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National Parks in Rajasthan | Wildlife Sanctuaries in Rajasthan

The Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest and most important national parks in the country. It is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan.  It is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan.

The Ranthambore National Park was originally established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Indian Government and was brought under the Project Tiger scheme in 1973. It was declared as a National Park in 1980.

The adjacent forests of the sanctuary were declared as the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary. In 1991, the Tiger Reserve was expanded by merging the nearby sanctuaries, and thus the Ranthambore National Park was formed.

The Ranthambore National Park is best known for its tiger population. The tigers can be easily spotted in the park. The best time to visit the park is in the months of November and May as the foliage gives way to good sighting opportunities of these majestic animals in their natural habitat.

The park is situated on a plateau and is bound by the rivers Chambal and Banas on either side. The majestic Ranthambore Fort is also situated within the limits of the Ranthambore National Park. The national park abounds in wildlife and is home to a large number of species including chitals, sloth bears, hyenas, sambars, wild boars, nilgai, leopards and tigers.

The national park is also known for the persistent efforts taken by the authorities to revive the tiger population in the park. In 2005, there were as many as 26 tigers in the sanctuary.

The number increased to 34 in 2008. In order to secure the region, the authorities are giving incentives to the villagers to keep off limits. Surveillance cameras have also been installed in the park to monitor the animals and is one of the important national parks in Rajasthan

Best time to visit: 1st October to 30th June
Opening and closing hours : 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Type of Wildlife Safari : Canter (20 seater), Jeep (6 seater)

Highlights of the park :

• One of the best sanctuaries to spot Indian Tigers
• Step into the wilderness with a Jungle Safari
• Discover more than 500 species of flowering plants
• Spot several endangered wildlife species
• Finest Resorts amidst the Wildlife

The Sariska National Park is situated in the Alwar district in the state of Rajasthan and is one of the important national parks in Rajasthan. It was the hunting grounds of the State of Alwar. The sanctuary was declared as a Wildlife Reserve in 1955 and was brought under the Project Tiger scheme in 1978.

The vegetation in the Sariska Tiger Reserve comprises of dry deciduous forests, scrub thorn and grasses.  The park is spread over 866 square kilometres and is situated at a distance of 107 km from Jaipur and 200 km from Delhi. The Sariska Tiger Reserve is a part of the Aravalli Range and is rich in minerals such as copper.

The most attractive feature of the Sariska Tiger Reserve is its population of Royal Bengal Tigers. It is home to a large number of wild animals including Rhesus monkeys, Hanuman langurs, hares, wild boars, chousingha or the four horned antelope, chinkara, nilgai, sambhar, golden jackals, striped hyenas, caracal, jungle cats and leopards.

It also has a significant number of bird species such as the Great Indian Horned Owl, crested serpent eagle, golden backed woodpecker, tree pie, sand grouse, bush quail, grey partridge, peafowl, and more. The reserve also boasts of some great historical sites such as the Kankanwadi Fort, the Pandupol Hills, the Hanuman Temple on the Pandupol Hill, among others.

The Sariska Tiger Sanctuary is also the first ever Tiger Reserve in the country where tiger relocation and rehabilitation has been carried out successfully. The declining number of tigers in the Sariska Tiger Reserve was confirmed in a report by a leading journalist in 2005.

The reporter in his story claimed that there were no tigers left in the reserve. This led to a series of investigations by the authorities and on learning that the report was indeed true, efforts were made to relocate tigers. Three tigers were reintroduced into the Sariska Tiger Reserve. The number has now grown to a total of seven with five adults.

Best time to visit : 1st October to 30th June
Opening and closing hours : 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Type of Wildlife Safari : Jeep

Highlights of the park :

• The first ever relocated home of the Royal Bengal Tigers
• Explroe the beauty of the enchanting Aravalli Range
• Spend a day amidst several rare and endangered species
• Visit several historical places and temples near the park

The Desert National Park is one of the important national parks in Rajasthan and is situated near the town of Jaisalmer. Sprawling over an area of 3162 square kilometres, the national park is one of the largest national parks in the country.

The unique landscape of the national park is one of the greatest attractions for tourists from all over the world. Almost 20 per cent of the park is constituted of sand dunes. The rest of the landmark comprises of fixed dunes, intermedial areas, salt lake bottoms and craggy rocks. It is an excellent example of the desert ecosystem.

Despite the landscape, the national park abounds in birdlife. The most commonly sighted birds in the national park include the endangered Great Indian Bustard, sand grouse, kestrels, laggar falcons, spotted eagles, tawny eagles, short toed eagles, vultures, buzzards, falcons, harriers and eagles.

The Desert National Park also has an impressive collection of plant and animal fossils which are as old as 180 million years. The most suitable time to visit the Desert National Park is between November and January. The most commonly sighted wild animals in the national park include chinkara, black bucks, hedgehogs, wolves, desert cats, Bengal foxes and desert foxes.

The most important attraction of the national park is the Great Indian Bustard, which is a magnificent bird found in very few numbers. The bird is brown and white in colour, measures about one metre in height and has long legs and neck.

Some of the other attractions near the Desert National Park are the Sam Sand Dunes located near the Thar Desert and the Gadsisar Sagar Tank. The Gadsisar Sagar Tank is one of the most popular tourist places in Rajasthan. A large number of migratory birds visit the lake during the winters every year.  Tourists can also enjoy jeep safaris to explore a larger part of the area.

Best time to visit : October to February
Opening and closing hours : 12 pm to 5 pm
Type of Wildlife Safari : Jeep and Horse

Highlights of the park :

• Witness Great Indian Bustard, one of the rare birds found only in India
• Spot Chinkaras and other lively species of Deer
• Visit the fascinating Sam Sand Dunes
• Go for bird watching near the GadsisarSagar Tank
• Take a jeep safari and explore the park

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park was formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to a large number of migratory birds during the hibernal season and is a very popular tourist place in Rajasthan. The bird sanctuary, which attracts a large number of ornithologists from all over the country and the world during the migratory season, plays home to as many as 230 avian species.

In 1971, the park was declared as a protected zone and was later included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. The bird sanctuary is a man-made wetland and an important national park of Rajasthan. The national park is of much importance, geographically, as it protects the town of Bharatpur from flooding during flash floods and also provides grazing grounds for the village cattle. In earlier days, the place served as waterfowl hunting grounds.

The bird sanctuary is home to 379 floral species,  366 bird species and several animals. The sanctuary is one of the richest areas of avian habitation in the world. The sanctuary came into existence about 250 years ago and is named after the Keoladeo Temple situated within its premises. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of the best birding areas in the world and receives as many as 1,00,000 visitors every year. Out of these, about 45,000 are foreigners. It is a very popular tourist destination in Rajasthan and for this reason, accommodation facilities have also been arranged in and around the sanctuary.

The park is open from sunrise to sunset every day and can easily be reached by road. Inside the park, tourists can seek accommodation at the Forest Lodge and a Government run Guest House called Shanti Kutir.

Best time to visit : October to February

Opening and closing hours : 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Type of Wildlife Safari : Camel and Jeep

Highlights of the park :

• One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
• Home to more than 370 species of exotic birds
• Once a hunting ground of the Maharajas, now an important centre for ornithologists
• Enjoy bicycle and rickshaw safari in the park
• During rainy seasons, one can enjoy boat safari
• Paradise for the bird watchers

The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. The sanctuary is one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan.

Sprawling over an area of 578 sq km, the sanctuary surrounds the Kumbhalgarh Fort. Situated at an elevation of 500 to 1300 metres, the sanctuary is home to a large variety of wildlife, some of which are highly endangered species. Some of the animals that inhabit the sanctuary include hares, chinkaras, four horned antelopes, nilgai, sambhar, jungle cats, hyenas, sloth bears, leopards and wolves.

The sanctuary also abounds in birdlife and some of the birds that can be easily spotted here include grey jungle fowl, peacocks, doves, white breasted kingfisher, bulbuls, pigeons, golden oriole, and parakeets.

The natural grandeur of Kumbhalgarh is the most attractive feature about the sanctuary. Its scenic beauty attracts tourists and travellers from all over the country and the world. It is situated at a distance of about 100 km from Udaipur and this makes the sanctuary an extremely popular tourist place.

Visitors can enjoy foot tracking and horse safaris in the sanctuary, arranged by local tour operators. The route for safaris starts from the Kumbhalgarh Fort and continues till Ghanerao. On an abandoned road near Ghanerao, visitors can spot several bird species, four horned antelopes, chinkaras and neelgais.

The Keoladeo Wildlife Sanctuary was in news some time ago. The Supreme Court of India favoured the sanctuary for relocation of Asiatic Lions over the reintroduction of Cheetahs proposal. Lion Safaris are being proposed currently to increase the tourist inflow into the national park and is one of the important national parks in Rajasthan.

Best time to visit : October to March
Opening and closing hours : 10 am to 5 pm everyday
Type of Wildlife Safari : Jeep, Trek

Highlights of the park : 

• Join the fascinating Lion Safari and spot these majestic animals
• Visit the historic Kumbalgarh Fort within the sanctuary
• Catch the glimpses of several species of exotic and colourful birds
• Go for a horse safari and explore the imposing beauty of the sanctuary
• One can also go for foot tracking and jeep safari

Situated in the oldest mountain ranges of the country – the Aravalli Hills, the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most visited wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan. It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1980 and is home to a large number of wild animals, birds, plants and trees.

Measuring 19 km in length and 6 km in breadth, the altitude ranges between 300 metres to 1722 metres at the Guru Shikhar peak, which is the highest peak in Rajasthan. The most interesting feature about the rocks in the region is that they are igneous rocks and due to the effect of wind and rain, large cavities have formed on most of them.

The wildlife sanctuary is home to a large number of plants and trees. The sanctuary has as many as 112 plant families belonging to 449 genera and 820 species. As many as 81 species of trees, 89 species of shrubs, 28 species of climbers and 17 species of tuberous plants are found in the sanctuary.

A variety of orchid species are also found in the sanctuary. A part of the sanctuary also has bamboo forests. Among fauna, the wildlife sanctuary is home to a large number of animal species including lions, tigers, leopards, hedgehogs, porcupines, Indian hares, mongoose, pangolin, bears, wild boars, langurs, foxes, hyenas, jackals, small Indian civets, jungle cats, sambhars, and more. As many as 250 species of birds are found here. The grey jungle fowl is the speciality of the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary.

Best time to visit : April to June and November to February
Opening and closing hours : 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Type of Wildlife Safari  : Trekking

Highlights of the park :

• Visit one of the oldest sanctuaries in the Aravalli range
• Spot Leopard, which is now the main attraction among the predators
• Witness 3 species of wild roses along with several species of orchids
• Explore the rock formations that are results of water and wind withering
• Enjoy picnic amidst the wilderness of the sanctuary 
  

The Darrah National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Rajasthan. It was established in 2004 and comprises of three wildlife sanctuaries namely, the Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, the Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary and the Jaswant Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

The national park has large stretches of forests which were formerly part of the Maharaja of Kota’s hunting grounds. Spread over an area of 250 sq km, the wildlife sanctuary is situated at a distance of 50 km from the town of Kota. The sanctuary was officially declared as a protected zone in 1955.  It is home to a number of species including the wild boar, deer, nilgai, cheetah and wolves.

A visit to the Darrah sanctuary is a very rewarding experience. The natural beauty of the region is beyond description. Furthermore, it also has a very rich cultural history. Jhalwar, another popular tourist destination is situated very close to the Darrah National Park.

There is a very beautiful fort also within the premises of the sanctuary. The Jenana Khana of the fort is worth visiting because of its architectural beauty. The Sun Temple in Jharipatan is another destination worth visiting during a trip to the Darrah National Park.

The River Chandrabhaga flows very close to the national park and there are a number of ancient temples, dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries that are situated along the banks of the river. The national park is closed to visitors from July to September every year. 

Best time to visit : October to March
Opening and closing hours : 10 am to 5 pm everyday
Type of Wildlife Safari : Jeep, Trek

Highlights of the park :

• Discover the wilderness of Rajasthan with a jungle safari
• Witness several enchanting and captivating wildlife species
• Go for trekking and explore this fascintaing park on foot
• Revisit history with a visit to the JenanaKhas

The Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Pratapgarh district of Rajasthan and is one of the important wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan. It was declared as a protected zone in 1979 and sprawls over an area of 423 sq km. Covered in dense forests, the sanctuary is the chief attraction of Pratapgarh.

The landscape of the wildlife sanctuary is undulating because of the joining of three different topographically distinct landscapes – the Aravalli Ranges, the Vindhyachal Hills and the Malwa Plateau. The average elevation of the region ranges between 280 and 600 metres.

The temperature of the region in the summers hovers between 32 degrees and 45 degrees, while in winters the temperature ranges between 6 degrees and 14 degrees.

The Rivers Tankiya, Budho, Sita Mata, Karmoi and Jakham flow through the thickly wooded wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is situated at a distance of 45 km from Pratapgarh and 108 km from the city of Udaipur. The sanctuary is the only one in the country where high value teak is found in such abundance.

It is home to a wide variety of plants, trees and wildlife animals. The Sita Mata wildlife sanctuary is often called a Bird Paradise because of the huge abundance of avian species found here. The most commonly found birds in this region include cattle egret, little egret, tawny eagle, Indian darter, grey heron, little grebe, little cormorant, white eyed buzzard, black winged stilt, and several others and is one of the important national parks in Rajasthan

Two new bird species namely, the white throated ground thrush and the black necked monarch, were discovered in the Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary.

Among wild animals, the commonly spotted species include the neelgai, wild bear, spotted deer, porcupine, jungle cat, fox, jackal, hyena, leopard, pangolin, wild boar, caracal and four horned antelope. The most striking attraction of the Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary is the vegetarian mammal flying squirrel. The best time to visit the sanctuary is from October to February.

Best time to visit : October and March
Opening and closing hours : 10 am to 5 pm everyday
Type of Wildlife Safari : Jeep and by foot.

Highlights of the park :

• Highlights of the park:
• Delve into the land of flying squirrels
• Spot several species of herbivore and carnivore animals
• Witness the fascinating sites of Leopards
• Visit Lake Palace, City Palace and SajjanNiwas Garden

The National Chambal Sanctuary is situated on the River Chambal, at the point where the borders of the three states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh meet. The sanctuary was first declared to be in Madhya Pradesh in 1978.

Now, there is a narrow stretch of eco-reserve which is managed and administered by the three states. The sanctuary is also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary and is dedicated to the conservation of critically endangered gharials, the red crowned roof turtle and the threatened Ganges river dolphin. The sanctuary is protected under the country’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The sanctuary is home to several species such as the Indian Wolf, striped hyena, smooth coated otter, mugger crocodiles, and others. It is also home to eight of the 26 rare turtle species including the crowned river turtle, three striped roof turtle and Indian narrow headed softshell turtle.

The mammalian species include hedgehog, flying fox, hares, porcupines, Northern Palm Squirrels, Indian Gazelle, Blackbucks, nilgai, sambar, wild boar, jungle cats, Indian grey mongoose, Indian small mongoose, and common palm civet.

The main attractions of the sanctuary are the gharials, crocodiles, fresh water dolphins and rare turtles and these make the National Chambal Sanctuary one of the most exotic wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan.

There are several activities that are offered to visitors at the National Chambal Sanctuary. Visitors can hire boats with guides at the sanctuary and enjoy photographing the muggers, gharials and crocodiles. Guests can also enjoy walking trails in ravines and along the river to closely observe the wildlife and the way of life in the jungle more closely.

The Ater Fort is a dilapidated but extremely beautiful heritage site within the sanctuary. The fort, which was built by Bhadauria kings, is situated along the Chambal River and can be reached by jeep or boat.

Accommodation is available at forest Rest Houses in Bah and Chakkar Nagar. There are several commercial hotels and lodges near the sanctuary. The nearest airport and railway station is at Agra. Boating and visiting arrangements at the sanctuary can be done by contacting the Conservator of Forests in Kota.

Best time to visit : September to June    
Opening and closing hours :  Sunrise to Sunset
Type of Wildlife Safari : Boat

Highlights of the park :

• One of the ideal place to spot Gangetic Dolphins
• Home to the largest number of turtle species
• Take a boat ride and witness the mesmeric Indian Gharials
• Enjoy bird watching amidst 320 exotic species of birds

The Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the Ranthambore National Park. The Ranthambore National Park was created by including nearby wildlife sanctuaries, one of which was the Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary. Spread over an area of 676 square kilometres, the Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan.

The Ranthambore National Park is flanked by the Rivers Banas and Chambal on the North and the South, respectively. Visitors can get a splendid view of the rivers from the sanctuary. The sanctuary boasts of great natural beauty and is home to a wide variety of bird and animal life. It is named after the Keladevi Temple situated within the premises of the sanctuary.

The commonly sighted animals in the sanctuary include sambhar, wolves, hyenas, sloth bears, leopards, tigers, jackals, wild boars, chinkara, and others. Visitors at the Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary can enjoy jeep safaris and bird watching trips in the sanctuary. Usually day trips are conducted at the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is situated at a distance of 25 km from Karauli, which is another popular tourist destination in Rajasthan. A trip to the Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary is a highly rewarding experience as the region is not only significant in terms of wildlife but also in terms of culture and history.

Best time to visit : September to March
Opening and closing hours : 10 am to 5 pm everyday
Type of Wildlife Safari : Jeep

Highlights of the park :

• Catch the captivating views of the nearby Banas and Chambal rivers
• Visit a part of the Ranthambore National Park
• A home to some of the exotic and rarest birds
• Spot some of the fascinating views of wildlife species

Tourists find it one of the best places to visit in Jaipur to encounter the pre-eminently diverse ecosystem of the Nahargarh Biological Park. Visit Nahargarh Biological Park for Elephant safari tour organized to endorse eco-tourism. The fantastic views enrich an ascent to the hills on the back of the elephant.

This park is represented by three ecosystems - Aravalli Ecosystem, Desert Ecosystem, and Wetland Ecosystem. So, the natural habitat of these three ecosystems can be thoroughly enjoyed during the elephant safari. You can view birds and wild animals in large numbers here. In fact, a few of the exotic animals are known to inhabit in this park.

Location: NH 8, Kukas, Rajasthan 302028

Price: INR 50 for adults & free entry for kids below 7 years (Indian)

Timing: 8:30 am - 5 pm (Tuesday closed)

You Can Also Book: Nahargarh Biological Park Jaipur Day Out
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