5 Best Places to Enjoy Wildlife Safari in Rajasthan
Most people visit Rajasthan to see the grand palaces, forts, desert and to soak in the colorful culture of the state. Apart from all these things, this state also offers thriving wildlife that is very well-preserved in quite a few conversation areas. Images of roaring tigers of Ranthambore will appear in your mind as soon as you hear wildlife safari in Rajasthan. That is surely the biggest attraction as far as the wildlife safari is concerned in this state. However, there is a large number of forest reserves here which are less popular and worthy exploring.
In total, there are 21 forest reserves in Rajasthan which are recognized and maintained by the government. But there are a few hidden gems as well which will be divulged at the end of this article.
Out of all those reserves, we are going to talk about the five top-notch destinations for exploring wildlife in the state. We have chosen these places on the basis of their potential to become a major attraction for tourists. Some of these places are less explored by the tourist and it is our endeavor to make them more popular. So let us begin with the list:-
1. Ranthambore National Park – Sawai Madhopur Rajasthan
Ranthambore is counted among the most visited forest reserves in India for spotting tigers. It was established in the year 1955 as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary and became a part of the Project Tiger in 1973. On November 1, 1980, Ranthambore was officially declared as National Park that spans 392 km currently. It is famous for a thriving population of Bengal Tigers who could be easily spotted in the daytime as well.
Besides the big cat, you can also spot chital, mugger crocodile, rhesus macaque, gray langur, sloth bear, striped hyena, sambar, wild boar, nilgai, and Indian leopard.
With highly diverse wildlife, Ranthambore attracts a great number of Indian and foreign tourists as well. It is also visited by a large number of environmentalists and documentary film-makers. As per the reports of tiger-census conducted in 2014, there were 62 tigers in the park and since then, multiple births of cubs have been registered.
The safari ride inside this national park remains thrilling as the terrain is rocky and uneven, it also gives you a glimpse of Banas and Chambal River. It was named after the Ranthambore fortress that lies inside the park and is visited by a large number of tourists. When you talk about wildlife in Rajasthan, Ranthambore becomes the first destination where you can easily reach.
2. Sariska Tiger Reserve – Alwar Rajasthan
Located in Alwar district, Sariska spans over 866 km, it is a part of the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests’ ecoregion and the Aravalli Range as well. Other than tigers, this place is also known for its mineral resources like copper.
Once upon a time, it was the hunting preserve for the royalty of Alwar State, after independence, it slowly emerged to become a wildlife reserve in 1955. In the year 1978, it became a part of Project Tiger and in 1990, it officially became a national park. More than a decade before, there was a dearth of tigers in this reserve and poaching was ascribed the major reason this.
However, with the efforts of government, the situation if much better now and the current number of tigers is 18 including five cubs.
Besides the Bengal tiger, the other species you could find here are rhesus monkeys, hanuman langur, hare, wild boar, four-horned antelope, chinkara, nilgai, sambhar, chital, Indian jackal, striped hyena, caracal, jungle cat, and Indian leopard.
Sariska has also become a well-known destination for bird watchers becomes home to a large number of species of birds like Indian eagle-owl, crested serpent eagle, golden-backed woodpecker, treepie, sandgrouse, bush quail, Indian peafowl, white-throated kingfisher, and grey partridge.
There is also a water body inside the reserve and Sariska is currently a great place to find tigers and highly syncretic wildlife.
3. Desert National Park – Jaisalmer Rajasthan
Located near the towns of Barmer and Jaisalmer, this is one of the biggest national parks in the world with an area of 3162 km. As you can surmise with the name, the park gives you an insight into the ecosystem of Thar Desert. The main attraction of this place is the affluence of birddom here.
You can easily spot species like great Indian bustard, sand grouse, kestrels, laggar falcons, spotted eagles, tawny eagles, short-toed eagles, vultures, buzzards, falcons, harriers, and various other species of eagles.
If you are a true bird-watcher, then this place is heaven for you and you cannot really resist for very long. Other than birds, you can also get to see the collection of fossils of animals and plants that are 180 million years old.
It has also become a part of the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project and continues to attract tourists from all over the world.
The view of the sanctuary from the fort is a must-have experience for those who want to see the mighty Aravalli Range in a panoramic vision. With an all-inclusive combination of wildlife, Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary continues to be one of the most go-to locations when it comes to experiencing a safari in Rajasthan.
Between the month of November to March, this place really beautifies itself and shows different shades of nature. So if you are planning to explore the wildlife in Rajasthan, you must include Kumbhalgarh on your list.
5. Jawai Leopard Reserve – Jawai Bandh Pali Rajasthan
As we talked about the hidden gems which are quickly emerging to be the best tourist spots in the state, here’s one which promises you an enthralling tour no matter which month you visit in.
Jawai is located near the Sumerpur town of Pali District and it offers a perfect ecosystem that you can enjoy in any season. It has a booming population of leopards, crocodiles, birds, and various other animals.
The leopard safari remains the biggest attraction for the visitors as the big cats can be spotted very easily at this place. What makes Jawai a better destination for seeing leopards is hilly terrain and lack of dense forests.
You can easily see them roaming around the granite hills and they have never attacked humans or their livestock in this region. Apart from the thrill-seekers, Jawai is also a great place for bird-watchers. It is home to more than 100 species of migratory birds that can be seen throughout the year.
The dam structure is a vantage point from where you can gaze the beauty of this place, the entire region turns into a scenery when it rains. Jawai should definitely be included in your list of places to visit in Rajasthan. The experience of wildlife safari that you would take here will remain with you throughout your life.