A massive fire broke out in the forests of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan Alwar district on Tuesday

Subject: Environment

Section: National Parks in news

Concept:

Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Aravali hills and forms a part of the Alwar District of Rajasthan.

The Reserve is immensely rich in flora and fauna, and is famous for Royal Bengal Tiger.
The park has populations of leopards, Nilgai, Sambar, chital etc. It also shelters a large population of Indian peafowl, crested serpent eagles, sand grouse, golden backed woodpeckers, great Indian horned owls, tree pies, vultures, etc.
Sariska was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and was declared the tiger reserve later in 1978, making it a part of India’s Project Tiger.
- The Sanctuary houses ruined temples, forts, pavilions and a palace.
- Kankarwadi fort is located in the center of the Reserve and it is said that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh at this fort in struggle for succession to the throne.
- The Reserve also houses a famous temple of lord Hanuman at Pandupole related to Pandavas.