Set amid a vast forested region of dhok and deciduous acacia trees, the hunting ground of the erstwhile Maharajas of Alwar in Rajasthan, is now the home to several of India’s wild flora and fauna. Complete with the imposing Aravalli mountain range as the backdrop, ruins of ancient monuments and temples, forts which tell tales of imprisonment and battles, tourism in Sariska Tiger Reserve is bound to keep you enchanted.

If you are interested in planning a visit to Sariska Tiger Reserve and National Park, this travel guide should tell you when is the best time to visit, about the places you can see and the things you can buy.

Sariska is a must-see on the list of tourist places in Rajasthan and it is advantageously placed on the Delhi-Alwar-Jaipur NH. You can reach Sariska National Park from any of these cities.

By Road:

Just 36 km away, Alwar lies nearest to Sariska National Park and is about an hour’s ride away by tourist taxis or regular buses. You can reach Sariska from Delhi in 4 hours and from Jaipur in 2 hours by road.

By Air:

There are no direct flights to Sariska. The nearest airport is Sanganer Airport, which is 13 km away from the city of Jaipur. From Jaipur, take a car to Sariska Tiger Reserve. Jaipur receives domestic flights from most major Indian cities and International flights from Thailand, Dubai, Kuala Lampur and Sharjah.

By Train:

Fairy Queen, the heritage luxury train that works on the oldest steam engine runs on the Delhi–Alwar route. On a two day trip on the 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays from October to March, noteworthy tourist destinations from Delhi to Alwar, including the Sariska Tiger Reserve are covered.

There are no direct trains to Sariska. The nearest railway station is at Alwar which is connected to all major train networks. You can take a train to Alwar and then travel to Sariska by road.

The National Park is open all year round for the pilgrims who visit the temples. But the most ideal time to visit as a tourist is from October to June.

Summer (April-June):

Summer in the desert state of Rajasthan is searing hot, sometimes topping 49ºC. But if you are game, you can tour Sariska appropriately clothed in cool cottons and with water bottles, for it’s a rare sight to wait at water holes to look for deer, tigers or leopards that come to drink.

Monsoon (July-September):

Rajasthan does not get torrential rainfall during monsoon, from July to September. Rainfall is scanty and it heralds the arrival of the post monsoon from October to November when the weather gets cooler and the peacocks dance away merrily, for the Park abounds with peacocks.

Winter (December-March):

Winter from December to March turns chilly and you might need woollen clothes for the cold nights of December and January. You can see varieties of migrating birds along with kingfishers, parakeets and sunbirds. Sariska turns colourful in winter.

There are ancient Hindu temples for Shiva and the monkey God Hanuman, ruins of a Jain temple, a fortress that dates back to the Mughal rule, another castle that has a mysterious legend of spirits behind it and pristine manmade waterways that are overrun by crocodiles and migrating water birds.

Since the Reserve is easy to reach from Jaipur, Delhi and Alwar, there are many tourist places like the City Palace and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, Red Fort and Qutub Minar in Delhi and the Vijay Mandir Palace and Bala Quila Fort in Alwar that you cannot miss. Rajasthan is a state of celebrations. There are fairs, fetes and festivals for every occasion or season. Take part in these festivities which display the customs and traditions of the land of the Maharajas.

Jeep Safari:

You can book jeeps, open top cars or canter trucks to take you around the buffer zones to watch wild animals. Safaris run twice a day in summer and winter with slight variations in time, depending on the season. Sighting a tiger is rare, but a leopard stretched out on the limb of a tree, a hyena at its kill or the dances of the peacocks as they fan their gorgeous trail are equally exhilarating. 

Trekking:

You can visit the temples and forts. Go trekking with experienced guides or motorcycle along the forest tracks.

Wildlife Photography:

You will find plenty of animals and birds at their natural best. See if you can capture the elusive tiger in your camera.

Things to buy:

Rajasthan is renowned for its handicrafts and textiles. You can shop for the Blue Pottery and leather Jhootis of Jaipur and the ancient paper thin Kagzi pottery of Alwar, while on a trip to Sariska. Do a little more exploring, these are just a few items listed from the immense treasure that the artisans of Rajasthan can fashion.