Covering an extensive area of about 5.19 sq km and lying only 5 kms west, the tourist City of Udaipur, the Sajjangarh Sanctuary in Rajasthan is a fascinating place for a nature trek. It surrounds the Sajjangarh Palace and overlooks the Udaipur City. Bansdara Hills provides the backdrop to this great wilderness and excellent views of sunrise and sunset. The entire eco system of the place is maintained by a lake which is located in the hills, a short distance to the north west of Sajjangarh named the Jyan Sagar, also popularly known as the “Bari Lake “ or “Tiger Lake”. There is a history behind this lake. It was constructed by Maharana Raj Singhji, the once-ruler of Mewar, in 1664 AD. He had named it after the mother of Maharana , Jana Devi. The beautiful lake covers an area of 1.25 square miles and it is found to have a storage capacity of around 400 million cubic feet of water.

Improved Vegetal Cover Making Dense Forests

When the Sajjangarh Sanctuary was created, the wall extended such that the entire hillock fenced off which actually helped in improving the vegetal cover of the Sanctuary. The vegetative cover of the region is far thicker now than earlier. The dense forests were inhabited by a large number of Chital , Sambar, wild boars and certainly the usual varieties of reptile and birds even though there has been a considerable reduction in the wildlife population,  it has still retained its attraction also as a nature trek and makes the visit well worth.  From Gorilla viewpoint if you trek to Bari Lake, you will realise the importance of this nature trail which in itself is a detailed study of rich variety of flora and fauna of the place and also the outstanding geographical features of great Aravali hills.

To this day this sanctuary is home to sloth bears, leopards, antelopes, deers, nilgai and wolves. Wolves and Antelopes are seen in very large numbers and if, by any chance your luck supports, you can also get a glimpse a leopard or a few sloth bears that are inhabitants of this sanctuary. It is delightful to actually see these wild animals in their natural habitat.

Another added attraction very close to the sanctuary is the Jhar Water hole and Mahua Grove. Situated roughly on western part of Bansdara hills, it is a perennial source of water hence aptly named as "Jhar Water Hole". It is surrounded by a number of ancient Mahua trees. There is a temple of Lord 'Shiva' too in close vicinity of this sacred grove. One can sense a strange microclimate effect which the surrounding forest area creates while sitting at this place. During rainy season, the sparking springs flowing through the area adds the more to the beauty of the place.

Monsoon Palace

Additional attraction to this place is the Monsoon Palace, formerly known as the Sajjan Garh Palace, which is located on a hilltop in the Aravalli Hills. It was named as Sajjangarh after Maharana Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) of the Mewar Dynasty, who built Sajjangarh Fort in 1884 and was once his palatial residence. It offers a panoramic view of the city's lakes, the forests, palaces and surrounding countryside. It is commonly known as Monsoon Palace and it is illuminated in the evenings, giving a glow of golden orange.

Besides all that we have seen, there is a hill known as the Machla Magra. Its unusual small fish liked shape gives it the name and is just a short distance away from the sanctuary. Another vantage point is the Gorilla Viewpoint. From here a variety of animals and birds can be observed.

So, if your holiday includes nature treks, glimpses of the wild life and also a glimpse into that area’s royal past, a visit to the Sajjangarh Sanctuary, India is a must. It promises to be a good experience. Also keep in mind that the best time to plan a visit here is in the months between October and March.

Location

The Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at a distance of 5 km from Udaipur in Rajasthan. This Wildlife Sanctuary in Udaipur lies around a very ancient palace, called the Sajjangarh Palace. This is absolutely on the top of the Bansdara Hill. Summers are quite hot (April-June) while winters are cool (October-February). It experiences rainfall between June and August.

Fauna

Sajjangarh sanctuary is populated with various kinds of wild animals. Some of the resident species found at this mysterious sanctuary are wolf, chital, nilgai, deer and wild boar. Today, this Sanctuary has record of a rich wildlife population which mainly consists of wolves and leopards as well. A large number of birds and reptiles have made it their home too. This Sanctuary is a wonderful place for any adventure freaks, wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Flora

Like most of the forests in India the Sajjangarh Sanctuary has lush, green vegetation or foliage and also many rare herbs and trees with medicinal value. The appeal is there for both the adventurous and solitude tourist who can afford the energy and time required for trekking along the many mountain trails and in availing the jeep safaris facility which would take the tourists through the entire forested areas.

There are approximately 266 major bird attractions found though you might not be able to see all of them at one shot. Hence the visit assures you a virtual treat for your eyes.

Attraction

Monsoon Palace , Jhar Water hole and Mahua Grove , Machla Magra  and Tiger lake is a the main attraction here . Beside being at the foothills of the Aravali Hills, the place has its our charm. Lying only 5 Kms away from Udaipur makes it easier to visit this place.

Climate And Best Time to Visit

Summers are quite hot from April to June, while winters are cool from October to February. It experiences heavy rainfall between June and August. While the Sanctuary is closed in the months from July to September, the Best time to visit the Sanctuary is between Octobers to June. The Sanctuary timings are 10 am to 5 pm every day.

How to Reach

By Air

Nearest Airport Udaipur. Delhi and other big cities are connected with this airport by a number of flights. Tourists will then be required to complete the rest can be distance to the forest by road.

By Road

The sanctuary is around 50 km from Kota which is the nearest main Bus Station. This lies right on the Bundi Road, very close to the Chambal River’s eastern banks. There are a few reasonably good bus services between Kota and Ajmer (takes 6 hours), Kota to Chittorgarh (in about 6 hours), to Jaipur (in 6 hours), Kota to Udaipur (about 6 hours), to Jodhpur (nearly 11 hours) and even to Bikaner (in 12 hours). Connectivity by road between this district with neighbouring districts and also with major cities which are outside the state is very good. National highway No.12 (Jaipur—Jabalpur) passes through the district. The total road length in the district is 1,752 km. as of 31 March 2000.

By Train

The Nearest Rail Station is Kota on the Delhi Mumbai Railway Route. It is a day’s journey from Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai. It is located at the very northern end of the town. Recently, from Kota to Jodhpur, a broad gauge railway facility was introduced.