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Sariska National Park

Sariska became a sanctuary inthe year 1958. This sanctuary is situated in Rajasthan, the erstwhile royal preserve of the rulers of Alwar. The sanctuary came under the Project Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982. It is located at Kankwari fort, near Alwar, on the Delhi - Jaipur Highway.

The terrain is predominantly hilly, as it lies in the Aravalli range. It has total area of 788 sq. kilometres, with a core area of approximately 474 sq. kilometres. The beautiful Siliserh Lake runs along the edge of the reserve, with a quaint hunting lodge overlooking it.

The bird-life comprises of the pea fowl, graypartridge, quail, sand grouse, tree pie, white breasted kingfisher, golden - backed woodpecker, crested serpent eagle and great Indian horned owl. Magnificent ruins peppered around the neighborhood of Sariska add to the region's fascination.

The Neelkanth (Shiva) temples (6th-13th century AD) are just 32kms from the Park and the ancient Kankwari Fort inside the Reserve, is where Emperor Aurangzeb once held his brother Dara Shikoh captive. A beautiful palace complex built in 1902 has been converted into a hotel.

Number of spots of historical importanceare scattered all over the reserve. Pandu Pol temple narrates the stroy of the Mahabharat period when the mighty Bhim was taught a lesson on humility. The ruins of Ghar Rajor date back of 9th and 10th century. A.D. Here an area of approximately three square kilometers is literally covered with invaluable pieces of rare sculptures and architecture. Historians believe that some of the art pieces were carved as early as in the 4th or 5th enctruy A.D. A stone incription of 10th centruy mentions about the destruction caused to the structures by an earthquake.

Only three monuments that survived the earthquake present some glimpses of the past glory of the area. These are Neelkanth temple of Lord Shiva, a 16 feet high. Single stone statue of a Jain Tirthankar and a temple of Thankuriji. The ruins of Kankwari Fort reminds the visitor of the events of the 17th centruy.

Bharathari is a sacred Place for thousandsof Hindus living inthe adjoining areas. The place is named after Raja Bharathari of Ujjain who meditated here for a number of years before finally taking 'Samadhi' on 8th of 'Shukla-Paksha in the Bhadon month of the Hindu calendar. Devotees, in hundreds of thousands from far and near,gather here on this day every year to commemorate the event. The area is well forested and is served by a perennial stream of water.

It has a good population of Hanuman langurs. Tal Vrakhsha,located about 20 kms. fromt heSariska comples, is another interesting place. It is believed that a Rishi (saint) Mandava lived and meditated here and he acquired divine knowledge at this spot. He worshipped lord Shiva and for salvation of the people living in the region, brought the sacred river Ganga', in the form of two streams of hot and cold water to this area.

Temples of Ganga Mata and Lord Shiva still attract devotees to the area. TalVrakhsha now has a small grove of Arjun trees with a large population of rhesus monkeys. Both these places are worth visiting.

Best time to visit
Sariska is open to visitors throughout the year, although certain jungletracks are closed during the monsoon and the breeding season. The best time to visit the park is late in the winter around January or February. If you don’t mind the heat, April to June is a great time to see animals at the water holes.

Location - 40 kms from Alwar
Area - 232 sq. Kms
Speciality - Blue Bull
Built in - 1892 - 1900

How To Reach
Sariska National Park is 200 km from Delhi and 107 km
from Jaipur. Touristsconveniently drive down from both these urban centers. Buses that ply between Delhi and Jaipur also go via Alwar and Sariska. The nearest rail junction is Alwar at a distance of 35 km, from where you can hire a taxi or travel by bus to the park. The nearest national airport is Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.




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