10 Famous National Parks in Rajasthan is a state of the royals and it has numerous evidence of the royal culture in its rich heritage and society. Along with its cultural abundance, Rajasthan also has enough of wildlife beauty in it. Some famous wildlife sanctuaries & national parks in Rajasthan are Ranthambore National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur, Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary, Sitamata Sanctuary, Tal Chappar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gajner Sanctuary, Mount Abu Sanctuary, Desert National Sanctuary, Darrah Sanctuary and Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary. Major national parks and bird sanctuary are Ranthambore national park, Sariska tiger reserve, and Bharatpur bird sanctuary.
Presenting a complete contrasting picture to its landscape Rajasthan houses tigers and a host of endangered species. For nature travelers the wildlife in Rajasthan will be an aspect to explore. Most of the reserves, national parks and sanctuaries are dotted with temple ruins, castles and forts. These rubbles add to the enigma of the wilderness. The tourists, thus, can catch a glimpse of a lurking tiger while watching a cheetal hopping from place to place.
Ranthambore National Park: Nestled at the junction of Aravalli and Vindhya Ranges this is the most popular tiger reserve in Rajasthan. It is a haven for the large cats. The specialty of this park is that the travelers can watch the tigers preying or resting by the riverside. There are other predators as well in this park-leopards, jungle cats and other animals, such as, wild boars, bears, deer, crocodiles, langurs and a variety of birds Wildlife Tour Packages.
Besides the above-mentioned wildlife parks there are other parks as well. These include Tal Chapper Sanctuary, Darrah Sanctuary, Sajjangarh, Kumbhalgarh, Mount Abu and SitaMata Sanctuary. Promoting tourism has also become an integral part of the wildlife of Rajasthan.
Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan
The Ranthambore National Park lies in the lap of the Aravalli and Vindhya mountain ranges. It has diverse wildlife and is spread across an area of 392 square kilometres. This national park has dense deciduous trees and shrubs, big lakes, plenty of small water holes, razor-sharp ridges, deep ravines filled with boulders, narrow valleys and lush greenery. This forest was once the hunting ground for the Royals of Jaipur but was declared as a sanctuary after India gained independence. In 1974, the park was declared as the tiger reserve forest when it was incorporated into the ‘Project Tiger’ 10 Famous National Parks in Rajasthan.
Things To Do At Ranthambore National Park:
- Tiger safari
- Visit the Ranthambore Fort
- Go to the Trinetra Ganesh temple
- Visit the Museum and Art School
- Buy souvenirs and handicrafts from nearby markets
Distance From Jaipur: 154 Km
Sariska National Park in Rajasthan
This is one of the most famous national parks in India. The total area for tiger reserve covers 881 square km along with 274 square km area notified as a national park. It lies within the Aravalli Hills and is home to monkeys, peacocks, sambars, nilgai chital, wild boars and jackals. The landscape of Sariska is dotted with sharp cliffs of hills and valleys. Its dry and deciduous forest gives shelter to various animals. You may see ruins of medieval temples of Garh-Rajor within the park that probably existed in the 10th and 11th centuries. It became a national park in the year 1979.
Things To Do At Sariska Tiger Reserve:
- Visit the Kankwari Fort, built by Jai Singh II in the 16th Century.
- See the Royal Bengal Tigers
- Go to the Neelkanth temple
- Visit the palace built by the princes of Alwar.
- Go to Pandupol, which is said to be one of the places of retreat of the Pandavas.
Distance From Jaipur: 120 km
Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan
The Keoladeo National Park was earlier known as ‘Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary’. It is a popular avifauna sanctuary that provides shelter to thousands of bird species, especially winter migratory birds. This bird sanctuary and also national park has been accorded the status of one of the world’s most important bird breeding and feeding hubs. The park has an area of 29 square kilometres which hosts more than 360 species of birds. This park was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. In 1982, it was given the status of ‘National Park’ and further listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985.
Things To Do At Keoladeo National Park:
- Bird watching
- Splendid sunrise
- Visit Keoladeo Shiva Temple
- Go to the Rope Castle Adventure Park.
Distance From Bharatpur: 2.9 km
Mount Abu National Park in Rajasthan
Mount Abu is one of the nine ecologically-sensitive areas situated in the state of Rajasthan. Situated in the middle of the Aravalli Range, the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is a splendid exhibit of the ecological significance of the state. It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1960. Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and is considered a perfect spot to get away from the sweltering heat of the Thar Desert 10 Famous National Parks in Rajasthan.
Royal Bengal Tigers and Asiatic Lions used to be a part of this sanctuary several decades ago. The common wildlife species that can be easily spotted in the park include Sambar, Leopard, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear etc. Apart from these, more than 250 species of birds can also be seen here.
Things To Do At Mount Abu National Park:
- Jeep Safari
- Bird Watching
- Visit the Sunset Point
- Visit the Nakki Lake
- Visit the Achalgarh Fort
Distance From Mount Abu: 34.1 km
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan
This sanctuary surrounds the Kumbhalgarh Fortress and covers an area of 610.5 square kilometres. The sanctuary extends across the Aravalli Range, covering parts of Rajsamand, Udaipur, and Pali districts. It is home to a variety of wildlife, some of which are also endangered species. Indian wolf, Indian leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, Golden jackal, jungle cat, sambhar, nilgai, chausingha (the four-horned antelope), chinkara and Indian hare can be found here. Birds such as junglefowl, peacocks, doves, red spurfowl, parakeet, golden oriole, grey pigeon, bulbul, dove and white-breasted kingfisher can be sighted at the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary.
Things To Do At Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Jeep Safari
- Birdwatching
- Visit the Kumbhalgarh Fort
Distance From Udaipur: 112 km
Sambhar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan
Sambhar is India’s largest saline lake covering an area of 190 square kilometres. It lies 60 km west of Jaipur and stretches in length for about 22.5 kilometres, with its width varying between 3 km to 11 km. The lake hosts a large variety of avifauna, especially flamingoes, Northern Shoveller and black-headed gull. Over 45 species of aquatic birds are found here, of which ducks, geese and shorebirds form some of the species 10 Famous National Parks in Rajasthan.
Things To Do At Sambhar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Bird watching
- Visit Vinay-Vilas Palace
- Natural retreat
Distance From Jaipur: 71.6 km
Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan
Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as a protected area in 1979 and has an area of 422.95 square kilometres. It is thickly forested and spreads over the Aravalli range and the Malva plateau. Seasonal rivers like Jakham, Karmoi, Sitamata, Buddha, and Tankiya flow through the forest. It is located about 45 km from Pratapgarh. An area of 423 square kilometres is mainly dry deciduous vegetation with exceptionally rich flora and fauna. The sanctuary includes a large variety of trees such as Salar, Tendu, Peepal, Babool, Gulmohar, Amaltas, Bakayan, Ashok, Mahua, Semal, Goondi, Khejadi, Kumta, Amla, Bamboo, Chironjee, Rudraksha and Bel trees 10 Famous National Parks in Rajasthan.
Things To Do At Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Visit the Valmiki Ashram
- Go to the Hanuman Mandir
- Visit Lakhiya Bhata, where drawings of prehistoric animals are engraved on rocks.
Distance From Udaipur: 110 Km
Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan
Before being declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1982, Ramgarh was known as the hunting place for Maharajas. It was also known for its artificial lake of 15.5 kilometres which used to provide water to Jaipur city. The thick forests of Ramgarh are home to a wide range of animals including ruddy mongoose, antelopes, jackals, chitals, nilgai, leopards, lions, rhesus macaque, langurs, etc. If you are a bird lover then you can also spot peafowl, minivet, crested bunting, finch-larks, common babbler, spotted dove, grey tit, silver-bill, black shouldered kite etc., here.
Things To Do at Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Birdwatching
- Visit the Ramgarh Lake for boating
- Go to the Jamwa Mata Temple
Distance From Jaipur: 38.7 km
Bhainsrodgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan
The Bhainsrodgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a popular tourist attraction nestled in the lap of the Aravalli ranges. The sanctuary is situated near the impermeable Bhainsrodgarh fort and is an exquisite place rich in both natural beauty and history. The Chambal and Brahmani rivers flow nearby and the entire area has a stillness and calm that cannot be found at many places. This sanctuary is home to boars, four horned antelopes, deer, jackals, panthers, foxes, chinkaras and hyenas. Many migratory birds can also be found here. Several small waterfalls add to the beauty of the sanctuary.
Things To Do At Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Exploring wildlife
- Visiting the historical fort
Distance From Chittorgarh: 124 km
Darrah National Park in Rajasthan
This national park was established in 2004 and consists of three wildlife sanctuaries– Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located 56 kilometres south of Kota in Rajasthan and has a hilly terrain. Darrah National Park was declared as a ‘protected area’ in 1955. It is home to many species of birds and animals. Panther, Sloth Bear, Wolf, Leopard, Chinkara, Deer, Wild Boar, Antelopes and Sambar are some of the animals found in the 10 Famous National Parks in Rajasthan.
Things To Do At Darrah National Park:
- Visit the Jhalawar Fort
- Explore the bio-diversity of the park
- Go to Jairapatan which has preserved the ruins of the Sun Temple.
Distance From Kota: 83.5 km
