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SARISKA TIGER RESERVE
The wide spectrum and rich population of wildlife
in the open dry deciduous forest of Sariska is a
marvel of ecological adaptation and tolerance.
Sariska Tiger
Reserve is situated in the northern part of the
Aravali hills, nearly 200 kms. from Delhi on the
Delhi - Alwar - Jaipur Road. An area of 800 sq. kms.,
Sariska was declared a sanctuary in 1955 and it
became a Tiger Reserve in 1979.
In Sariska,
wildlife observation at the water holes is
fascinating during the hot days of April, May and
June. Water requirements increase and wildlife
activities get restricted to the water holes,
specially around Kalighati and Slopka. Sambars,
chitals, nilgais, chausinghas, jackals, wild boars,
langurs etc. visit water holes throughout the day.
The tiger appears around dusk or during the silence
of the night. Besides leopard, the hyena, jungle cat
and wild dog are the other main predators.
Sariska is unique
in animal distribution. The wild animals here seem
to have decided their area-limits. Slopka is best
for observing the sambar, Kundli for chitals and
Tarunda & Kalighati for nilgai. Four horned
antelopes or chausingha can be seen in the Pandupole
Nallah. Chausingha is exclusively Indian and is the
only buck on earth with four horns.
Sariska is also
famous for its population of common langur and the
rhesus monkeys. Talvriksh is where the main
population of rhesus exists and one can see hundreds
of these monkeys at a time. Langurs can be seen in
large numbers at Pandupole, Slopka and Kalighati as
well.
Sariska is also
historically significant. The Kankwadi Fort is
situated on a small hillock, nearly 22 kms. from
Sariska headquarters. it is said that the Mughal
emperor Aurangzeb had imprisoned his elder brother
Dara Shikoh in this fort. Further away is the famous
Neel Kantha Mahadev temple. There are remains of 300
odd Hindu and Jain temples constructed between the
8th and the 12th centuries A.D. These temples have
religious, mythological as well as historical
significance. Pandupole is known for the famous
Hanuman temple and thousands of pilgrims throng to
this sacred shrine from July to Septernber every
year
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