Bharatpur Sanctuary
This magnificent bird haven in actual came into being paradoxically as a duck
shooting preserve for Maharaja Suraj Mull of Bharatpur. He transformed the shallow
depression formed by the confluence of River Gambhir and River Banganga into
a reservoir by damming the rainwater in monsoons.
Darrah Sanctuary
An erstwhile royal hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Kota, it is a thickly
forested sanctuary lying along the southeastern border of Kota. This hilly sanctuary
with thick forests is worth a visit.
Jaisamand Sanctuary
Established in 1957,this sanctuary is located beside the man-made lake of the
same name. Covering a total area of 160 sq km, it harbours sloth bear, leopard,
chital, chinkara, wild boar and a number of birds. Some crocodiles and fish
can also be spotted here. Best time to visit is between November and January.
Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary
Is located in the most rugged of the Aravali in Pali, Rajsamand and Udaipur
districts of Rajasthan. It takes name after the impressive historic fort of
Kumbhalgarh, which come into view over the Park. It is 578 sq Kms in area and
at an altitude of 500 to 1,300m.
Mount Abu Sanctuary
The Sanctuary comprises the oldest mountain ranges - The Aravali. It was declared
as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1960. Apart from having several sightseeing places
this sanctuary is a draw for nature lovers as it has great potential for Eco-tourism,
In shape this sanctuary is long and narrow but the top spreads out into a picturesque
plateau which is about 19 km. is length and 5-8 km. in breadth.
Ranthambore Sanctuary
Ranthambhore, in the state of Rajasthan, is one of the smallest Project Tiger
reserves. It's name comes from the vast fort that stands in the middle of the
forest. The name Ranthambore is derived from two hills in the area, Ran and
Thanbhor. Another version says that Ranthambhore was once called Rana Stambhapura
or City of the Pillars of War!
Sariska Sanctuary
This Park is situated only 200 km from Delhi and 107 kms from Jaipur. Although
larger than Ranthambor, it is less commercialised and has less tigers but a
similar topography. It covers an area of 800 sq km in total, with a core area
of approximately 500 sq km. The Northern Aravali Hills dominate the skyline
with their mixture of sharp cliffs and long narrow valleys. The area was declared
a sanctuary in 1955 and became a National Park in 1979.
