Jaipur’s Best Wildlife Parks: Best Places to Watch Wildlife
Nestled away from the hustle-bustle of city life is the quiet and calm of a world in the lap of nature that provides a perfect getaway for city-dwellers looking for rejuvenation and peace. This enchanting world of nature is a favorite solace for many. However, many are still untouched with the charms of nature and amaze of its wildlife.The thrills of spotting a tiger in the unbridled wild, of monkeys hooting to indicate danger, of hopes and eagerness to spot one of the big five, of carefree songs of rare species of birds, of fun to watch elephants playing with each has no words to describe.
This can only be felt and lived. And believe us, how many ever times you go in the middle of the jungle, it is always a new experience, with the landscape changing each season, different activities to entice you every time and maybe even the company of a different guide each time.
Best Wildlife Parks in Jaipur
Rajasthan is home to two big national tiger reserves – one in Sariska, which is 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Jaipur, and the other one Ranthambore National Park, which is situated at a distance of 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Jaipur. Home to around 75 tigers in total, both the places are a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan.
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Sariska, apart from hosting rich wildlife amidst Aravalli range, also keeps many heritage monuments, palaces, and temples of deep religious importance, hidden inside dark woods and adding to tourists’ marvel.
Ranthambore is located around 130 km (81 miles) from Jaipur and has been a famous hunting ground for Maharajas of Jaipur. Today it is a favorite destination for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts.
The craze here is the famous tigers whose life is under media and wildlife protectionists’ scanner. Tigers are easy to spot here, basking in the sun, playfully teasing each other or even hunting with their full might. This is the place for otherwise elusive big cat lovers.
Other Places to Watch Wildlife in Jaipur
This region is blessed with green and wildlife. Along with Sariska and Ranthambhore, there are many other wildlife parks, interesting in their own way and having their own distinct flora and fauna. Dense and undulated verdant green Aravalli ranges make this possible. Let’s learn about the best wildlife parks near Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Jhalana Reserve Forest:
Practically inside the city of Jaipur are these 75 Sq. kilometers of topographically diverse Jhalana Doongri Forest Reserve. These forests are home to 30 leopards and 150 other species. The concentration of leopards is very high here and hence chances of spotting the dotted beauty too are higher.
Carry a minimum of 300 mm lens for some awesome leopard shots. There are other wild animals too, like hyenas, peacocks, jackals, foxes, badgers, blue bull, deer, etc. Some of the bird species to look for are rosy pastor bird, Indian paradise fly catcher, etc.
Deer Park:
Right inside the city is Deer Park, one of the best wildlife parks in Jaipur. Full of wandering deer, this garden is laden with beautiful flowers and exotic plants. This park features as the self-guided walking tour site. This is a good calm park for a hearty good morning or evening stroll to get some good air. Deer Park is also a good escape from Jaipur heat. Monkeys are the surprise package here.
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Kapoor Chand Kulish Smriti Van:
This van or forest is being promoted by Rajasthan state as a lush state park with diverse ecology. The state park has a diverse population of trees and flowers and a range of wildlife. The trees planted here are by the locals in remembrance of their near and dear ones.
The forest also has an Eco-Environment Museum. It is a conglomerate of eleven small forests like Champa Van, Java Kusum Van, Aravalli Van, and Vasundhara van, etc. The management has provided wheelchairs for the disabled and is also accessible by car. Early mornings are the best time to go there especially for photographers.
Nahargarh Zoological Park:
Jaipur city has a good natural cover nearby. Nahargarh Zoological Park is located only 23 km (14 mi) away from the city and inside the Nahargarh Biological Park on Jaipur-Delhi Highway. This is a zoo with large open enclosures for animals with near-natural habitat conditions. The signages are informative and provide clear directions for a hassle-free tour inside. Asian lions, jackals, civet cat, the royal Bengal tiger, Himalayan black bear, leopard, etc. are some of the many animals one can see here.
Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary:
Located only 35 km (22 mi) from Jaipur city in Ramgarh, this is one more place to track wildlife in Rajasthan. One of the recently-declared Wildlife Sanctuary by the Indian Government, this place surrounds the artificial lake that once quenched the thirst of ‘Jypore’ city as Jaipur was formerly called.
The lake is a sight during and after monsoons and attracts birds. Even though this is a lesser-known sanctuary, it still has its share of wildlife. The forest covers house ruddy mongoose, nilgai, rhesus macaque, langurs, leopards, and lions from the ‘Big 5’ family. Amongst birds, regular visitors are plum-headed parakeet, white-bellied drongo, rose-ringed parakeet, black-shouldered kites, minivet, finch-larks, and silver-bill, etc. There is also Jamwa Mata temple located in the vicinity. This place can be enjoyed bird-watching and boating too.
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Keoladeo Ghana National Park:
Just 190 kilometers (118 miles) from the main city of Jaipur this famous avifauna rich bird sanctuary has over 230 resident species while many migratory birds are seen during winters. This is one of the best wildlife parks in Jaipur and a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site.
These are man-made and man–managed wetlands and one of the national parks. One can find 7 species of Turtles, 5 species of lizards, 50 species of fish, and 379 species of flowers here. Some rare species of birds that migrate here are waterfowl, and even nearly extinct Siberian cranes fly down here during winters.
Elephant Sheds:
There are many elephant sheds nearby Jaipur city that are worth a mention in this guide. These sheds are shelters for elephants in the nearby villages and are known for their tourist interactions. The tourists are encouraged to know more about the animal, its lifestyle, habitat, food habits, etc. One can give them a bath, feed them, and tend the sick ones. This is a good learning experience, especially for city dwellers who know little to nothing about the mighty elephants.