Winter excursion to Sariska for classes 8 and 9

On 2nd January 2017, 27 students of classes VIII and IX embarked on an excursion to Sariska for 2 nights and 3 days. The accompanying teachers were Ms. Sandhya Batheja, Ms. Mridula Tewari and Ms. Sahodra Pawaiya. The Sariska Tiger Reserve is an Indian national park and wildlife reserve located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. The trip was organized with a view to acquaint students with the flora and fauna of the desert and also to view firsthand the ill-effects of unmindful human activities on nature and the eco system.

After arriving at Sariska, the students geared up for their first sightseeing tour which comprised of a visit to temples at Natni ka Bara and also at Bharatariji. This ancient temple is famous for its Sulphur Springs and has also served as an outdoor location for Bollywood movies! In the evening, we gathered for a bonfire and some badminton and football at the hotel where we stayed, Aamod Alwar Bagh.

The next day, we set out to explore the Bala Quila, also known as Alwar Fort. It is situated on a hill in the Aravallis, above the town of Alwar. The fort is 5 kilometres long and is about 1.5 kilometres wide. It was built by Hasan Khan Mewati in the 16th century and in the following centuries went to the Mughals, Marathas, the Jats and lastly to the Kachwaha Rajputs. As the fort is inaccessible by bus, we boarded taxis. The uphill ride was slow but fun, with breathtaking sights to view, enroute.

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In the afternoon, everyone was excited to go for the much awaited jeep safari in the Sariska forest. These jeep-friendly roads allowed us to access the tiger reserve and observe wildlife closely. The Sariska National Park is one of the most visited national parks in Rajasthan. Located around 107 kilometers away from Jaipur, this national park covers an expanse of 800 square kilometres.

The forest was initially the hunting grounds of the royal family in the early 18th and 19th centuries. In fact, the wildlife sanctuary continues to house the ruins of medieval homes and temples that date back to the 10th and 11th centuries. In 2004, there were persistent reports that tigers were no longer sighted in the reserve. Alarmingly, there was no indication either of the tigers' presence either, such as their pug marks, scratch marks on trees, etc.). Project Tiger, now under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), backed the assumption that the tigers had migrated due to the monsoon season. But subsequently, studies proved the assumption incorrect. It was finally declared that Sariska did not have any tigers left! Poaching was blamed for their disappearance and this in turn, resulted in an imbalance in the ecosystem of the forest.

In order to repopulate Sariska with tigers, it was decided to relocate 3 tigers to the reserve from Ranthambore National Park. Slowly but steadily the count has now risen to 14. The sanctuary is also home to a variety of wildlife like the deer, nilgai, antelopes, wild boar, fox, peacock, crocodiles, leopards and the langur, which were a common sight but catching a glimpse of the big cat still remains a dream yet to come true! The most fascinating sight was that of a deer carcass hanging from a tree. We were told by our guide that a leopard had hunted down the deer two days ago and had hidden it on a tree to protect it from scavengers like hyena! The leopard returned to this place to have its meal whenever it was hungry. The safari will always remain an unforgettable experience for us.

We, also sought the blessings of Lord Hanuman at the Pandupole Temple which is a popular pilgrimage spot supposedly built by the Pandavas in the heart of the forest. The vicinity around the temple is flocked with both tourists and pilgrims. The journey was a tiring one and everyone had just a little energy left which was enough to conclude the day with dinner and an experience-sharing session around the bonfire!

The Sariska National Park encircles the 'Siliserh Lake'. Situated in the north-eastern part of Rajasthan, the lake was built by Maharaja Vinay Singh in 1845. The lake and reservoir of Siliserh was created by the maharaja for the people of Alwar in order to channelise its water for Alwar, the city. A beautiful lake palace was also built by the him for his beloved wife Shila. It was later used as a lake palace and a hunting lodge.

On the third and final day of our trip, we clicked a few photographs around the lake to capture its beauty and then proceeded to the last destination of our trip i.e. Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri and the Government Museum.

Situated outside the main palace of Alwar, the Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri was built by Vinay Singh in the memory of Alwars ruler, Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh and his queen, Rani Moosi who committed sati'. This beautiful cenotaph shelters the tomb of the king and the queen and the 'chhatri' is supported by sandstone pillars. The top floor is carved and designed entirely in marble and the interiors are adorned with beautiful mythological painting and frescoes on its ceiling. However, the edifice calls for maintenance. It was disheartening to see such a magnificent structure in a pitiful state covered by graffiti by careless tourists. We wish the government of Rajasthan takes notice of this and takes strict action against those who deface our national heritage.

The Government Museum is housed in the City Palace of Alwar. It was established in 1940 by the its ruler. The entire collection of the museum belonged to the royal family and includes 234 sculptures, 11 inscriptions, 9702 coins, 35 metal objects, 2565 paintings and manuscripts, 2270 arms and weapons and 1809 objects of local art, craft and musical instruments. It is an interesting way to preserve the rich heritage and culture of our country. While taking a walk around the museum, our imaginations wandered back in and we recreates the grandeur of the lives of the erstwhile maharajas!

Alas, before we knew it, the three fun-filled days were over and it was now time to go back. We learned a lot about Alwar and Sariska during the time we spent there and the memories of our trip will always remain in our hearts.

Ms. Sandhya Batheja.