RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK
- This park is situated in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan with an area of 1.334 km sq.
- It is named after Ranthambore fort which is surrounded by the national park.
- Initially, it was established as Game Sanctuary in 1995 and then got converted into national park on 1 November, 1980.
- It is home to 539 species of flora.
- There are monuments like Ranthambore fort, Ganesh temple, and a Jain temple of Lord Sumatinath and Lord Sambhavnath inside the park.
- It has six lakes namely Rajbag, Malik Talab, Gilai Sagar, Mansarovar and Lahpur and Padam Talao (largest one).
- India’s second largest Banyana tree is situated near Padam Talao.
- It hosts wildlife such as Bengal Tiger, Indian leopard, Barasingha, Chinkara, Blackbuck, striped hyena, Sambar, Barasingha, Bengal fox, Jarakh etc.
- As it was selected under Tiger Project in 1974, it is regarded as country’s minimum area Tiger project.
- There is an Indian Eco-Development Project has been going on since 1996-97 to protect the biodiversity with the co-operation of locals. It is regulated by the mutual effort of World Bank and Global Environment facility.
KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK
- It is popularly known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park.
- This national park is spread over 29 km sq. in Bharatpur district.
- It was earlier called as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary which was turned in to a National Park in 1981.
- It is the biggest bird-breeding site of Asia.
- This man-made wetland is home to 366 bird species, 379 floral species, 50 fish species, 13 species of snakes, 5 species of lizards, 7 amphibian and turtle species.
- Flora includes trees like Kadam, Babul, Ber, Kair, Piloo etc.
- Rare Siberian Swan, Geese, Pochard, Lepbing, Cormorants, Asian open-billed stork, Gadwall, Sarus crane, Bulbuls, Peregrine falcon, Indian grey-hornbill, Marshall’s iora etc., are found in fauna.
- There is a python point in the park where varieties of python can be found.
- It was declared as Ramsar Wetland in 1981 and UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
MUKANDARA HILLS
- This national park is expanded in area of 759.99 km sq in Kota, Chittorgarh, Bundi and Jhalawar districts.
- It is formed by merging three wildlife sanctuaries namely National Chambal Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary.
- It is located in the Khathiar -Gir dry deciduous forest.
- It was declared a National Park on 10th May 2013.
- Chambal, Kali, Ahu, and Ramzan rivers flow in the region of national park.
- Animals found here are Bengal Tiger, the Indian wolf, Indian leopard, Chital, Sambar, deer, White boar, Nilgai, Sloth bear, Chinkara, Mugger crocodile, Gharial.
DESERT NATIONAL PARK
- The national park is situated in the region of Barmer and Jaisalmer.
- It is being one of the largest national parks covers the area of 3162 km sq.
- It represents the ecosystem of the Thar Desert.
- The desert park has great number of migratory birds coming in different season.
- Birds such as Eagles, Harriers, Falcon, Kestrel, Sand grouse, great Indian bustard, Demoiselle crane, MacQueen’s bustard are the major attractions.
- It has a collection of fossils of many plants and animals (including dinosaurs) which are more than 180 million years old.
- Animals like Chinkara, Desert fox, Bengal fox, Hedgehog etc. are found here.
- Gadsisar Lake is a popular spot nearby where migrant birds come.
SARISKA TIGER RESERVE
- With an area of 881 km sq, this Tiger Reserve is located in Alwar district of the Rajasthan.
- It is a mixture of arid and dry deciduous forest with grasslands and rocky hills.
- It is tagged as first reserve of the world for tiger relocation situated in the Northern Aravalli leopard and wildlife corridor.
- It has rich mineral resource such as copper and marble.
- After first tiger relocation from Ranthambore National Park to Sariska, many such attempts were held. Thus, making it home to 20 tigers now.
- Flora found there are trees and shrubs like Dhok, Salar, Kadaya, Ber, Gugal, Arjun, Kair etc.
- It is home to various animals like Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Striped hyena, Sambhar deer, Golden Jackal, mongoose, sandgrouse, golden-backed woodpecker etc.
