If you are a lover of wildlife, then the Sariska National Park that covers an area of more than 800 sq km would much appeal you.
One of the most famous national parks of India, the Sariska National Park is located on the Aravalli Hills in Alwar, Rajasthan.
With low hills, wide valleys and hilly plateaus Sariska is certainly a haven for all those inspired by nature.
The Sariska National Park is also known as Sariska Tiger Reserve even though the population of the pride of Sariska, i.
e.
, the tigers, has greatly dwindled due to reckless poaching, encroaching dwellings and similar other reasons.
So much so that it's rather tough to locate them inside Sariska.
Only if you are lucky and patient enough, you would come across a tiger while on a visit to the reserve.
However, the presence of other animals and a variety of birds more than compensates for the near absence of the tigers for which the reserve was brought into existence.
For example, Sariska boasts of excellent populations of Rhesus Monkey and Peafowl.
In fact, the reserve has the largest Peafowl population in India.
Other than the Peafowl, the park also boasts of many other types of rare birds such as White Breasted King Fisher, Gray Partridge, Serpent Eagle, and Great Indian Horned Owl.
Other attractions of the national park include Leopard, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Four-Horned Deer, and Cheetal.
Sariska also has a few medieval temples of Garh-Rajor that date back to 10-11 century AD.
The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple and the Sariska Palace are the other attractions of the tiger reserve.
The wonderful Sariska Palace acted as a royal hunting lodge of the former ruler of Alwar, Maharaja Jai Singh.
There's a 17th century castle also inside the tiger reserve.
From here, you can see Sariska in all its glory as the castle offers great views of the tiger reserve.
The best time to visit Sariska is during the winter season.
However, since during the summer season the chances of sighting a tiger are higher, many people prefer to visit the national park during this time.
During the rainy season, the national park is closed for the visitors.
Sariska is well connected.
Good accommodations suiting all budgets are available just outside the tiger reserve.