Tourist Places To Visit In Sariska Tiger Reserve
Sariska National Park, a great habitat of tigers and other wildlife in Rajasthan, has the advantage of being the sanctuary closest to the capital city of New Delhi. Since it lies in close proximity to other cities of tourist attraction like Alwar and Jaipur as well, you get an oppurtunity to explore what the Land of Maharajas has to offer in abundance. By itself, an enticing blend of the natural, man-made and the mystical, Sariska Tiger Reserve has in store lots of tourist places to visit, including ancient monuments, haunted forts, ruins of temples and beautiful lakes. While you are on a visit to Sariska Tiger Reserve, you can also drive to Alwar, which has its own collection of monuments and museums
Kankwari Fort
Located about 25 km away from the entrance to the Reserve is the Kankwari Fort. It was here that in the 17th century Dara Shikoh, the youngest son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his rebellious brother Aurangzeb. The fort remains open from October to July. The panoramic view of the jungles from the top of the fort is breathtaking
Pandupol Hanuman Temple
According to Mahabharata, the Pandavas spent their final year of exile in a place described such that it can only be the modern-day Sariska. The Reserve thus, has its ancient temples. You can visit the Pandupol Hanuman Temple, which sees a steady flow of visitors on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Neelkanth Temple
Neelkanth Temple for Lord Shiva lies on a buffer zone, resting on a lonely hill. Built around the 10th century, the temple stands majestic in its architectural splendour, amid the ruins of what are believed to be 300 temples around this site. A steep track leads towards the temple, which is open on all days, except Sundays.
Naugaza Digamber Jain Temple
Close to the Neelkanth temple, once stood the Naugaza Digamber Jain Temple. Now, all that remains among the dilapidated ruins, is a statue of Jain Thirtankara Shanthinatha built in the Digamber style of architecture.
Bhangarh Fort
Bhangarh Fort is a haunted fort and lies beyond the inner area of the Reserve, nestled among the foothills of the Aravalli. Built in the 17th century by Maharaja Man Singh I, the historical ruins are said to be one of the most haunted places in India. Outside the fortress lie ruins of what must have been once a bustling marketplace. A signboard put up by the Archaeological Survey of India prohibits entry into the Bhangarh Fort before sunrise and after sunset. While at Bhangarh, you might also visit the ancient temples of Gopinath, Ganesha and Shiva, the havelis and the mosques.
Silserh Lake
With the hoary Aravalli Mountains as the backdrop, the manmade Silserh Lake is a picturesque sight; and on the banks of this lake stands the Sariska Palace. The lake teems with life- crocodiles and migratory birds. Silserh Lake has the largest number of crocodiles in the country and walking along the banks of the river, you can find these reptiles sunning on the grass.