Location

	Sariska Hotels
	» The Sariska Palace » Sariska Tiger Haven

Situated 107 kms from Jaipur, the Sariska National Park is in a wooden valley, surrounded by barren mountains. The dry deciduous forests of the ancient Aravalli range cover the area of the Sariska National Park and Tiger Reserve.

The royal preserve
Sariska, in Rajasthan, the erstwhile royal preserve of the rulers of Alwar, became a sanctuary in the year 1958. The sanctuary came under the Project Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982. It is located at Kankwari fort, near Alwar, on the Delhi - Jaipur Highway. The terrain is predominantly hilly, as it lies in the Aravalli range. It has total area of 788 sq. kilometres, with a core area of approximately 474 sq. kilometres. The beautiful Siliserh Lake runs along the edge of the reserve, with a quaint hunting lodge overlooking it.

Tourist spots

» Sariska National Park : Sariska is best known for being Tiger country and home to a Tiger Project Sanctuary set up in in the former hunting grounds of the royal family of Alwar. The romance of Sariska is never ending. From the time the Buddhists built their monasteries to the time the Pratiharas rulers their temple and, closer down history, to the time the Mughals set up their camps, Sariska is wrapped in a tradition as old as the Aravalli mountain ranges it is situated in.

» The Fort : At a short distance from Alwar is a diversion taking one past the small fortress of Kushalgarh to Talbraksha (36 km). The moist palm grove valley transports one mentally to India's coastal areas and it is difficult to believe that one is geographically in a desert state. Langurs compete in numbers with busloads of constantly arriving pilgrims. Side by side at Talbraksha are hot and cold springs with immense healing capacities.

» A Cluster of Temples : In a clearing is a cluster of temples of varying ages and one might almost miss the gem of them all, a 10th century temple relegated to the background. This temple, in the typical panchayatna (five houses) pattern, was probably built as a Vaishnava temple, but was converted for Shiva worship. The Vishnu legend is represented in the relief of Hiranyakashyap, Vishnu's great antagonist, being killed by the Narsimhavatar.

How to get there !

Sariska is 35 km from Alwar, which is a convenient town to approach the sanctuary. Frequent buses ply between Sariska and Alwar. From Jaipur, Sariska is 120 km away and it takes three hours by road. Jaipur is well connected by air, rail and road to most of the important cities in India. The best way to visit the park is by jeep and these can be arranged at the Forest Reception Office on the Jaipur Road.

Accommodation in Sariska