Home › Wildlife Sanctuaries of Rajasthan

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Rajasthan

A wildlife sanctuary protects a species or habitat but allows limited human activity such as grazing; a national park is stricter and permits none. Rajasthan has around 25 wildlife sanctuaries, and the exam rewards you for knowing which sanctuary is famous for which species — Tal Chhapar for the blackbuck, Sitamata for the flying squirrel, National Chambal for the gharial.

Most-asked sanctuaries and their species

Sanctuary	District	Famous for
Tal Chhapar	Churu	Blackbuck; also harriers
Sitamata	Pratapgarh / Chittorgarh	Flying squirrel (only habitat in Rajasthan)
National Chambal	Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Dholpur	Gharial, Gangetic dolphin
Kumbhalgarh	Rajsamand / Pali / Udaipur	Wolf; largest sanctuary of Rajasthan
Ramgarh Vishdhari	Bundi	Tiger reserve (Rajasthan's 4th)

The species-specific sanctuaries

Some sanctuaries exist for a single flagship species, and these are the ones examiners love. Tal Chhapar (Churu) is a flat saline grassland famous for the blackbuck and for migratory harriers. Sitamata (Pratapgarh/Chittorgarh) is the only home of the flying squirrel in Rajasthan. The National Chambal Sanctuary, stretching along the Chambal across Kota, Sawai Madhopur and Dholpur, protects the gharial, the Gangetic dolphin and the smooth-coated otter.

Tal Chhapar (Churu) — blackbuck; saline grassland; migratory harriers
Sitamata (Pratapgarh/Chittorgarh) — the only flying-squirrel habitat in Rajasthan
National Chambal — gharial, Gangetic dolphin, smooth-coated otter
Sorsan (Baran) — Great Indian Bustard grassland
Kailadevi (Karauli) — part of the Ranthambore tiger landscape

The Aravalli belt sanctuaries

Kumbhalgarh, spread across Rajsamand, Pali and Udaipur, is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Rajasthan and is known for the Indian wolf, leopard and the four-horned antelope. Mount Abu (Sirohi) protects the state's only hill-station forest, with the rare green avadavat. Todgarh–Raoli straddles Ajmer, Pali and Rajsamand, while Phulwari ki Nal and Jaisamand in Udaipur conserve the southern Aravalli's moist forests.

Kumbhalgarh — largest wildlife sanctuary of Rajasthan; wolf, leopard, chousingha
Mount Abu (Sirohi) — only hill sanctuary; green avadavat
Todgarh–Raoli (Ajmer/Pali/Rajsamand) — Aravalli forests
Phulwari ki Nal & Jaisamand (Udaipur) — southern Aravalli moist forests
Bassi and Bhainsrodgarh (Chittorgarh) — Vindhyan-edge forests

Sanctuary vs national park vs tiger reserve

Do not mix the three categories. A sanctuary allows regulated human activity; a national park does not; a tiger reserve is notified under Project Tiger and has a core and a buffer zone (it may include both parks and sanctuaries). Rajasthan's national parks are Ranthambore, Keoladeo Ghana, Desert National Park, Mukundra Hills and Sariska. Its tiger reserves are Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills, Ramgarh Vishdhari and Dholpur–Karauli.

Sanctuary: limited human activity allowed; National park: none
National parks of Rajasthan: Ranthambore, Keoladeo Ghana, Desert NP, Mukundra Hills, Sariska
Tiger reserves: Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills, Ramgarh Vishdhari, Dholpur–Karauli
Ramgarh Vishdhari (Bundi) became Rajasthan's 4th tiger reserve
Dholpur–Karauli is Rajasthan's newest tiger reserve

How sanctuaries are asked in the RAS exam

The commonest question type is a match-the-pairs of sanctuary and species. Lock in the four unmistakable pairs: Tal Chhapar–blackbuck, Sitamata–flying squirrel, National Chambal–gharial, Sorsan–Great Indian Bustard.
Know the district: Tal Chhapar is in Churu, not Bikaner; Sitamata is in Pratapgarh, not Udaipur. District mismatches are the standard trap.
Keep the categories separate — Sariska is both a national park and a tiger reserve, but Kumbhalgarh is only a sanctuary.
Recent notifications matter for current affairs: Ramgarh Vishdhari and Dholpur–Karauli were added as tiger reserves and are frequently asked.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Rajasthan?

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across Rajsamand, Pali and Udaipur districts, known for the Indian wolf.

Which sanctuary in Rajasthan is famous for the blackbuck?

Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary in Churu district — a flat saline grassland that is also a haven for migratory harriers.

Where is the flying squirrel found in Rajasthan?

Only in the Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across Pratapgarh and Chittorgarh districts.

What is the difference between a wildlife sanctuary and a national park?

A sanctuary protects species while permitting limited regulated human activity such as grazing; a national park is stricter and allows no such activity.

How many tiger reserves does Rajasthan have?

Five — Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills, Ramgarh Vishdhari and Dholpur–Karauli.