NATURAL HERITAGE TOURS (WILDLIFE RAJASTHAN)
The Natural splendour of Rajasthan
For all one's inclination to believe that Rajasthan is a desert, it is difficult
to ignore the fact that the region, in fact, has varied topography and includes
from semi arid, desert like conditions to among the oldest mountains in
the world, and luxh water filled valleys. No wonder too that its wildlife
is so rich in variety including from the tiger and leopard to endless varieties
of deer rhesus monkeys, reptiles including the python and a profusion of
bird life that includes water birds.
RANTHAMBHOR NATIONAL PARK
If there is a park that can almost guarantee tiger sightseeing it must be
Ranthambhor, its landscape dominated by the Vindhyan hill range with its
steep escarpments, The ancient sedimentary limeston and sandstone rocks,
perennial lakes, and dry deciduous vegetation are part of its indicative
topography. Ranthambhor's great fort in the background, is a royal
presence but abandoned for centuries the only majesty jere is the tiger's
presence.
Location : 180 km south-east of Jaipur; 275 km from Agra. 410 km
of desert ecology speckled with dhok, ronj, salai, bear and palm trees,
surrounded by the Vindhyas and Aravalis, the Park with thick forest with
nullahs and waterfalls is an oasis of biomass. The three major lakes - Rajbaugh,
Milak talao and Padam talao serve as watering holes for the creatures that
inhabit the park studded as it is with Rajput pavilions and palaces and
Ranthambhore Fort. The wildlife spotted here are the tiger, leopard, sambar,
blue bull, chital, chinkara, hyena, jackal, fox, caracal, jungle cat, ratel,
sloth bear, langur and wildboard. Over 300 species of bird can be seen.
DESERT NATIONAL PARK
The vast tracts of desert sands around Jaisalmer with their wood fossils
have been designated the Desert National Park.
However, it is with the great Indian bustard that the Desert National Park
is most closely associated espicially since its conservation efforts have
borne fruit.
Location : 180 km south-east of Jaipur; 275 km from Agra. 410 km
of desert ecology speckled with dhok, ronj, salai, bear and palm trees,
surrounded by the Vindhyas and Aravalis, the Park with thick forest with
nullahs and waterfalls is an oasis of biomass. The three major lakes - Rajbaugh,
Milak talao and Padam talao serve as watering holes for the creatures that
inhabit the park studded as it is with Rajput pavilions and palaces and
Ranthambhore Fort. The wildlife spotted here are the tiger, leopard, sambar,
blue bull, chital, chinkara, hyena, jackal, fox, caracal, jungle cat, ratel,
sloth bear, langur and wildboard. Over 300 species of bird can be seen.
KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK
Once of the finest bird parks in the world, Keoladeo Ghana National
Park is a reserve that offer protection to faunal species as well though
there is no doubt that this is primarily a bird sanctuary.
Exotic migratory birds from Afghanistan, Central Asia, Tibet as well as
Siberian cranes from the Arctic, greyleg geese from Siberia and barheaded
geese from China, come here in July/August to spend the winters in the warmer
climate and they breed till October/November.
The most famous of these winter migrants is the greatly endangered Siberian
crane though its numbers have reduced drastically from a few hundreds a
few decades ago to barely a few birds now.
Bharatpur is popular for its bird sanctuary near the Keoladeo Ghana National
Park, which is the finest in Asia with a rich avian variety. Every year,
the rare Siberian cranes come to spend the winter in the warmer climate
of Bharatpur.
Of the remnants of the royal past remain the marvellous Bharatpur Palace
housing a rich repository of a large number of ancient exhibits that date
back to the early 15th century.
