Rajasthan, dry and treeless, with more than 60% of its total land area being classified as 'desert', would hardly seem a likely place to go wildlife-watching. What may come as a surprise to visitors is the fact that this state is in fact home to all of 24 wildlife parks — national parks and wildlife sanctuaries included. Ranging from the verdant green surrounding the marshes of Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur, at the eastern edge of the state) to the golden sand dunes and thorny scrub of the Desert National Park, along the western fringes of the state near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan's flora and fauna is in a class by itself. There are here — in places like Ranthambhore — opportunities galore to see the Royal Bengal Tiger in all its majestic glory; or in places like the Desert National Park, the chance to get a glimpse of the unique ecosystem of the Thar Desert, where plants and animals alike manage to survive in an environment that is hostile to the extreme.
Dotted across Rajasthan are a number of wildlife parks, many of them modest places just a few square kilometers in area. Most of these are great as day-excursions from the larger cities, but the more prominent parks — Sariska, Ranthambhore, Keoladeo Ghana and the Desert National Park are among them — merit a couple of days each at the least.
# Keoladeo Ghana National Park
Best time to visit
Keoladeo Ghana Bharatpur is open throughout the year for visitors, although winter is definitely the best time to visit. Summers are too hot and monsoons too wet for comfort, but the months between October and February are very suitable for a trip. Besides the fact that the weather is good at this time, the migratory birds for which Keoladeo Ghana is best known, arrive during the winter.
# Ranthambhore National Park
Best time to visit
Ranthambhore is open for visitors between October and June. Summers are very hot in this part of the country, and temperatures rise so high that visitors will probably end up being utterly uncomfortable. On the other hand, the summer heat attracts animals to the waterholes.
For more information on Wildlife Parks in Rajasthan contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents in India.