Location: Rajasthan
Area: 190 square kilometers
Nearest Airport: Jaipur Airport
Nearest Town: Naliasar
Nearest Railway Station: The Sambhar Salt Lake Station
Safari: Bird Safari and Jungle Safari
Best Time to Visit: October-March
Number of Species: Approximately 45 species of aquatic birds
If your idea of wildlife tour is to watch avian species, Sambhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan is an ideal place to tour. Sambhar claims to be the largest saline lake in India and is home to some rare species of birds.
Sambhar is located about 60 kilometers west of Jaipur and is one of the favorite places for bird watchers.
Sambhar, which means salt, has a long history that goes back to over a century, when the salt was extracted from the lake. Over a period of time a number of rulers were in possession of the lake and in 1870 the lake was leased to the British. After independence, the lake came under the control of government and is now managed by Sambhar Salts Ltd and Government of Rajasthan. The lake is roughly elliptical in shape and is divided into two sections by a five kilometers long stone dam.
Flamingos are the star attraction at the Sambhar Lake. These beautiful tall birds flock the lake and enjoys the feast of large numbers of algae that swarm the lake. Sambhar is believed to be the second most important habitat for flamingos after Rann of Kutch, where they breed. The pelican is another species of birds that one can see at the lake.
Some other birds you can see at the lake are storks, redshanks, sandpipers, coots, black-winged stilts and shovelers. There are about 45 species of aquatic birds that also includes shorebirds, ducks and geese.
Sambhar has a tropical climate with temperature touching 45°C in summer and dipping below 10°C during winter. October to March is an ideal time to visit Sambhar Lake, however it is better to find out the climate of the area before heading for Sambar Wildlife Sanctuary.
The best time to visit Sambhar Wildlife Sanctuary is from October to March.
Tourists can either go for Jungle safari and jeep safari in this national park.
From Sambhar you can also head to Naliasar Pond, which is home to some other species of birds like common teals, waterfowl-shovelers, common pochards, pintails, tufted pochards, gadwalls, bar-headed geese and graylag. You can also visit the excavation site near Naliasar, where terracotta figurines have been found.
By Air: Jaipur is the nearest airport and is about 60 kilometers away from Sambhar.
By Rail: Tourists can also take the train to reach Jaipur.
By Road: Sambhar is well connected by road to Jaipur and other parts of the country.
Tourists who want to stay overnight can opt for hotel accommodation that is available at the Salt Lake City. There are a number of lake resorts that offer excellent accommodation options.
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