5 National Park in Rajasthan [MAP]

5 National park in Rajasthan

There are 5 National park in Rajasthan as can be seen in the map given, Lets study them in order of there decreasing geographical area, along with their climatic conditions and Flora & Fauna.

1. Desert National Park

• The desert National park spreads 1900 km² in Jaisalmer and 1262 km² in Barmer district in Rajasthan, covering a total of 3162 km² 
• Became UNESCO world heritage site :1980
• Declared National park in 1981

Location and geography

• Desert National Park (DNP) has sand dunes in the western parts and rocky and gravelly area in the remaining park area.
• DNP is a barren area with sand dunes and few hills in the north- west side.
• So DNP is mostly sandy with undulating terrain.
• The Thar desert area in which DNP lies receives very low rainfall (less than 100 mm), so it is a very hot and arid region.
• Though the Thar desert is one the most populated desert in the world, but the human population density in DNP is very low (4-5 persons per sq.km).
• There are 73 village settlements or DHANIS inside the DNP. They form an integral part of the DNP and have existed here for hundreds of years.

Fossils

• The Wood Fossil Park at Akal near Jaisalmer is under DNP jurisdiction, and Fossil evidence dating back to the Jurassic Period i.e. 180 million years old, have been recovered from here.

Flora and fauna

• The Great Indian Bustard is native to the DNP, and its largest thriving population is found in DNP only.
• The endangered oriental white backed vulture and Long billed Gyps are also found here.
• The Thar desert is rich in snake species, and 11% of total 456 reptile species of India, are found in DNP.
• DNP is the only place where Rajasthan State Bird (Great Indian Bustard), State animal (Chinkara) and State tree (Khejri) and State flower (Rohida) are found naturally.

2. Ranthambore National Park

History

• The Ranthambore protected area got its name from the Ranthambore fort located inside this protected area.
• Ranthambore fort is surrounded by forest area with a well thriving population of tigers, this made this area suitable for hunting by the Maharajas of Jaipur. 
• After the launch of Project Tiger in 1973 Ranthambore became a tiger reserve. In 1980, 274 sq. Km area of this reserve was declared National Park.
• In 1992 Keladevi sanctuary in north and Sawai Mansingh sanctuary in South was merged with Ranthambore tiger reserve, and it now spreads over approx. 1334 sq. Km area in Rajasthan.

Location and Geography

• Ranthambore National Park is located in the eastern part of Rajasthan.
• It is located at the junction of two famous mountain ranges, the Aravallis and the Vindhyan hill ranges.
• Ranthambore is also endowed with big lakes, the Padam Talav, Raj Bagh, Mallik Talav are the biggest ones.
• Area: 274 sq. Km.

Flora and Fauna

• Ranthambore National Park is the northernmost limit of the distribution range of Bengal tiger.
• It is also home to a good population of leopards, other animals found here are striped hyenas, jackals, blackbuck, chinkara, chital, sambhar, nilgai, rhesus macaque etc.
• The forest area of Ranthambore is mostly dry deciduous with abundance of a tree species locally known as ” Dhak” that is capable of withstanding long periods of drought.

3. Sariska National Park

Sariska has all three protective areas in it:

• Tiger reserve,
• National park,
• wildlife sanctuary.

Location and Geography

• Sariska is Located in the Aravalli Ranges as can be seen in the map, so it is rich in minerals resources especially Cooper.
• Though the Supreme Court of India has banned the mining activities in this area, marble mining is still rampant in this zone of Aravalli Ranges.
• As Sariska National park is located in the Aravalli Ranges which has been denuded over centuries, it consists of small hills and rocky landscape.
• Area Sariska wildlife sanctuary is approx. 800 sq. km, and the Sariska National park in it is of 273 sq.km 

Flora and Fauna.

• Sariska is famous for its Bengal tigers, but there was a time when tiger population became zero in the park around 2005. So efforts were made to reintroduce Tigers in the park, one male tiger and two female tigress were relocated to Sariska National park from Ranthambore National park in Rajasthan only.
• The combined efforts of Government of Rajasthan, Government of India and Wildlife institute of india, and tracking support from ISRO made the relocation project a success. 
• Now there are plenty of tigers in the Sariska National park.
• Other important species found in Sariska are- leopard, sambar deer, chital, hyena, jackal etc.
• The vegetation found in Sariska is mainly dry deciduous forest along with scrub thorn forest 

4. Mukundara hills national park ( Darrah National Park)

History and Location

• Mukundara hills national park is also known as Darrah National park, the word ” Darrah” is a local word which literally means ” Pass”. 
• This National park is a pass between two parallel mountains , Mukundra and Gagrola.
• It was declared National park in 2004, and was declared tiger reserve in 2013 and became the third tiger reserve of Rajasthan.
• Mukundara hills national park resides inside mukundara hills tiger reserve.
• The Mukundara hills tiger reserve comprises 3 wildlife sanctuaries in it.
  • Chambal wildlife sanctuary
  • Darrah wildlife sanctuary
  • Jawahar sagar wildlife sanctuary
• Kalisindh river forms the eastern boundary  and Chambal river forms the western boundary of Mukundara hills wildlife sanctuary.
• Area 200 sq. Km

Flora and Fauna

• The Mukundara national park has very few tigers remaining in it. 
• Other species found are:- leopard, chital, sambar deer, chinkara etc.
• Vegetation is mostly dry deciduous forest.

5. Keoladeo National Park

Location

• Formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
• UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Birds paradise.
• It is a man made wetland area. The earlier ruler of this area Suraj Mal, flooded this area by building Ajan bund, and water from nearby rivers Banganga and Gambhir was fed into this area having lowland topography.
• The keoladeo National park contains 10 artificial lagoons.

Flora and Fauna

• It is recognised as one of the world’s most important breeding areas for birds.
• One of the most famous bird species visiting this area in the winter season is critically endangered Siberian Crane.
• Other species found here are- cranes, pelican, Eagles, Flycatchers, Demoiselle cranes, falcons, jackals, chital, Nilgai, hyenas, porcupine etc.
• The vegetation of this wetland is mostly kadam, babul, kair, ber etc.

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