Things To Do In Sariska Tiger Reserve

The Sariska Tiger Reserve is a part of Project Tiger and tigers were relocated from Ranthambore, but it’s quite rare to spot the striped cat. While there are leopards, wild cats, hyenas, Honey Badgers, foxes, hares and mongoose and birds to make the land vibrant, tigers are a privileged sighting dependent sometimes on luck. The place abounds with Langur and Rhesus monkeys and you find plenty of them in Pandupol, Kalighati and Talviksh. There are also a variety of deer like the Sambar, Chital, Nilgai and particularly the four horned Chausingha, native to India and Nepal.

Rajasthan is world renowned for its handicrafts and handlooms; Meenakari and Kundan Jewellery, textiles, Rajasthani paintings, hand crafted items made of gold, wood or lac, carpets and durries. Things to do in Sariska Tiger Reserve include a trip around the Park, safaris, shopping in Alwar, Delhi or Jaipur, temple tours and much more.

You can book a jeep safari to Silisedh, Dadikar and Balakila forest regions, which come under the buffer zones of the National Park. Booking windows for tourist vehicles including canter trucks are available in Silisedh, Pratapbandh and Bhakheda. Winter Safaris are from 6.30 to 10.30am in the morning and from 2 to 6pm in the evenings. Summer safaris are from 6 to 10am in the mornings and from 2.30 to 6.30pm in the evenings.

Private cars are allowed into the Reserve only on Tuesdays and Saturdays to enable pilgrims to visit the Pandupol Hanuman Temple.

There are nature guides to accompany groups on treks across the forest. Treks begin at Silserh Lake, home to crocodiles, fishes and a variety of water birds. You can also trek to the monuments or the temples. Remember to equip yourself with sensible shoes, water and a spare set of clothes depending on the season.

In order to view and capture wild animals uninterrupted on camera, photographers can book ‘hides’ near water holes throughout the year, after obtaining permission from the Forest Office. These become their vantage point to click photographs as well as enjoy the serenity of the park.

You can visit Astroport Sariska, 4.8km away from the Reserve. The Astroport has astronomy camps, jungle safaris, and water sports at Siliserh Lake, and they arrange trekking and cycling trips along the forests. Astroport is open from September to May.

Outside Sariska Reserve or in Alwar, you can find a number of handicraft and souvenir shops. You can buy Kagzi pottery, designer jewellery, bangles made of coconut shells, traditional clothes of Rajasthan, brass items and particularly the paper mache of Alwar. Kagzi pottery is unique to Rajasthan for the paper thin pottery owes its origin to the types of pottery found in excavations in that state.

Take a tour around Mala Khera, Kedalganji and Sarraj Bazaars in Alwar where you can find the traditional handicrafts of this area to take back as souvenirs.

Rajasthan is a land of color and festivity. Every city of Rajasthan has its own celebrations and while on a trip to Sariska, you might visit Alwar, to enjoy the Alwar Festival which showcases the culture, tourism and traditions of Rajasthan. Tourists are entertained to elephant polo and a flower show. The annual festival falls in the month of February.

The Matsya Festival of Alwar, which is actually a fair with its  flamboyant processions and cultural programs  delightfully lights up the ancient monuments and forts of Alwar. This festival falls in November. Adventure sports, yoga camps, army exhibitions and wildlife dances for Sariska make the two day fair a joy to participate in.