Location : Jaisalmer
Best Season : October to March
Attractions : Blackbuck, Chinkara, Desert fox, Bengal Fox, Indian Wolf, Desert Cat and a variety of birds including migratory ones.
The Desert National Park is situated in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. Spread over an area in excess of 3150 sq km, it is probably the largest park of India. Reflecting the ecosystem and flora of the Thar desert, Rajasthan Desert National Sanctuary was set up in 1980. The best time to visit the park is from October to March.
There are three main lakes in this sanctuary - Rajbaugh Lake, Milak Talao Lake and Padam Talao Lake. These lakes are the major watering holes for the inhabitants of the national park. The rich flora of the park consists of dhok, ronj, salai, bear and palm trees. Covering approximately twenty percent area of the park are the sand dunes. Craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, inter medial areas and fixed dunes form the unique features of the landscape of the Desert National Park.
The wildlife of the Desert National Park includes Blackbuck, Chinkara, Desert fox, Bengal Fox, Indian Wolf, Desert Cat, Hare, etc. Along with a rich wildlife, the Desert National Sanctuary is home to a variety of birds also. The birds, ranging from Blue tailed and Green Bee-eaters to Drongos to Common and Bush Quail to Indian Rollers, are a bird watcher's delight. One of the most marvelous birds, the Great Indian Bustard, is also seen at the park. The park also plays host to a number of migratory birds in winters, some of which are Sparrows, Imperial Sand Grouse, Bustards, Falcons, Larks, Demoiselle Cranes, Eagles, etc.