Nestled within the jagged, mineral-rich peaks of the ancient Aravalli Range in the Alwar district of northern Rajasthan, Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of India’s most ecologically fascinating and historically dramatic wildlife sanctuaries. Sprawling across more than 800 square kilometers, this rugged terrain transforms seamlessly from dry deciduous forests and steep rocky cliffs to deep gorges and wide, open grassy valleys.

While it sits as a premier sanctuary for tracking the Royal Bengal Tiger, Sariska holds a profound place in global wildlife history. In 2008, it became the setting for the world’s first successful airborne tiger relocation program, bouncing back to life after facing a severe poaching crisis. Today, it stands as a triumphant symbol of nature’s resilience, where imperial history and untamed wildlife thrive side-by-side.

A Royal Playground Framed by Epic History

Long before it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and later a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, Sariska served as the ultra-exclusive private hunting ground for the Maharajas of Alwar. The park’s landscape is heavily dotted with medieval ruins that tell tales of ancient times.

According to local folklore, the deep valleys of Sariska provided shelter to the Pandava brothers of the epic Mahabharata during their final year of hidden exile. Later, in the 17th century, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb used the isolated hilltop fortresses inside the forest to imprison his older brother, Dara Shikoh, in a fierce battle for the imperial crown.