Set in the Aravalli hills of Alwar district, Sariska is a landscape of dry deciduous forest, scrub, rocky ridges and grassy valleys covering around 880 square kilometres. It holds a special place in conservation history: after losing its entire tiger population to poaching in the mid-2000s, Sariska became the site of India’s first successful tiger relocation, with big cats airlifted in from Ranthambore to rebuild the population.
The reserve is home to tigers, leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, nilgai, sambar and chital, and its scenery is dotted with heritage sites such as the Kankwari Fort and the ancient Pandupol temple. Its proximity to Delhi and Jaipur makes Sariska a popular weekend safari destination, best visited between October and June.