The Land of the Kings is known for its abundant contribution to wildlife tourism and eco-tourism. It is rightly said that no foreign tourist in India returns to their motherland without visiting Rajasthan during their Indian vacation. One of the major attraction is Rajasthan are the national parks and every year they see tens of thousands of tourists visiting these attractions. A land of lavish forts and palaces, Rajasthan is also popularly known for its abundance in exotic flora and fauna. A land rich in heritage and culture, its vibrant traditions are awe-inspiring. The people of Rajasthan are known for their spirit of nationalism and valour.
Best National Parks in Rajasthan
The barren desert lands are concentrated in the western part of Rajasthan. Rest of the state is very fertile and hence home to numerous birds and animals. The state government has been actively involved in protecting endangered animals and this is also the reason to develop many national parks and sanctuaries. We have listed down the top 7 national parks in Rajasthan than we have come across.
- Keoladeo National Park- Where Nature And History meets
- Sariska Tiger Reserve – Day Long Tour
- Ranthambore National Park – Home To A Variety Of Exotic Animals
- Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary – Centre For Numerous Sightseeing Spots
- Sambhar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary – Largest Saline Lake of India
Read on to understand a bit more in detail about the best national parks in Rajasthan
1. Keoladeo National Park- Where Nature And History meets
Popularly known as Bharatpur National Park, the Keoladeo National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site. You will find many rare species of birds here. This is home to more than 250 species of birds and more than 1000 species of birds migrate to this national park during the cold season. Some of the animals you can find here are Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, Nilgai, Golden Jack, Striped Hyena, Blackbuck, Wild Boar and many others. You can visit the national park by hiking, taking a bike or even hiring human-pedalled rickshaws.
- Timings: The National park is open from Sunrise to Sunset
- Location: 180 km from New Delhi; 178 km from Jaipur and 55 km from Agra city. The nearest city is Bharatpur.
- How To Reach: Around 5 hours by road from Jaipur. Bharatpur railway station is less than 10 mins from the sanctuary. You will find trains connecting from Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and Mumbai everyday.
- Fees: The fees are pocket friendly and very nominal
2. Sariska Tiger Reserve – Day Long Tour
The Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its cliffs and rocky mountainous areas, dry deciduous forests and grasslands. Situated between the Aravali hills, this National park is home to a large variety of animals like the monkeys, mongoose, Wild Boars, majestic Sambars, Indian Leopard, Jungle cat, Nilgai Cheetah and the Bengal tiger. Also home to a wide range of rare bird species, Sariska is indeed a bird watcher’s paradise.
- Timings: You can visit the park from 6 Am to 3:30 Pm.
- Location: Situated in Alwar, Rajasthan; the National park is around Kms from Jaipur
- Best Time To Visit: October to May
- How To Reach: Well connected to Alwar by road and rail. Jaipur airport is the closest for air travel
- Fees: For Indians – INR 80 /- per person; for Foreign nationalities – INR 470 /- per person
3. Ranthambore National Park – Home To A Variety Of Exotic Animals
Also known as the Sawai Madhopur Park, this is home to the majestic Bengal tiger and every year tourists visit this tiger reserve to catch a glimpse of the animal. You will be surprised to see numerous historical ruins around the national park. The national park offers you a pleasant combination of protected animals, historical sites, natural environment and even many rare trees. In this National Park, you will find a mixture of dry deciduous forest area and green grassy meadows. One of the most famous heritage sites inside the park is the Ranthambore Fort which houses three temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Ram and Lord Ganesh
- Location: Situated in Sawai Madhopur, India
- How To Reach: If you are coming by rail, Sawai Madhopur Railway Station is 11 km away. On the other hand, if you are coming by flight, Jaipur Airport is the closest at 160 km.
- Best Time To Visit: We recommend visiting the national park between November to May. This has the highest probability of seeing animals.
- Fees: There is a nominal entry fee. Safari of 3 hours cost around INR 1500 per person.
4. Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary – Centre For Numerous Sightseeing Spots
Nestled in the Aravali Mountain range, the Mount Abu National park is a hub for many sightseeing spots and is a crowd favourite for witnessing some of the best wildlife across Rajasthan. Fun Fact- Aravali Mountain range is known to be the oldest mountains in India. Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many endangered species including hyena and jackal. You will also find huge numbers of Indian fox, common Langoor, mongoose, Wild boar and Hedgehog
- Location: The closest city is Mount Abu
- How to Reach: Takes around 7 hours by road from Jaipur to cover the 500 Km. The nearest railway station is Morthala Railway Station which is 18 Km away from Mount Abu. If you are looking to travel by flight, then Udaipur city is the closest airport.
- Best Time to Visit: The ideal months to visit are October to March
- Fees: The Jeep Safaris cost around INR 500 per person and takes 3-4 hours
- Timings: The park timing is between 9 Am to 5.30 Pm.
5. Sambhar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary – Largest Saline Lake of India
The biggest saline lake of India you will find a variety of birds like the flamingoes, black-headed gull and Northern Shoveller. Spread across 190sq-km you will find more than 40 species of water birds like the geese, ducks and shorebirds
- Best Time To Visit: Idea time to visit is from October to March
- Fees: NA
- Timings: NA
- How To Reach: The nearest airport is Jaipur which is around 120 Km away. If you are looking for options by rail, Sambhar Salt Lake Station is the nearest station.
- Location: Jaipur is the nearest city
Hope we were able to give you a clear idea on some of the national parks in Rajasthan which is of great national importance. Next time when you are planning a vacation to Rajasthan do reach out to us at Pickyourtrail. We will ensure your itinerary is planned in such a way that you get a chance to explore the rich biodiversity of the state to make your vacation a memorable one.
