Sariska

Situated in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, Sariska is nestled amidst a beautiful valley of the Aravali Hills and is spread over an area of 498 sq. kms. A region of unparalleled beauty, Sariska is renowned for its exquisite wild beauty while being landscaped with sharp cliffs of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravalis.

The history of Sariska goes back a long time with its mention in the Hindu sacred texts as the place where Pandavas took shelter during their years of hiding. Later after the Mughal fall, Sariska became a part of the Mewat rule. The Mewat reign saw the region of Sariska prosper. Early 20^th century saw attempts to convert the region into a protected area and the campaign was led by none other than Maharaja Jai Singh. The campaign bore fruit and in 1958, a government notification declared Sariska a wildlife sanctuary and by 1979 it became a part of the Tiger Project that was recognized as a national park.

The wildlife sanctuary at Sariska is its biggest draw yet. The Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a prolific range of wildlife species such as including leopards, wild dogs, jungle cats, hyenas, jackals, tigers, sambars, chitals, nilgai, chausinghas, wild boars and langurs. Sariska is also well known for its large population of Rhesus Monkeys, which are found around Talvriksh. The national park also boasts of a sizeable avian population besides boasting of a tiger reserve that is well worth a look. Experience the thrill of shooting a tiger with your camera as you go adventure safaris within the park.

The Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary also houses the ancient Kankwari Fort, the very place where Emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh. Other tourist attractions around Sariska include the majestic Sariska Palace. The Sariska Palace was built in the 19^th century by Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar to serve as a royal hunting lodge. You can enjoy a stay within the royal confines of the palace that is now functioning as a heritage hotel. The ancient Shiva Temples located within the precincts of the Sariska tiger sanctuary date back to the period of 6^th-13^th century AD and are still a beautiful sight to behold.

The shops in Sariska are filled with the typical Rajasthani products but a stroll through the vibrant shops is nevertheless a pleasant experience. Buy colorful Rajasthani skirts and accessorize them with silver jewellery that you can easily find at any of the shops in Sariska.

Sariska makes for a great weekend excursion from Delhi that is situated at a distance of 200 kms. Sariska is also well connected with Alwar, which is again directly connected by bus to all the major cities in north India.

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