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Rajasthan has a varied topography that ranges from the
semi-arid barren desert, scrub-thorn forests, and rocks to wetlands,
water-filled valleys and lush, green
forests. The great Indian desert, also known as the Thar
desert, the Aravali mountain range, Vindhyan or Deccan trap,
and the wetlands of the Indo-Gangetic plains play a major
role in the topography of Rajasthan.
Rajasthan is a home to a large variety of wildlife animals and birds
like tigers, black bucks, chinkara, the rare desert fox, the endangered caracal, the great Indian bustard,
wild boars, deers and bears. Migratory birds like the common crane,
coots, pelicans, the rare Siberian cranes, imperial sand
goose and falcons visit Rajasthan during the winters.
Rajasthan boasts of two national parks, over a dozen
sanctuaries and two closed areas. Most of these
sanctuaries are open to visitors round the year but are closed
during the monsoon.
Some of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan are as follows:
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Bhensrod
Garh Sanctuary, Kota |
Bhensrod
Garh Sanctuary is a new sanctuary in Kota and about 53 kms
from Kota. This sanctuary was established in 1983 and covers a total area of 229 square km of scrub and dry deciduous forest. Leopards, Chinkara, Sloth Bear are the main animals which are found
here. The best time to visit this sanctuary is between October and May. |
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Darrah
Sanctuary, Kota |
Darrah Sanctuary was established in 1955 in Kota and covers an area of 266 square km.
Earlier,
Darrah sanctuary was the hunting ground of the Kota Maharajas.
This sanctuary is surrounded by hills and thick forests. The animals which are found here include wolf, sloth bear, chinkara and leopard. The best time to visit
this sanctuary is between February and
May. |
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Desert National Park, Jaisalmer |
The Desert National Park is located in the vast tracts of
desert sands around Jaisalmer. The Desert National Park was
established in 1980 in Jaisalmer and covers an area of 3162
square km. The vegetation in the park comprises of very few
grasses, shrubs, and some indigenous trees on the rolling
landscape of sand dunes. The Desert National Park is
associated with the endangered great Indian bustard. This
bird lives in small flocks and has strong legs which are
meant for walking and feeds on everything from cereals and
berries to grasshoppers, locusts and snakes. Other birds
which are found in this park are sandgrouse, gray partridge,
quails, peafowl, bee-eaters, shrikes, orioles, drongos,
warblers and babblers. Houbara, the lesser bustard and the
desert courser which breeds in the Thar on its migratory
journey through the desert can also seen in this park.
Thousands of bustards, falcons and eagles migrate here
during the winter. This park supports a unique variety of
wildlife species and reptiles like the desert hare,
hedgehog, Indian wolf, desert cat, fox, spiny tailed lizard,
sandfish, chameleons, and snakes that include the deadly
saw-scaled viper and Sind krait. The best time to visit this
park is during September to March. |
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Jaisamand
Sanctuary, Udaipur |
Jaisamand Sanctuary was established in 1957 in Udaipur.
This sanctuary is located on the fringes of the Jaisamand
lake, a vast man-made lake and
covers a total area of 160 square km. This small
picturesque sanctuary is the home of
Sloth bear, Leopard, Deer, Chital, Chinkara, Wild boar and birds. Some crocodiles and fish can also be spotted here.
The best time to visit this sanctuary is between November and January. |
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Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur |
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, also known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary was
established in 1956 in Bharatpur. This sanctuary is one of the world's best bird sanctuaries
and the largest bird sanctuary in Asia. More than 300
species of birds are found in this small national park of 29
square kms out of which 11 square km area is covered by
marshes and the rest are scrubland and grassland. During
winters, this park is visited by over 400 species
of migratory water birds
including the rare Siberian crane, herons, ibis, pelicans,
egrets, Brahminy ducks and geese
from
Afghanistan, Central Asia, Tibet, Siberia and Russia. The
best time to visit this sanctuary is from November to
February.
More..... |
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Kumbhalgarh
Sanctuary,
Kumbhalgarh |
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The majestic fort of Kumbhalgarh overlooks the 578 square km
Kumbhalgarh sanctuary. The Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary is a very
large sanctuary in the Aravallis, about 120 km from Udaipur. The Aravallis hills, which remain barren for most of the year, turn
green during monsoon and thus provide shelter to Sloth bear,
Leopard, Deer, Four-horned antelope and Flying squirrel. It is also the only sanctuary where the Indian wolf is breeding successfully.
The best time to visit this sanctuary is from March to May and
from September to November. |
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Mount Abu Sanctuary, Mount Abu |
Mount Abu Sanctuary is situated at the
highest point of Aravallis, the Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu.
This sanctuary is located on the fringes of the town of
Mount Abu and thickly forested. The slopes of the hills
provide some of the state's most interesting topography,
especially in the summers. This
sanctuary covers an area of 289 square km. This sanctuary
was established in 1960 and provides shelter to the common
Langur, Chinkara, Wild boar, Sambhar, Leopard and the grey Jungle
Fowl. |
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Ranthambore
National Park, Ranthambore |
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Ranthambore National Park in Ranthambore is a well known tiger reserve under Project Tiger.
The landscape, with its lakes, vegetation, the second
largest banyan tree, fort and temples, make it one of the
most picturesque parks in the country. This park covers an area of 392 square km.
This national park is the home of a vast variety of animals. The main
attraction of this park is Tiger. In this park various other animals like
Leopards, Caracals, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal, Sloth bear,
Deer, Antelopes, Nilgai, Sambhar, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar, Porcupines, Indian Hare, Mongoose and Marsh Crocodile
can also be seen in this park. The best time to visit
this park is from November to March.
More..... |
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Sariska
National Park, Sariska |
Sariska National Park is situated in the Aravalli hills in
Alwar and spread over an area of 498 square km.
Sariska was the hunting ground of the erstwhile rulers of
Alwar and was brought under the Project Tiger in 1979. Today this park provides shelter to a large
variety of wildlife animals including Tiger, Sambhar, Chital, Nilgai,
Leopard, Jackal, Hyena, Wild dog, Four-horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Common Langur,
Caracal, Jungle Cat, Porcupines and Crocodiles. Besides
animals, various birds can also be seen in Sariska National
Park. The ruins of 9th and 10th century AD temple and
Kanakwari fort also exists in this park. The best time to
visit the Sariska National Park is from November to June.
More.... |
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Chambal Sanctuary, Kota
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Chambal Sanctuary is located along the banks of the Chambal
river all the way to its confluence with the river Jamuna,
near Kota. The sanctuary is a breeding ground of the gharial
crocodiles. Besides crocodiles, other wildlife animals like
caracal, wolf, blackbuck and chinkara can also be seen in
this sanctuary. |
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Sitamata Sanctuary, Udaipur
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Sitamata Sanctuary is located about 108 kms from Udaipur.
This sanctuary is surrounded by the forests of bamboo and
dry deciduous vegetation. This forested sanctuary provides
rich pastures for a variety of animals like Chousingha,
Deer, Caracal, Wild Boar, Pangolin and Leopard. |
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Talchappar Sanctuary, Shekhawati
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Talchappar Sanctuary is a very small sanctuary, located in
the Shekhawati region. This sanctuary is a home of a large
population of graceful blackbuck. Desert fox, desert cat,
partridges and sandgrouse are also found in this sanctuary. |
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