In the days of yore, Sariska used to be the hunting ground
of the Maharaja of Alwar. It was declared as a National Park
in 1955. The park is spread over an area of 479 sq. Kms. and
is divided into three zones - core, buffer and tourist zone.
In 1979, Project Tiger initiative was launched in Sariska
National Park.
Sariska National Park is teeming with wildlife and some of
the resident species include sambhar, nilgai, wild cats, wild
bear, chital, four horned antelopes and a variety of deer.
The central point of Sariska National Park is the Pandupole
watch tower which is located 22 kms. inside the forest. The
Pandupole area is believed to be an area where the Pandavas
took shelter during their exile. A Hanuman Temple is located
near the watch tower.
In Sariska not only can one marvel at the haunting wilderness
but one can also add a bit of culture into one's safari. For
instance, there is the Kankoyari fort, located 20 kms away
from Pandupole where Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had kept his
brother Dara Sikho as a captive prisoner. If one goes further
ahead, there is the Nilkantha temple which is believed to
be 1,500 year old.
Sariska National Park can be visited year round except during
the rainy season (July/August) when the animals move to higher
grounds. Sariska is possibly one of India's most renowned
wildlife parks. A peculiar characteristic of the park is that
one comes across a plethora of speed breakers both within
and out side the park premises. They have been built in order
to check the velocity of vehicles which otherwise have the
habit of speeding down the tracks. There have been instances
in the past when the speeding vehicles have over run the animals
that strayed onto the track.
Sariska's topography is generally hilly. As one goes deeper
inside the forest, the hills keep growing on you. As far as
water bodies and wetland areas are concerned, they are few
and far between. To mitigate these lacunae of water bodies,
the park authorities have built artificial reservoirs at strategic
places which provide welcome relief to the resident animals
of Sariska during the scorching summer months.
Sariska's forest cover is of the dry deciduous variety. In
the summer months, the forest cover gives way to the arid
landscape while post-monsoon, the forest is conspicuous with
its lush foliage. Of course, the rate in which the total forest
cover of Sariska is depleting is a case for concern. Already
the park authorities with the support of environmental NGO's
are working together to educate the local tribes about the
serious consequences of tree felling and the subsequent vanishing
of the forest.
Apart from Pandupole watch tower, the park authorities have
very cleverly built a number of hides which are concealed
in a veil of secrecy surrounded as they are with dense foliage
of the forest. Two well known hides are located in Kalighati
and Salopka which provide excellent wildlife panorama.
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