National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Rajasthan, Bhensrod Garh Sanctuary, Darrah Sanctuary, Desert National Park, Jaisamand Sanctuary, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary, Mount Abu Sanctuary, Ranthambore National Park, Sariska National Park, Chambal Sanctuary, Sitamata Sanctuary, Talchappar Sanctuary।

Bandhavgarh National Park
A wildlife retreat where history and nature meet, Bandhavgarh is too far away from Kanha. Set amidst the Vindhyan ranges, the park has a series of ridges running through it. This park was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub for White Tigers.

Ranthambore National Park
Situated in Eastern Rajasthan, where the Aravali Hill ranges and the Vindhyan plateau meet, the Ranthambhore National Park was once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The rivers Chambal in the South and Banas in the North bound the Ranthambore National Park.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The 28.73 sq km lake and wetland was artificially created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the 19th century. By building small dykes and dams and diverting water from an irrigation canal, he converted this low lying area into a fine wild fowl shooting preserve.

Sariska Wildlife
Sariska in Rajasthan, located just 200 kms from Delhi, is one of the closest National Parks to the capital। Sculpted out of the Aravalli hills, it spreads over 800-sq kms and is home to the majestic tiger, deer, Nilgai, partridges, wild boar, fox, gaur, sambar, chital, hyena, and the four-horned antelope. The dry deciduous forest are a perfect home to the jungle cat and the Siliserh Lake which lies at the edge of the Park is the watering holes that has preserved the natural habitat of the region, despite it being close to the desert.

Bharatpur National Park
Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary is located near the town of Bharatpur 34 miles south of Agra। It is considered one of the world's most important bird sanctuaries.
Amongst India’s premier wildlife sanctuaries is the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, on the border between the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Formally known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, it’s a marshy area, stretching over 29 sq km of kadam forests, grasslands and shallow lakes. Created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the 19th century by diverting water from an irrigation canal, Keoladeo was founded as a shooting preserve, but given the status of a bird sanctuary in 1956. Upgraded to a national park in 1982, the area today ranks as one of the best waterbird preserves in the world- and it’s a World Heritage Site.
Keoladeo Ghana, Bharatpur harbours some of India’s richest birdlife, including the gorgeous shocking-pink tinted painted stork, several species of cormorants, egrets, pelicans, ibises, cranes, ducks and geese. One can see over 350 species of birds, both native as well as migratory. Among the latter, the highly endangered Siberian Cranes, which come to nest in winter, are the rarest. Bharatpur is the Siberian Crane’s only known wintering ground in India; at last count, only 2 cranes nested at the park, definitely a cause for worry.

In addition to the birds, Keoladeo is home to a wide range of mammal and reptile species, including deer, jackals, blackbuck, fishing cats, otters and blue bulls.

Entry Requirements
All visitors to Keoladeo Ghana, Bharatpur need to obtain an entry permit from the Warden or Ranger at the entrance to the park. Foreigners need to pay an entry fee of Rs 200; Indians pay Rs 25. Extra charges are levied for cameras and photographic equipment.

Ranthambore National Park
Situated in Eastern Rajasthan, where the Aravali Hill ranges and the Vindhyan plateau meet, the Ranthambhore National Park was once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur।

Ranthambore national park's abandoned fortress, lakes and above all it's `friendly' tigers have made it one of the most filmed wildlife reserves in the world. Ranthambore was decalred a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and became part of Project Tiger in 1973.

How to reach
Air:
Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is the nearest airport to Ranthambore. Ranthambore National Park is about 140 Km from Jaipur. You can fly to Jaipur and proceed to Sawai Madhopur by road or rail.

Rail:
Sawai Madhopur which is just 11 Km from Ranthambore National Park is accessible by rail and is on the main route from Delhi to Mumbai. You can arrive at Sawai Madhopur by rail and take a car or bus to Ranthambore National Park.

Road:
Ranthambore is easily accessible by road from all destinations across Rajasthan। If you're traveling by road, there are many options from luxury air-conditioned coaches to private taxis and local buses of the Rajasthan Transport Corporation, in which you can reach Ranthambore National Park.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park

Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world। The 28.73 sq km lake and wetland was artificially created by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the 19th century.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park, more popularly known as Bharatpur Bird Santuary, is named after the temple located within its boundaries. Although covering a mere 29 sq km, it is famous for its exotic bird species, close to 400. Besides, during winters it is visited by migratory birds such as the Siberian crane. Although the park has a good deer and antelope population, there are few other animals. However, forest officials claim to have spotted a wandering tiger in the more dense parts of; the forest a few years ago. Bharatpur is an ideal getaway. Foreign tourists visiting the Taj Mahal at Agra, two hour’s drive away, also drop in at Bharatpur. The relatively small size makes it an easy park to cover.At present this park supports a population of more than 375 species of birds and acts as a reserve of numerous mammals as well as reptiles

The Keoladeo National Park is one of India's best water bird sanctuaries. The fresh water marsh of Bharatpur attracts thousands of birds both residents and migratory. There are over 353 species, belonging to 56 families. Some of these are from countries as far as China, Turkistan, Afghanistan etc.

This former Duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas is today a paradise of feathered life which provides unlimited opportunities to bird watchers. wildlife photographers, painters, researchers and writers on nature

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan is only a small area of 28.73 sq. km, but its wealth of bird species has brought it prominence as a World Heritage Site, one of only five natural history sites in India to receive this honour. The park, better known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is renowned the world over for its avifauna, although a great assortment of mammals can be sighted here as well.

Strict protection and excellent management have made Keoladeo a haven for birds. Like several protected areas in India today, it was once the hunting preserve of the local royal family and is probably the only instance of a suitable habitat being 'created' by a maharaja. In the late 19th century, the arid scrublands were dramatically altered. What used to be a seasonal, rain-filled depression became a wetland ecosystem, the water supply augmented by diverting a nearby irrigation canal and by conserving the existing water sources. Of course, the maharaja's intention was to create the finest waterfowl hunting preserve in north India. A plaque near the Keoladeo Temple within the park records the daily tally over the years. The highest figure is of 4,273 birds in November 1938, bagged by the then viceroy, Lord Linlithgow's party.