Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary

Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sariska Tiger Reserve, is located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan and covers around 1,203 square kilometers, including core and buffer zones. Situated in the Aravalli hills, it features a dry deciduous and thorn forest ecosystem with grasslands, rocky hills, and forested cliffs.

The sanctuary was initially a hunting reserve for the Alwar royal family and became a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 before being declared a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1979. Sariska is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including Bengal tigers, leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, jungle cats, various deer species, nilgai, wild boars, rhesus monkeys, and over 200 bird species such as sand grouse and crested serpent eagles. The sanctuary also contains historical sites like the 6th-century Neelkanth temple and the 17th-century Kankwari fort.

The area experiences hot summers with temperatures up to 45°C and a dramatic change during monsoon with lush vegetation. Sariska is notable for being the first reserve in the world where tigers were successfully relocated and is a key part of the Northern Aravalli leopard and wildlife corridor. It balances wildlife conservation with tourism, offering jeep safaris for wildlife and bird watching amid its scenic landscape.