Location
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.
