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National Parks of Rajasthan

Rajasthan has three national parks — Ranthambore, Keoladeo (Ghana) and Mukundra Hills. Note: Sariska is a tiger reserve and the Desert National Park is notified as a wildlife sanctuary, so neither is counted among the state's national parks — a common exam trap. This is a high-frequency topic in the RPSC RAS Prelims (Geography & Environment) and Mains.

The 3 National Parks at a glance

National Park	District(s)	Best known for
Ranthambore National Park	Sawai Madhopur	Bengal tiger; Ranthambore Fort
Keoladeo (Ghana) National Park	Bharatpur	Migratory birds; UNESCO World Heritage Site
Mukundra Hills National Park	Kota (Hadoti region)	Tiger reserve; Aravalli–Vindhya junction

Ranthambore National Park

Located in Sawai Madhopur where the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges meet, Ranthambore is Rajasthan's best-known tiger habitat and a Project Tiger reserve. The historic Ranthambore Fort — a UNESCO World Heritage 'Hill Fort of Rajasthan' — stands inside the park.

Key species: Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, marsh crocodile
Padam Talab and Ranthambore Fort are landmarks within the park

Keoladeo (Ghana) National Park

In Bharatpur, Keoladeo is a man-made wetland and one of India's finest bird areas. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Ramsar wetland, historically a wintering ground for migratory waterfowl.

UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar site
Famous for herons, storks, and once the Siberian crane

Mukundra Hills National Park

In the Hadoti region around Kota, Mukundra Hills (Darrah) lies at the meeting of the Aravalli and Vindhya systems and was notified as a national park in 2004 and a tiger reserve in 2013. The Chambal and its tributaries flow through the terrain.

Rajasthan's third tiger reserve (2013)
Rugged Aravalli–Vindhya terrain drained by the Chambal

Why they matter for Rajasthan (and the exam)

Tiger conservation: Ranthambore and Mukundra Hills are Project Tiger reserves.
Bird & wetland ecology: Keoladeo is a UNESCO World Heritage and Ramsar wetland of global importance.
Common exam trap: Sariska (a tiger reserve) and the Desert National Park (a wildlife sanctuary) are NOT counted among Rajasthan's three national parks.
Eco-tourism and local livelihoods across Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur and Kota.

Frequently asked questions

How many national parks are there in Rajasthan?

Rajasthan has three national parks: Ranthambore, Keoladeo (Ghana) and Mukundra Hills.

Are Sariska and the Desert National Park counted as national parks?

No. Sariska is a tiger reserve and the Desert National Park is notified as a wildlife sanctuary — despite its name — so Rajasthan officially has three national parks.

Which national park in Rajasthan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Keoladeo (Ghana) National Park in Bharatpur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for migratory birds.

Which is the most famous national park in Rajasthan?

Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur is the most famous, known for its Bengal tigers and Ranthambore Fort.

Which national parks in Rajasthan are also tiger reserves?

Among the national parks, Ranthambore and Mukundra Hills are Project Tiger reserves. (Sariska is also a tiger reserve but is not a national park.)