Indian States
Rajasthan
Wildlife
Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the most spectacular
bird sanctuaries in India, nesting indigenous water-
birds as well as migratory water birds and water
side birds. It is also inhabited by sambar, chital, nilgai and
boar. More than 300 species of birds are found in this small park
of 29 sq. km. of which 11 sq. km. are marshes and the rest scrubland
and grassland. Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu
temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which stands at the centre of the
park. 'Ghana' means dense, referring to the thick forest, which
used to cover the area. While many of India's parks have been
developed from the hunting preserves of princely India, Keoladeo
Ghana is perhaps the only case where the habitat has been
created by a maharaja. In earlier times, Bharatpur town
used to be flooded regularly every monsoon. In 1760, an earthern
dam (Ajan Dam) was constructed, to save the town, from this annual
vagary of nature. The depression created by extraction of soil
for the dam was cleared and this became the Keoladeo lake. At
the beginning of this century, this lake was developed, and was
divided into several portions. A system of small dams, dykes,
sluice gates, etc., was created to control water level in different
sections. This became the hunting preserve of the Bharatpur royalty,
and one of the best duck - shooting wetlands in the world. Hunting
was prohibited by mid-60s. The area was declared a national
park on 10 March 1982, and accepted as a World Heritage
Site in December 1985.
...For
More Info On Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary click Here...
Ranthambhore
National Park
Near the township of Sawai Madhopur, in the state of Rajasthan,
Ranthambore National Park is an outstanding example of Project
Tiger's efforts at conservationin the country. The forests around
the Ranthambore Fort were once, the private hunting grounds
of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The desire to preserve the game in
these forests for sport, was responsible for their conservation,
and subsequent rescue by Project Tiger. The Park sprawls over
an estimated area of 400 sq kms. Steep crags embracea network
of lakes and rivers, and a top one of these hills, is the impressive
Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century. The terrain fluctuates
between impregnable forests and open bushland. The forest is the
typically dry deciduous type, with dhok, being the most prominent
tree. The entry point to the Park, goes straight to the foot of
the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The latter boasts
of the second-largest banyan tree in India. The Padam Talab, the
Raj Bagh Talab and the Milak Talab are some of the lakes in the
area, that attract the tiger population . They have been spotted
at the edges of these lakes, and Jogi Mahal itself. Old crumbling
walls, ruined pavilions, wells, and other ancient structures stand
witness to the region's glorious past. The entire forest is peppered
with the battlements and spillovers of the Ranthambore Fort -
tigers are said to frequent these ruins, too. As a result of stringent
efforts in conservation, tigers, the prime assets of the Park,
have become more and more active during the day. More than in
any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers are
easily spotted here in daylight. They can be seen lolling around
lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down sambar around the
lakes.
...For
More Info On Ranthambhore National Park Click Here...
Desert
National Park
The Desert National Park is an excellent example of the ecosystem
of the Thar desert and its diverse fauna. Sand dunes form around
20% of the Park. The major landform consists of craggy rocks and
compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes which
are quite suitable for the chinkara to move at high speed. The
blackbuck is another common antelope of this region. Its other
notable inhabitants are the desert fox, Bengal fox, wolf and desert
cat.Sudashri forest post is the ideal place for observing the
wildlife of Desert National Park and is the most suitable in the
entire 3162 sq. kms. of this park for watching and photographing
the activities of the animals from behind cover.
Birdlife
in this sandy habitat is vivid and spectacular. Birds such as
the sandgrouse, partridges, bee-eaters, larks and shrikes are
commonly seen. Demoiselle crane and houbara arrive in the winter.
The birds of prey seen here are tawny and steppe eagles, long
legged and honey buzzards, falcons and kestrels. But the most
outstanding of the avifauna is the great Indian bustard. This
tall, heavy bird is an epitome of confidence and grace. It is
good to see five or six bustards near Sudashri water hole.
This
park is also very rich in reptiles. Spiny tail lizard, monitor
lizard, saw sealed viper, Russel's viper, Sind krait, toad agama
and sandfish are found in large numbers.18 kms. from Jaisalmer
is the Akal Wood Fossils Park which is about 180 million years
of age. Sea shells and massive fossilised tree trunks in this
park record the geological history of the desert.
Sariska
National Park
Sariska became a sanctuary in the year 1958. 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 approx. 47sq. kilometres. At last count in
1985, there 35 tigers were reported. Other carnivores of the area
are the panthe, jungle cat, jackal and hyena. Three caracals were
also reported during the last census in 1985. Other animals include
the sambhar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai and umpteen porcupines.
The birdlife comprises of the pea fowl, gray partridge, quail,
sandgrouse, tree pie, white breasted kingfisher, golden woodpecker
and great Indian horned owl.
...For
More Info On Sariska NAtional Park Click Here...
When
to visit : November to March is the best period to visit.
