Jhalana Leopard Safari Park or Jhalana Leopard Reserve in Jaipur, Rajasthan is home to around 50 leopards including cubs. Spread in an area of 20 sq.km, the leopard safari established in 2016, is situated in the heart of Jaipur city close to airport. The park located in the southeastern part of Jaipur, is divided into 2 areas, the core area and tourist safari area.
Out of the total leopards around 10 leopards have their territory in tourist safari area. The leopards are the apex predators in Jhalana park after the last tiger was shot in 1948. Full of variety of fauna or flora; it is steadily becoming a favorite destination for tourists and locals to spot leopards in their natural wild habitat. The Jhalana Leopard Safari Park is India’s 1st Leopard reserve. Currently the park is home to over 500 animals.
Once a reserve forest around Jaipur, Jhalana is historically famous as being home to leopards and variety of birds including migratory birds. There are two safari routes open for visitors. Jhalana Leopard Safari Park is a non-profit wildlife park, which has been developed with aim to conserve, educate people about animals. The park nestled in the picturesque Aravalli Mountain ranges, allows tourists to view animals in their natural habitat, roaming in an open area unlike a zoo. To stop illegal human activities inside the reserve and to stop man animal conflict, a continuous 8-foot high wall has been built around the periphery of the leopard reserve.
Other than Leopards there are other animals in the safari park including Spotted Deer, Jackals, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Desert Cats, Desert Foxes, Peacock, Wild Boars, Striped Hyenas, Indian Palm Civet, and Jackal. Visitors can also see other animals like Monitor Lizards, Mongooses, Sambar Deer, Porcupines, Jungle Rats, Nilgai, Rhesus Macaque, Bengal Monitor Lizard, Spotted Deer, and a variety of snakes.
Tourists can also visit Shikaar Audhi, the three-storeyed hunting lodge of the erstwhile Jaipur Royal family, located in the middle of the leopard safari. The highlight of the hunting lodge is an animal-spotting platform that is also an ideal spot to view sunrise and sunset. Leopards can be seen in the park during daytime as they have gotten used to the presence of jeeps and humans; thus gaining popularity among wildlife enthusiasts.
Nestled in the foothills of the Aravalli Mountain ranges, the lush green park provides the much-needed adventure-filled getaway to the people of Jaipur and national and foreign tourists from the hustle and bustle of the city, to watch exotic wild animals in a pollution free environment. The flora In Jhalana Leopard Reserve includes the forest of Jhalana which is a dry deciduous forest.
The forest remains dry for much of the year as trees shed their leaves and becomes lush green during the monsoons. Ponds have been built around the park to provide water for animals in the park. Filled with rainwater collected during monsoon season; during the dry summer season, these ponds are supplied water by a network of pipes.
The Jhalana forest includes plants like juliflora (Prosopis juliflora), khejri (Prosopis cineraria), dhak (Butea monosperma), salar (Boswellia serrata), dhonk (Anogeissus pendula), and kumta (Acacia senegal). A variety of bird species are found in Jhalana Leopard Reserve such as Dusky Eagle, Owl, Indian Pitta, Spotted Owlet, etc. making it a birdwatchers’ paradise.
Other species of birds found in the park are Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Honey Buzzard, Eurasian and Indian Rollers as well as ‘birds of prey’ like Raptors, Serpent Eagle, Sparrow Hawk, Rock Eagle, and Short-Toed Eagle. Other birds found in the reserve are Woodpeckers, Pigeons, Peacocks, Robins, Buntings, and Partridges.
Open for the visitors 7 days a week for the whole year, Jhalana Leopard Safari. However, the best time to visit is in the winter season from October to Februiary. Jhalana leopard reserve, is located just 6 km away from Jaipur International airport on the Jaipur Delhi national highway. The tourist can reach the leopard safari from the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur by hiring a taxi, cab, or bus from Jaipur airport to reach Jhalana Safari Park.
The Jaipur Railway station is the nearest rail station located 12 kms away from the forest. Tourist can enter the park in a jeep customized for safari tourism; with a maximum 6 people in a jeep. Children below 6 years are also allowed in the park free of cost. Jhalana Leopard Safari Park is open from 05:45 AM to 08:14 AM in the morning and 03:45 PM to 06:15 PM in the evening, thus allowing visitors an excellent chance to view the stunning sunrise and sunset.
However, safari timing changes as season changes. The charges for entry into the park for Indian tourist is INR 689 per person and for foreigner tourists is INR 1714 per person. For half day group safari, the charges for Indians are INR 9258 per gypsy and for foreign tourist is INR 10998/- per gypsy. However, booking for jeep safari needs to be made well in advance.
Tourists can also enjoy the facilities like waiting rooms, bathrooms, and café constructed at the entrance. Since being established in 2016, the Jhalana reserve has been transformed from a nondescript piece of forestland; to the only reserve in India dedicated to leopards.
