Desert National Park is a national park in Rajasthan, India. Located near the cities of Jaisalmer and Barmer, it is one of the largest national parks in India, covering an area of a whopping 3162 sq. km. The Desert National Park was set up as Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in 1980 when it was accorded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site and national park in 1992 to preserve the fragile ecosystem of Thar Desert.
The Thar Desert is often called an ‘ocean of sand’, covering a large part of Western Rajasthan, and is the most thickly populated desert in the world.
Sand dunes like fixed and shifting dunes form about 44% of the total park area including the world-famous Sam Sand Dunes, with craggy rocks, compact salt-lake bottoms, and intermedial areas making up the rest. The park is known for its’ abundance of birds, including migratory and resident birds of the desert, making it a birdwatchers’ paradise. The park is home to 60 mammal species, 8 amphibian species, and 51 reptile species. Out of the 3162 sq km, 1900 sq. km fall in Jaisalmer district while the remaining 1262 sq km fall in Barmer district of Rajasthan.
The park is home to many varieties of birds of prey like eagles, harriers, kestrel, falcons, long-legged buzzards, honey buzzards, vultures, short-toed eagles, spotted eagles, laggard falcons, steppe eagles, and tawny eagles are most commonly found. Birds like partridges, bee-eaters, larks, shrikes, and sand grouse can also be spotted across the park in large numbers. The critically endangered ‘Great Indian Bustard’, one of the heaviest flying birds can also be seen in relatively large numbers in the park, especially near the Sudashri waterhole.
During winter, migratory birds such as Demoiselle Crane and MacQueen’s Bustard flock to the park in large numbers. Four-legged animals like Blackbuck, Chinkara or Indian Gazelle, desert fox, wolf, and desert cat are found in fairly large numbers across the park. Desert fox, Bengal fox, Indian wolf, and hedgehog are also found across the park. The park is also home to reptiles, like a spiny-tailed lizard, saw-scaled viper, Russell’s viper, monitor lizard, and common krait. The vegetation across the park is sparse and thorn forest type, with several patches of sewan grass and aak shrub (Calotropis) besides open grassland, and thorny bushes. A total of 168 plant species have been recorded across the park, including Tecomella undulata, Helitropium rariflorum, Moringa concanensis, and Ammannie desertorum.
The Desert National Park has a collection of fossils of animals and plants which are over 180 million years old. Some fossils of dinosaurs which are 60 million years old have also been found in the area. Many other fossils of animals like fish are also found here, mostly at Akai Wood Fossil Park, indicating the Thar desert was once under water. Gadsisar, Rajbaugh, Milak, and Padam Talao are the main sources of water for animals and birds in the park. Though the ecosystem of Desert National Park spread across 2 districts is fragile and harsh, it shelters a plethora of wildlife. There are numerous places worth visiting in and around the Desert National Park, including Bada Bagh, Jaisalmer Fort, Khaba Fort, Gadisar Lake, Kuldhara Village, Patwon ki Haveli, Nathmal ki Haveli, Salim Singh Ki Haveli, and Jaisalmer City.
Tourists visiting the national park can indulge in a variety of activities including sightseeing, jeep safari, and camel safari. The tourist can also enjoy Rajasthani hospitality at the various resort in Sam Sand Dunes that offer tents and huts with luxurious, mid-range, and budget accommodation facilities. The highlight of these resorts is traditional Rajasthani cuisine, puppet shows, music, and dance performance that give a glimpse in traditional Rajasthani culture. As Jaisalmer has no airport of its own, so tourists have to reach the Desert National Park from the Jodhpur Airport located 300 km away. Tourists can reach the park from Jaisalmer railway station located 13 km away from the entry point.
Tourists can reach the park by road from Jodhpur, Jaipur, Barmer, Bikaner, Jalore, and Ahmedabad by hiring private or chartered taxis or buses. The most suitable time to visit the park is between November and January during the winter season that too in the late afternoon, evening, and night as during summer the park is engulfed in the sweltering heat, which makes moving around unbearable. Even during the rainy season, the park is not and experiences little or no rain due to it being in the center of the Thar desert.
The desert national park is open all seven days a week between 07:00 am to 05:00 pm with entry tickets priced at INR 50 for Indians per head and INR 300 for foreigners per head. Fee for camel, jeep, and guide are separate. While visiting the park tourists need to take certain precautions. as the park is known for its windy conditions. It is always good to wear a hat and scarf with sunglasses to protect the eyes, head, and face from tiny sand particles. However, adventurous tourists can move around in the morning but need to lather themselves with sufficient sunscreen and moisturizer as protection from sun rays.
The tourists can wear a light bright color dress in the morning while using warm clothes, blankets, and sweaters when the wind becomes quite chilly. There are multiple accommodation options within the park itself. The tourists can rent a tent or hut with all amenities amidst the desert for an entirely different experience. A nights-tay here gives tourists a fair chance to explore and enjoy the local Rajasthani traditions. Tourists must move around the park with guides (who know the park like the back of their hand) on a jeep or camel safari, which generally lasts 3 to 4 hours, as there are chances of getting lost or stuck in an unfamiliar place. The tourist must not miss the views of a stunning sunset, and sunrise, sitting around a bonfire sipping tea and stargazing at night.
