When it comes to Holi, I have like a split personality; one year I will be like Gabbar Singh, asking around
Kab Hai Holi? and being all ready a week in advance to usher in the celebrations and next year I will ask exactly the same question in order to hide from all of it. This year was the latter one and I used my urge to keep away from colours and water and everything else that is part of holi to good effect by planning a trip to Sariska.
Sariska has been in the plans forever since I got my Nano more than 3 years ago. Also, the closest national park to the national capital is coming back to life after some success in tiger relocation. Sariska used to have nearly 30 tigers at its peak in 2001-02 but poaching eliminated all of it by 2004. The relocation project that began in 2007 has had some success by now as Sariska has 13 tigers in all, 9 brought in from outside and 4 born there in the last 2 years. (I might be wrong on this data, this is from my conversations with the guides and the hotel staff at the RTDC hotel). I must also acknowledge the impressive information here on team-BHP by late GD sir whose thread always encouraged me to go to Sariska and write ups by others like SS-Traveller, Wanderers, and by Harjeev.
My plan was fixed over a quick chat with my friends who travelled with me to Dehradun last year and to Kasauli few months before that. The urge to drive and see a new place was there and after a couple of messages to the BHPians who went to Sariska and to others, our plan was fixed. We went there on 6 and 7 March. We did the afternoon safari of 6th and the morning one of 7th. After this we went to Bhangarh, and got back to Delhi on the night of 7th March by 11.00 pm. In all I drove 485 kms and my Nano returned the average of more than 20 during the same
, which is pretty good considering the status of road in the Sariska-Bhangarh-Alwar sector (hint-I did not take the jungle road, doubting my car's ability with 5 onboard).
The Journey
We started from my place at 6.45 am. From where I stay, I can hit the NH8 in 2 minutes! That day being holi, there was little traffic on road which is good till end of Gurgaon but a bit patchy from there till Bhiwadi where we turned left to take the Bhiwadi Alwar bypass. We had our tea break at 8.15 at Gailpur near Kajaria tiles factory and enjoyed the hot tea with homemade sandwiches. We also needed this break because of the number of speed-breakers until then is just too much and I think there are less than 10 from here till Sariska gate. From Gailpur we started at 8.45 and were at Alwar by 10.10 and then at Sariska by 11.10. In general it was a leisurely drive with a few breaks in between. Road between Bhiwadi and Alwar is very good except for the speed-breakers in the first stage and the railway bridge work near Alwar town entry. From Alwar to Sariska its patchy and the drive was slow but manageable.
RTDC
We stayed at the RTDC guesthouse. There is no economical option right next to Sariska other than the RTDC guesthouse. We had taken the non ac rooms there. It was in an unbelievably bad shape. There was just one CFL light in each of the rooms which made them dingy and not very welcoming. TV did not work, which of course did not matter too much. But, after I got back home, I was just happy that all of the switches were working and were actually switching something on! Overall food quality there was ok but service was terrible. The served poha in lunch which was priced at Rs. 200 and after I protested, the waiter took away the plates to bring rice. In a group of 5, they only brought one glass for water and that too after request. Of course, I understood as the reception guy said that they were understaffed that day but I did not see any new soul next day either. Buffet dinner was simple but acceptable and breakfast quality too was at acceptable level.
Tourist behaviour, oh my god! People wanting to play loud filmy music on laptops in the evening when you are so close to nature was unbelievable and I had to tell one group to reduce the noise. I was tired too. There were others who were smoking right at the gate and the entire smoke travelled inside the guesthouse lounge where we were having tea and another guy was about to light his cigarette right next to the breakfast spread as he "intended to go out later!". I again told him to not do so as I am seriously allergic to smoke. His reaction was like I was the one crossing the line! Whatever happened to common sense? and read about the best/worst one in my post below!
first, the national bird, there are so many of them and yet each one is more beautiful than the previous one!
this too
and this
now the rare spottings
We spotted a Hyena pack, 4 adults and 2 cubs, in this image 2 of them can be seen and seems one of them spotted us too,
and the wild cat. guess what one guy from another gypsy shouted on this spotting?
hey ram, billi ne rasta kata i.e. "oh god, a cat crossed my path"
near one of the water bodies,
Nilgai female calf,
Crocodile that promised to surface for a while
Birds,
Sambar