Sariska Tiger Reserve

Sariska Tiger Reserve is a national park and tiger reserve located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, situated in the Aravalli Hills. Originally a hunting preserve of the Alwar state, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and became India's 11th tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger. The reserve spans approximately 881 square kilometers of core area with scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and rocky hills, providing habitat for Bengal tigers, leopards, deer species, and diverse birdlife.

Visitors can explore the reserve through guided jeep or canter safaris in designated zones, observing wildlife including Bengal tigers, leopards, sambar deer, chital, and various bird species in their natural habitat. The landscape features dry deciduous forests, rocky terrain, and grasslands across the Aravalli Hills. Visitors can also explore historical sites within the reserve including ancient temple ruins, Kankwari Fort, and Pandupol Hanuman Temple. Safari tours operate in morning and evening slots with trained guides.

The Sariska forest area was originally a hunting preserve for the royal families of Alwar state. It was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955 after independence, notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1958, and designated as India's 11th tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger. The reserve contains significant historical structures including Kankwari Fort, used by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century to imprison his brother Dara Shikoh, and the Neelkanth Temple complex dating back to the 6th-9th century CE built by Pratihara feudatory Maharajadhiraja Mathanadeva.

The reserve holds cultural importance through its association with Hindu mythology, particularly the Pandupol Hanuman Temple believed to be where the Pandavas stayed during their exile. The area contains numerous ancient temples and ruins reflecting centuries of religious and architectural heritage from the Pratihara dynasty period.