Top 8 Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks in Rajasthan, India

Wildlife tours in India are extremely popular as there are Wildlife Sanctuaries all over the country. Rajasthan is one of few states in the country which along with culture and heritage also offers wildlife experiences. Rajasthan tourpackages offered by Swan Tours are designed in a manner that a tourist visits both heritage spots as well as the wildlife regions of the state. Find below the list of Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks in Rajasthan

#1 Darrah Sanctuary 

Established in 1955, previously the Kota hunting reserves. The sanctuary covers 266 sq. km (102 sq. miles) of dry deciduous forest (mostly Anogeissus penduai). The animals include wolf, sloth bear, chinkara and leopard. Despite disturbance from local villages, it is still worth visiting.

Best time to visit: February-May

#2 Desert National Park

This large park of 3,172 sq. km (1,220 sq. miles) is 32 km (20 miles) from Jaisalmer. Much of the area is covered with patchy scrub and occasional trees and flowers. Fauna seen include blackbuck, chinkar, desert fox and cat, and birds of prey such as the tawny eagle, short-toed eagle and spotted eagle. There are approximately 350 great Indian bustard. The park also contains fossilized trees.

Best time to visit: September-March (summer temperature exceeds 50"C/122'F)

#3 Kumbalgarh Sanctuary

Kumbalgarh Sanctuary Udaipur, Rajasthan

This large sanctuary in the Aravalli hills is perhaps the only area in India where the highly endangered wolf is breeding successfully. Other animals include leopard, sloth bear, chinkara, chousingha, ratel and flying squirrel.

Best time: September-November

#4 Mount Abu Sanctuary

A small sanctuary in forested hills to the northeast of Mount Abu. Animals include leopard, chinkara and, in the lower areas, sloth bear, sambar and wild boar. Among the interesting birds is the grey jungle fowl.

Best time to visit: March-June

#5 National Chambal Sanctuary

This runs along the Chambal River from Rana Pratap Sagar to the southwest of Kota to its confluence with the Jamuna. It was set up to protect the garial crocodilian. Southeast of Sawai Madhopur, the Chambal joins the Parbati River which forms the border with Madhya Pradesh. The Madhya Pradesh bank is also a sanctuary containing blackbuck, caracal, chinkara and wolf.

Best time to visit: October-March

#6 Ranthambore Sanctuary

An impressive range of animal species including sambar, chital, nilgai, chinkara, monkey, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, leopard and tiger. Excellent birdlife including crested serpent eagle.

Best time: October-April

Read More: Information About Ranthambore National Park

#7 Sariska National Park, Tiger

Sariska National Park, Alwar- Rajasthan

Reserve and Sanctuary  Originally the shooting area of the Alwar ruling family, Sariska became a sanctuary in 1958. Most of Sariska is hilly with a wide valley from the gate to Thana Gazi. It has a good network of roads. Animals seen include leopard, wild dog (first sighted in 1986), nilgai, chital, housingha, chinkara, ratel and tiger.

Best time to visit: November-June. (Very dry summers make June good for game-viewing, although it is hot).

#8 Sitamata Sanctuary

In the southern forests of Rajasthan with 423 sq. km (163 sq. miles) of dry deciduous forest and bamboo. The flying squirrel is more often seen here than in other sanctuaries. Other species include leopard, caracal, chousingha, pangolin, sambar, wild boar and chinkara.

Best time to visit: April-July

For more information on Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks in Rajasthan contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in Delhi, India established in 1995.