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Haven in the desert

The Desert National Park, spread over Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan, is a good example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert. Established in 1980, the park is home to a wealth of wildlife. You can travel by jeep or camel to take in the natural beauty of the desert. The Sudashri Forest Post is considered an ideal spot to sight the park's wildlife. The Sudashri tower offers excellent wildlife photography opportunities. So, click till you tire. The park also has jagged rocks, sand dunes and a variety of fauna.

Animals found

Blackbuck, chinkara, desert fox, wolf and desert cat.

Bird life

Imperial sand grouse, partridge, bee-eater, drongo, common and bush quail, Indian roller, lark and shrike are commonly seen. Demoiselle crane and houbara arrive in the winter. The birds of prey seen here are tawny and steppe eagle, vulture, long legged and honey buzzard, falcon and kestrel. But the scene-stealer is the graceful great Indian bustard, said to be near extinct.

Reptiles

The park is rich in reptile species. You can sight the poisonous spiny tail lizard, monitor lizard and the saw scaled viper.

What to see

Seventeen km from Jaisalmer is the Akal Wood Fossils Park, said to be about 180 million years old. Seashells and fossilised tree trunks here record the geological history of the desert. You can also check out the Jaisalmer Fort, watch sunset on the dunes, palaces and breathtaking havelis in the region and the town of Barmer.

Area

3,162 sq km

Best time to visit

September to May. Winter is the best time to visit. Summers can be searing.

How to get there

Air: Jodhpur - 285 km

Rail: Jaisalmer

Road: Jaisalmer (40 km away) is well connected to Bikaner (320 km), Jodhpur (305 km) and Barmer (153 km)

Tariff

All visitors have to pay an entry fee of Rs. 10 per head. For foreigners, it is Rs. 80. Students pay a subsidised amount of Rs. 2. For jeeps and cars, an additional Rs. 65 is charged. Two-wheeler riders have to pay Rs. 10 to enter the park. Guides are available at Jaisalmer.

Accommodation

Jaisalmer has a number of guesthouses, forest lodges and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) hotels, including some luxury heritage properties. Besides, there are two forest lodges and restaurants within the park. The restaurants are basic and it is advisable to bring your own food if you plan to spend a whole day inside.

Contact

For details, call Deputy Director, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer. Ph: 02992-252489 or Tourist Reception Centre, Station Road, Jaisalmer. Ph: 02992-252406.

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