sariska  

Winter

Temperature:  8°C-25°C

Weather:  Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary’s winter season spans from October through March. Winters provide the best weather for safaris and animal sightseeing in the park.

Summer

Temperature: 22°C-48°C

Weather: Even though Sariska experiences scorching summers from April to June, many wildlife enthusiasts and photographers believe that it is a great time to visit tiger reserve since the heat attracts animals to the water sources in the jungle.

Monsoon

Temperature:  25°C-38°C

Weather:  In Sariska National Park, the monsoon season lasts from July to September. During this season, the park zone 1-3 is closed. But the buffer zones are still open for visitors to explore.

People also asked? – FAQs

What is the Speciality of Sariska  National Park?

Sariska National Park is famous for its glorious Bengal Tigers and dry deciduous forest.

How far is Sariska National Park from Delhi?

Sariska National Park is 216.5 km from Delhi via road.

Are there tigers in Sariska?

Sariska Tiger Reserve is known for the conservation of tigers. According to the survey of October 2023, it is home to 33 tigers in total.

Is Sariska worth going to?

Indeed, yes. It is one of the most popular national parks visited by wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Sariska National Park inherits various wild animals, including Indian leopards, jackals, hyenas, deer, monkeys, wild boars, rarest birds, and most significantly Bengal tigers.

How many days are enough for Sariska?

Ideally, 2-3 days are enough to cover Sariska National Park.

Can we take our own car in Sariska?

Yes. The park allows private vehicles on safari tours, letting you take your time discovering the wildlife and scenic splendor but, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. And, to maintain the security of both people and animals, it is necessary to follow park laws and regulations.

Can we take our own vehicle to Sariska Tiger Reserve?

Yes. The park allows private vehicles on safari tours, letting you take your time discovering the wildlife and scenic splendor but, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. And, to maintain the security of both people and animals, it is necessary to follow park laws and regulations.

Which day is Sariska closed?

Sariska is open throughout the year. The Zone 1-3 in Sariska National Park is closed from 1st July to 31st September during monsoon season, except the buffer zones. For the rest of the year, from 1st October to 30th June, it is open for all seven days of the week.