Elephant Festival
The Elephant Festival is a unique event held annually in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Groomed to perfection, glittering in gold, row upon row of elephants catwalk before an enthralled audience. The elephants move gracefully in procession, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time for the elephants.
Activities
A festival where elephants are the centre of attraction. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels and horses, followed by lively folk dancers. Elephant races, elephant-polo matches and a most interesting tug of war between elephants and men, are all part of this spectacular event.
History
The Jataka stories of Buddhism refer to the tradition of Hastimangala (the Elephant Festival). A royal mount from time immemorial, the elephant has also been a symbol of strength and wealth. For the Rajput kings, the elephants were of especial significance not only during war but also during the royal festivities-a must at royal pageant. Nishan-ka-hathi, the flag carrier, led the procession. The king always mounted a caparisoned elephant. Special hunting programs and elephant fights were organized to entertain the royal guests. Jaipur was a favorite with the important personalities of the British Raj and the Maharajas always arranged for their guests of honor elephant rides up to the Amber palace. Even today, the mahouts take tourists up to the Amber Palace on elephant back.
Rajasthan Tourism revived the tradition by including the Elephant Festival in the cultural calendar. The present-day pageant, originated only a decade ago, was devised especially with the tourist in mind. The inclusion of the game of polo is more recent, being inspired by a cartoon in Punch magazine that showed the Indian polo team atop an elephant after it won all the international tournaments. Every year on the day after Holi, the old stadium at Jaipur, the Chaugan (originally planned for elephants), forms the venue for a spectacular jamboree.
Places to see
Jaipur is famous for Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and many more.
Jaipur city guide and travel information.
Getting there
By Air
Indian airlines, Jet airways and Sahara airlines have regular service to Jaipur. All the major cities are connected to Jaipur.
By road
Rajasthan Roadways have regular bus services from New Delhi, running deluxe and air conditioned coaches from Bikaner house, Delhi. Jaipur is also well connected with the other cities of Rajasthan. With good road conditions you can also travel by private car/taxi.
By Train
Shatabdi and Intercity connects Jaipur to Delhi. Shatabdi is fully air conditioned train starts from Delhi (5.55 AM) to Jaipur (10.35 AM), you can also try Intercity Exp starts from Delhi at (4.55 PM) reaches Jaipur (10.35 PM). There are other trains also to Jaipur from other metro cities, to know more click here.
Hotels
For your accommodation and hotel requirement, you can visit our Exclusive Rajasthan Hotel Directory. Jaipur hotel directory and accommodation guide.
Tour Operators
There are tour operators and travel agents to help you in planning and making arrangements to see the Elephant Festivals. Jaipur tour operators and travel agents.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sariska Tiger Sanctuary
Sariska Tiger Sanctuary
Situated in a wooden valley, Sariska National Park is surrounded by barren mountains and is one of the major wildlife haunts that feature in every tourist’s wildlife itinerary.The Sariska Tiger Reserve is steeped in history. The Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, is said to have imprisoned his elder brother, Dara Shikoh, in the striking hilltop fort of Kankwadi. The ruins of a myriad Hindu and Jain temples built between the 8th and the 12th centuries are a testimony to the great architecture of the past. Pandupole, in the park's southeast, is associated with the Pandavas of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The popular temple of the god Hanuman is a favoured spot with monkeys.
The palace built by the late Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar between 1892 and 1902 is now largely converted into a luxury hotel. A keen shikari, the maharaja ensured the protection of his private hunting reserve with watch-towers to monitor the wildlife and waterholes to improve the habitat. A wildlife sanctuary was declared here in 1955 and a 273.80-sq kin area was upgraded to a national park in 1992. The north-west limit of the tiger's distribution, Sariska was included in Project Tiger in 1978-79. Sariska, which lies in the Aravali Range of arid north-east Rajasthan, has steep hills, low slopes and dry but dense forest covering its rugged landscape. In the dry months of summer and winter the forest looks brown and parched but is splashed with the vivid orange-red blooms of the flame of the forest tree in March-April. Troops of langurs relish their fleshy petals and birds feast on the nourishing nectar.
The forest intermingles with stretches of grassland where herbivores such as the Sambar (the largest Indian deer), the Spotted Deer or Chital, the Wild Boar and the Common Langur can be seen, usually with bands of peafowl. Nilgai (Blue Bull) and Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope) are also common grazers, distinct from true antelopes in the structure of their horns, which are keeled in front and unringed. They are native only to India. Mistakenly classified with the cow family, the Blue Bull has largely escaped persecution. Rather like a horse in appearance, the male is much darker than the female.
The numerous waterholes get many animal visitors, especially in summer. Observation hides at Kalighati and Slopka, waterholes in the heart of the park, can be highly rewarding as there is movement all day long, the slightest sign of a predatory tiger or leopard setting off a flurry of activity. The tiger here is more crepuscular and nocturnal than in Ranthambore, 200 km to the south.
While Sariska and its wildlife have survived waves of ancient Invasions, increasing human Population and demands are now their greatest challenge.
KEY SPECIES
MAMMALS Tiger, Leopard, jungle Cat, Striped Hyena, Wild Dog (Dhole),jackal, Patel, Sambar, Spotted Deer (Chital), Nilgai (Blue Bull), Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope), Common Langu
BIRDS RAPTORS Oriental Honey-buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Common Kestrel, Shikra, Dusky Eagle Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl (above
WOODLAND/SCRUB Grey Francolin, Indian Peafowl, Jungle Bush Quail (below), White-cared Bulbul, Rufous Treepie, Lesser Flameback, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Sirkeer Malkoha, Alexandrine Parakeet, Oriental Turtle Dove, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Painted Sandgrouse, Southern Grey Shrike, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Marshall's Iora, Large Grey Babbler, Purple Sunbird, Eurasian Thick-knee, Yellow-wattled Lapwing
WATERSIDE Stork-billed Kingfisher
Famous Resorts at Sariska Ghana National Park
Sariska palace.
Tiger Den.
Situated in a wooden valley, Sariska National Park is surrounded by barren mountains and is one of the major wildlife haunts that feature in every tourist’s wildlife itinerary.The Sariska Tiger Reserve is steeped in history. The Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, is said to have imprisoned his elder brother, Dara Shikoh, in the striking hilltop fort of Kankwadi. The ruins of a myriad Hindu and Jain temples built between the 8th and the 12th centuries are a testimony to the great architecture of the past. Pandupole, in the park's southeast, is associated with the Pandavas of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The popular temple of the god Hanuman is a favoured spot with monkeys.
The palace built by the late Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar between 1892 and 1902 is now largely converted into a luxury hotel. A keen shikari, the maharaja ensured the protection of his private hunting reserve with watch-towers to monitor the wildlife and waterholes to improve the habitat. A wildlife sanctuary was declared here in 1955 and a 273.80-sq kin area was upgraded to a national park in 1992. The north-west limit of the tiger's distribution, Sariska was included in Project Tiger in 1978-79. Sariska, which lies in the Aravali Range of arid north-east Rajasthan, has steep hills, low slopes and dry but dense forest covering its rugged landscape. In the dry months of summer and winter the forest looks brown and parched but is splashed with the vivid orange-red blooms of the flame of the forest tree in March-April. Troops of langurs relish their fleshy petals and birds feast on the nourishing nectar.
The forest intermingles with stretches of grassland where herbivores such as the Sambar (the largest Indian deer), the Spotted Deer or Chital, the Wild Boar and the Common Langur can be seen, usually with bands of peafowl. Nilgai (Blue Bull) and Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope) are also common grazers, distinct from true antelopes in the structure of their horns, which are keeled in front and unringed. They are native only to India. Mistakenly classified with the cow family, the Blue Bull has largely escaped persecution. Rather like a horse in appearance, the male is much darker than the female.
The numerous waterholes get many animal visitors, especially in summer. Observation hides at Kalighati and Slopka, waterholes in the heart of the park, can be highly rewarding as there is movement all day long, the slightest sign of a predatory tiger or leopard setting off a flurry of activity. The tiger here is more crepuscular and nocturnal than in Ranthambore, 200 km to the south.
While Sariska and its wildlife have survived waves of ancient Invasions, increasing human Population and demands are now their greatest challenge.
KEY SPECIES
MAMMALS Tiger, Leopard, jungle Cat, Striped Hyena, Wild Dog (Dhole),jackal, Patel, Sambar, Spotted Deer (Chital), Nilgai (Blue Bull), Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope), Common Langu
BIRDS RAPTORS Oriental Honey-buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Common Kestrel, Shikra, Dusky Eagle Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl (above
WOODLAND/SCRUB Grey Francolin, Indian Peafowl, Jungle Bush Quail (below), White-cared Bulbul, Rufous Treepie, Lesser Flameback, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Sirkeer Malkoha, Alexandrine Parakeet, Oriental Turtle Dove, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Painted Sandgrouse, Southern Grey Shrike, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Marshall's Iora, Large Grey Babbler, Purple Sunbird, Eurasian Thick-knee, Yellow-wattled Lapwing
WATERSIDE Stork-billed Kingfisher
Famous Resorts at Sariska Ghana National Park
Sariska palace.
Tiger Den.
Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of 32 kms. from the town of Bikaner. In the days of yore Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary used to be royal hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Bikaner. There is a sparkling lake inside the sanctuary and in the sweltering summer months one can see a variety of wild animals that come to the lake to quench their thirst.
Apart from being a perennial favorite with the resident animal species of Gajner Wildlife sanctuary, the lake also draws a variety of avian species. The Imperial Sand Gouse is particularly conspicuous by its presence in the winter months. Truly, the sanctuary is a bird watcher's delight.
The Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a number of wild animals and some of the resident species include wildfowls, deer, antelope, nilgai, chinkara, black buck, desert foxes and wild boars to name just a few.
In the midst of densely wooded jungle and the surrounding haunting wildlife there is the elegant Gajner Palace Hotel where visitors can check-in for lodging. Apart from accommodation, the Gajner Palace Hotel regularly conducts jungle safaris which takes visitors into the deepest realms of the mysterious Gajner Sanctuary. The hotel has its own exclusive fleet of Vehicles and all jungle safaris are accompanied by an extremely knowledgeable guide who has years of experience of Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary.
Apart from being a perennial favorite with the resident animal species of Gajner Wildlife sanctuary, the lake also draws a variety of avian species. The Imperial Sand Gouse is particularly conspicuous by its presence in the winter months. Truly, the sanctuary is a bird watcher's delight.
The Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a number of wild animals and some of the resident species include wildfowls, deer, antelope, nilgai, chinkara, black buck, desert foxes and wild boars to name just a few.
In the midst of densely wooded jungle and the surrounding haunting wildlife there is the elegant Gajner Palace Hotel where visitors can check-in for lodging. Apart from accommodation, the Gajner Palace Hotel regularly conducts jungle safaris which takes visitors into the deepest realms of the mysterious Gajner Sanctuary. The hotel has its own exclusive fleet of Vehicles and all jungle safaris are accompanied by an extremely knowledgeable guide who has years of experience of Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tal Chappar Sanctuary
The Tal Chappar sanctuary is located on the fringe of the Great Indian Desert. Tal Chappar nestles a unique refuge of the most elegant Antelope encountered in India, "the Black buck". Tal Chapper sanctuary, with almost flat tract and interspersed shallow low lying areas, has open grassland with scattered Acacia and prosopis trees which give it an appearance of a typical Savanna. The word "Tal" means plane land. The rain water flows through shallow low lying areas and collect in the small seasonal water ponds.
The Geology of the zone is obscured by the wind blown over-burden. Some small hillocks and exposed rocks of slate and quartzite are found in the western side of the sanctuary. Area between hillocks and the sanctuary constitutes the watershed area of the sanctuary. The whole sanctuary used to be flooded by water during the heavy rains but with salt mining going on in the watershed. Hardly any rain water falling on the hillocks reach the Sanctuary.
The Tal Chapper sanctuary lies in the Sujangarh Tehsil of Churu District, Situated in the North-East part of Rajasthan. It lies on Nokha- Sujangarh state Highway and is situated at a distance of 85 KM from Churu & about 132 Km from Bikaner. The nearest Railway station is Chapper which lies on Degana - Churu - Rewari metre gauge line of Northen Western Railways.
General Information
Location
80 kms from Mandawa,Rajasthan
Area
1334 sq kms
Speciality
Black Bucks
Best Time
November to April
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary
Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary
Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary is the erstwhile royal hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Kota. The wildlife sanctuary is thickly forested, lying along the southeastern border of Kota. This hilly sanctuary with thick forests is worth a visit.
Area : 250 sq Kms
Location : 50 Kms from Kota
Nearest Airport : 546 m. above sea level
Nearest Railhead : Kota
The Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1955 and covers an area of 250 sq kms today. It was once the hunting grounds for the Maharaja of Kota before he handed it over to the government.
Today, the Darrah Sanctuary boasts of a rich wildlife population consisting of leopards, wolves, sloth bears and chinkaras. The sanctuary is also home to a number of birds and reptiles. The best time to visit Darrah is from February to May as the sanctuary sometimes remains closed from July to September.
Adventure freaks and wildlife enthusiasts can look forward to a wonderful time at Darrah. Indeed from jungle safaris to treks, there are lots to see and do at the Darrah Sanctuary. Besides, the sanctuary is also home to many rare trees and plants with medicinal values.
Visitors need to obtain permission from the forest ranger or the district forest office before entering the Darrah Sanctuary. Foreign tourists need to pay an entry fee of Rs 100 per person while it is Rs 20 per person for local visitors.
Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary is the erstwhile royal hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Kota. The wildlife sanctuary is thickly forested, lying along the southeastern border of Kota. This hilly sanctuary with thick forests is worth a visit.
Area : 250 sq Kms
Location : 50 Kms from Kota
Nearest Airport : 546 m. above sea level
Nearest Railhead : Kota
The Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1955 and covers an area of 250 sq kms today. It was once the hunting grounds for the Maharaja of Kota before he handed it over to the government.
Today, the Darrah Sanctuary boasts of a rich wildlife population consisting of leopards, wolves, sloth bears and chinkaras. The sanctuary is also home to a number of birds and reptiles. The best time to visit Darrah is from February to May as the sanctuary sometimes remains closed from July to September.
Adventure freaks and wildlife enthusiasts can look forward to a wonderful time at Darrah. Indeed from jungle safaris to treks, there are lots to see and do at the Darrah Sanctuary. Besides, the sanctuary is also home to many rare trees and plants with medicinal values.
Visitors need to obtain permission from the forest ranger or the district forest office before entering the Darrah Sanctuary. Foreign tourists need to pay an entry fee of Rs 100 per person while it is Rs 20 per person for local visitors.
Desert National Park
Desert National Park, Rajasthan
Desert National Park, Rajasthan, India, is situated in the west Indian state of Rajasthan near the town of Jaisalmer. This is one of the largest national parks, covering an area of 3162 km². Park is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar desert and its diverse fauna. Sand dunes form around 20% of the Park. The major landform consists of craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes which are quite suitable for the chinkara to move at high speed. The blackbuck is another common antelope of this region. Its other notable inhabitants are the desert fox, Bengal fox, wolf and desert cat.
Sudashri forest post is the ideal place for observing the wildlife of Desert National Park and is the most suitable in the entire 3162 sq. kms. of this park for watching and photographing the activities of the animals from behind cover.
Birdlife in this sandy habitat is vivid and spectacular. Birds such as the sandgrouse,partridges, bee-eaters, larks and shrikes are commonly seen. Demoiselle crane and houbara arrive in the winter. The birds of prey seen here are tawny and steppe eagles, long legged and honey buzzards, falcons and kestrels. But the most outstanding of the avifauna is the great Indian bustard. This tall, heavy bird is an epitome of confidence and grace. It is good to see five or six bustards near Sudashri water hole.
Desert National Park, Rajasthan, India, is situated in the west Indian state of Rajasthan near the town of Jaisalmer. This is one of the largest national parks, covering an area of 3162 km². Park is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar desert and its diverse fauna. Sand dunes form around 20% of the Park. The major landform consists of craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes which are quite suitable for the chinkara to move at high speed. The blackbuck is another common antelope of this region. Its other notable inhabitants are the desert fox, Bengal fox, wolf and desert cat.
Sudashri forest post is the ideal place for observing the wildlife of Desert National Park and is the most suitable in the entire 3162 sq. kms. of this park for watching and photographing the activities of the animals from behind cover.
Birdlife in this sandy habitat is vivid and spectacular. Birds such as the sandgrouse,partridges, bee-eaters, larks and shrikes are commonly seen. Demoiselle crane and houbara arrive in the winter. The birds of prey seen here are tawny and steppe eagles, long legged and honey buzzards, falcons and kestrels. But the most outstanding of the avifauna is the great Indian bustard. This tall, heavy bird is an epitome of confidence and grace. It is good to see five or six bustards near Sudashri water hole.
Keoldeo National Park
Keoldeo National Park
The park set up in1981 in Bharatpur district, 2 km away from Bharatpur town, covers an area of 29 km. The nearest rail head is Bharatpur at a distance of 8 km. The nearest airport is Agra 55km from the park
The park set up in1981 in Bharatpur district, 2 km away from Bharatpur town, covers an area of 29 km. The nearest rail head is Bharatpur at a distance of 8 km. The nearest airport is Agra 55km from the park
The park has tropical dry deciduous forest type. Some 282 species of trees, shrubs, climbers, grasses and herbs are found here. Out of these ninety one species of plants are acquatic.
The park often referred to as paradise for birds is famous of the variety of indigenous and migratory birds, both aquatic and non aquatic. The fauna of the park are Siberian crane cormorant, stork, spoonbill, quail, coot, heron, teal, tern, sambar, cheetah, black buck, wild boar, civet etc. The Siberian crane which breed in Siberia usually visit this park during November- December after covering a distance of 4,000km and go back in March. This species is critically endangered. The number of those cranes visiting the park has dwindled sharply from 100 in 1976 to just 5 in 1993.
The best months for visiting the park are from September to April. The park has rest houses. All areas for watching wild life are within walking distance.
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