Desert National Park

History 

The Desert National Park is one of the most reputed and popular National Parks in Rajasthan, and in India. Several decades ago, before India won its independence in 1947, the region was under the rule of Maharajas of Rajput kingdom. A few years after India gained independence, the administration of the region went under the Government of India officially. Today, the Park is administered by the Forest Department of the Rajasthan State. 

Some portions of the National Park fall in the Jaisalmer district, and the rest parts fall under Barmer district. The official accreditation from the Indian Government came in the year 1980, when the whole area, along with local hamlets, was given the status of Desert National Park. 

The Park boasts of various species of floras and fauns. Although a large portion of the terrains is predominantly semi-arid in nature, yet, there are some exotic species of plants in the Park. 

Useful Information

Total area – 3162 sq km

Core area – 

Elevation range – 210 meters to 300 meters

Latitude – N 25 51 to N 26 52

Longitude – E 70 18 to E 70 34

Nearest river – Luni River    

Nearby hills –  

Avg. annual rainfall – less than 100mm

Flora of Desert National Park

The area covered by the Desert National Park falls under the arid and semi-arid categories of climate. The terrains have less lushness, and greenery is not very dense. You can observe irregular patches of grass known locally as ‘sewan’ in various regions of the Park when you avail Desert National tour packages. There is also a shrub in the Park known as ‘aak’. It is the Calotropis plant. There are lots of craggy rocks spread across the region, and the soil is sandy, with sparse amount of moisture. This makes it practically very difficult for flowering plants and several species of trees to grow in this region. 

You can observe medium-heighted Palm trees in the Park – one of the major big trees here. There are also trees such as Ronj and Ber. You could also find Dhok trees in some of the areas in the Park. These trees need less water and moisture to survive, and hence, they can tackle the harsh weather conditions, and still thrive. 

Fauna of Desert National Park

The incredible range of Fauna species is bound to impress you on a weekend getaway tour. From mammals to reptiles to birds, there are lots of animals in this Park, dwelling in balanced co-habitats. 

There are foxes in abundance in this Park. You could watch a desert fox in one of the Desert National holiday packages. Also, Bengal fox is a common animal here, and catching a glimpse every now and then in your expedition is highly probable. The Park is also an abode to desert cats and hedgehogs. There are wolves, too. One could also find Chinkara in these regions while availing Desert National wildlife packages. 

This is one of the rare National Parks in India, where you would find a wide range of exotic reptiles, such as monitor lizards, and saw-scaled vipers. If you are lucky, then you could also witness The Common Krait in your expedition.    

The Desert National Park is genuinely a paradise for wildlife photographers and enthusiasts, due to its magnificent spectrum of fauna species. The Indian bustard is the principal bird found here, having a special presence in the avifauna list. There are also Sandgrouses and Bee-eaters. If you are a bird-watcher, then you would be more than delighted to scale the length and breadth of the huge Park while you avail standard Desert National adventure packages. There are steppe eagles, honey buzzards and also falcons. You can see larks throughout the year, along with shrikes. Migratory birds such as demoiselle cranes arrive during winter months. 

Climate 

The climate of the Desert National Park is marked by extremes of temperatures. The maximum temperature during the summer months can hover around 50 degree Celsius. Days are very bright, sunny and most of the times, the sun is scorching the terrains. The nights could be breezy and cool, at times. 

On the other hand, the nights during winter months are harsh, and temperatures could dip down to as low as 2 degree Celsius. Since the Park is in the arid region, so the area receives very little rainfall on an average, each year. For an expedition, one has to plan carefully, taking into account weather conditions in different seasons before buying Desert National weekend tour packages. 

Best Time to Visit Desert National Park

The best time to visit, according to experts and experienced travel enthusiasts, is from mid-November to mid-June. Although, the weather conditions become very harsh after April, and continues to be so till late-August, but summer months also reveal some of the exotic species of faunas in the region. 

Targeting less warm, rather winter months would be a good idea, if you want to avoid the heat of the desert while availing Desert National family packages. The bracket between November and February is quite suitable to make a weekend trip to the Desert National Park. 

How to reach Desert National Park

There are three main ways to reach the Desert National Park – by rail, by road, and by air. You should have a clear roadmap regarding the mode you would choose to reach the town and then to the Park, for an enriching experience. 

By Rail: The nearest station to the Park is Jaisalmer. It is connected to all major cities via railways across India. Geographically, the location of the station is only 13 km from the Park. It would not take much time to reach the destination. You can rent a car from the station premises. 

By Road: There are many important cities located in the periphery of 200 to 500 km of the Desert National Park. Traveling by road means you have to either take a car, a bus, or a two-o-wheeler. There are services rendered by deluxe buses, and also ordinary private buses, from cities such as Jaisalmer, Barmer, and the Ahmedabad from the neighboring state Gujarat. 

By Air: There is no airport in Jaisalmer. The nearest airport is located in the city of Jodhpur, which is at a distance of about 300 km from the Park. You could hire a car directly from Jodhpur Airport, and reach the Park in 6 to 7 hours. 

Connectivity & Distances

Railway station: Jaisalmer

Bus Stand: Jaisalmer Bus Stand 

Airport: Jodhpur Airport

Nearest city/town: Jaisalmer 

Places To Visit near Desert National Park

Your Desert National safari tours are never complete if you don’t miss the nearby tourist spots. Here is a list that you can refer to.

Jaisalmer Fort – As Jaisalmer is very near to the National Park, you can easily visit the city and explore the majestic Jaisalmer Fort, depicting rich historical roots and cultural background of the place. 

Bada Bagh – Bada Bagh, literally known as ‘Huge Garden’, is a lovely place, naturally ornamented with blooming flowers, where you can consider visiting on a weekend trip. 

Gadisar Lake – If you love to stroll by clean water bodies at foreign locales, then Gadisar Lake is the perfect tourist spot for you, where you would feel the serenity of the atmosphere. 

Khaba Fort – As you will be in Rajasthan, there will be no dearth of forts to visit. You shouldn’t miss the chance while visiting Desert National Park, too. The Khaba Fort is another marvelous architecture near the location of the Park that should be in your Desert National Park itinerary.

Kuldhara village – Kuldhara was a village in the past, and now, only remnants are there. You could roam around the area to verify the paranormal stories associated to the extinct village.