Dekho Apna Desh – Webinar on Sariska Tiger Reserve
As part of the Dekho Apna Desh series, the Ministry of Tourism conducted a webinar on the Sariska Tiger Reserve on Friday. The Sariska Tiger reserve had been neglected in the recent past and many people seem to have forgotten about it, despite being notified as a sanctuary in 1955, the webinar noted.
The tiger reserve, situated in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, has a history that people say dates back to the times of Mahabharata. It is said that the region had witnessed the reign of Ashoka and is home to Buddhist monasteries. By the middle of the 18th century, Alwar became an independent state and Sariska became a part of the erstwhile princely State of Alwar. As a favourite hunting ground, it received strict protection.
Sariska Tiger Reserve lies in the Aravalli hills. The peak of the Aravalli hills is the Mount Abu. It is located in the sub-tropical zone, so there are deciduous forests. Winters are harsh and so are the summers though monsoon is also pretty good when the whole jungle becomes totally green. There are seasonal rivers and rivulets and there are some nice waterfalls in this mountainous region. During olden days people used this area for meditation. Many saints and gurus have done their meditations here.
Located in the midst of the much sought after Golden Triangle route of Delhi-Agra-Jaipur, the Sariska Tiger reserve is easily accessible by road, rail and air. By air, the Sanganer Airport at Jaipur is nearly 100km from Sariska. The Indira Gandhi International airport at Delhi is 210 km away. By rail, the Alwar junction is at a distance of nearly 70 km. By Road – Sariska to Jaipur -100 Km / Sariska to Alwar -70 Km / Sariska to Delhi -210 Km / Sariska to Agra -200 Km.
The Sariska National Park offers a good opportunity to watch wildlife in their natural habitat. It extends over an area of 800 sq. kilometres, filled with animals like leopards, jungle cats, golden jackal, striped hyenas, deer, chinkaras, four horned antelopes, wild boars, bisons, mongoose and porcupine. No doubt, an attractive tiger population and various reptiles and snakes complete the fauna of the national park.
It also has over 225 species of birds like grey partridge, sand grouse, crested serpent eagle, woodpecker, horned owl, tree pie, bush quail and many more.