Spread in an area of 800 sq km with a core area of 498 sq km, Sariska National Park lies in the Aravalli hills and is the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Alwar. Sariska itself is a wide valley with two large plateaus. The park was established as a sanctuary in the year 1958 and as a tiger reserve in 1979. In 1982, Sariska was declared a national park. The forests are lush during and immediately following the monsoon, but during the dry months of February May there is a shortage of water and in consequence mammals are attracted to water holes. At this time of year visibility is good because of the sparse foliage.

The Sariska Tiger Reserve is an Indian National Park located in the Alwar District of the state of Rajasthan. Originally a hunting preserve of the erstwhile Alwar state, the area was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955. In 1978 it was declared a Tiger Reserve and is now a part of India's Project Tiger scheme. The present area of the park is 866 km². The park is situated 107 km north east of the state capital Jaipur.

Some of the wildlife found in the Sariska Tiger Reserve include the tiger, leopard, jungle cat, hyena, jackal, chital, sambar, gaur, langur, wild boar and several species of birds.

The tiger reserve is also the location of several archeological sites such as the Neelkanth and Garh Rajor temples from the 9th and 10th centuries and the Kankwadi fort. The Kankwadi fort, located near the centre of the park is where, in the 17th century, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb briefly imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh in the battle for succession of the Mughal throne. The area also has historical buildings associated with the Maharajas of Alwar.

The history of Sariska goes back a long time with its mention in the Hindu sacred texts as the place where Pandavas took shelter during their years of hiding. Later after the Mughal fall, Sariska became a part of the Mewat rule. The Mewat reign saw the region of Sariska prosper. Early 20th century saw attempts to convert the region into a protected area and the campaign was led by none other than Maharaja Jai Singh. The campaign bore fruit and in 1958, a government notification declared Sariska a wildlife sanctuary and by 1979 it became a part of the Tiger Project that was recognized as a national park.

The wildlife sanctuary at Sariska is its biggest draw yet. The Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a prolific range of wildlife species such as including leopards, wild dogs, jungle cats, hyenas, jackals, tigers, sambars, chitals, nilgai, chausinghas, wild boars and langurs. Sariska is also well known for its large population of Rhesus Monkeys, which are found around Talvriksh. The national park also boasts of a sizeable avian population besides boasting of a tiger reserve that is well worth a look. Experience the thrill of shooting a tiger with your camera as you go adventure safaris within the park.

The Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary also houses the ancient Kankwari Fort, the very place where Emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh. Other tourist attractions around Sariska include the majestic Sariska Palace. The Sariska Palace was built in the 19th century by Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar to serve as a royal hunting lodge. You can enjoy a stay within the royal confines of the palace that is now functioning as a heritage hotel. The ancient Shiva Temples located within the precincts of the Sariska tiger sanctuary date back to the period of 6th-13th century AD and are still a beautiful sight to behold.