Established in 2004, the Darrah National Park consists of three wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan - Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary and Darrah National Park. Spread out in hilly terrain; the Darrah National Park is one of the noteworthy national parks in Rajasthan. Located at a distance of 50 kilometres away from Kota, the vast forest tracts of the Darrah National Park, also known as the Mukundra Hills National Park, are home to many species of animals and birds.
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Photos of Darrah National Park
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History of Darrah National Park
In earlier times, the Darrah National Park used to be a royal hunting game reserve for the Maharaja of Kota because of the abundance of astonishing wildlife creatures. The name Darrah means ‘pass’ in the local language implying towards the purpose this region served during that time. The Rajputs, the Marathas and the British exploited the privileged position of these forest grounds to seek asylum during wars. In 1955, the Government of India declared this region as a protected area and the Darrah National Park came into existence in 2004.
Entry Fee
· Foreigners: INR 100 · Indians: INR 20
Opening Timing
· Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Permits
Tourists need to take written permission from the local forest ranger before visiting the Darrah National Park. Alternatively, one has to contact the District Forest Office near the Kota tourist office.
Geography of Darrah National Park
The total area cover by the Darrah National Park is about 200 square kilometres. Quite interestingly, the Darrah National Park is a combination of three wildlife reserves namely Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, Jaswant Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary. The park lies between two parallel mountains – Mukundra and Gagrola – that run across a length of around 80 kilometres from Murlipura to Rawatbhata. The four rivers – Ramzan, Kali, Ahu and Chambal – form the boundary of this valley.
Flora of Darrah National Park
Darrah National Park is blessed with a profusion of many unique floral species like flower plants, trees, foliage and medicinal herbs in an otherwise desert state. The long bushy trees inside the park provide a peaceful shade, and the medicinal herbs have excellent healing qualities. The dominant floral species of the park are Babul, Imli, Banyan, Ber, Dhak, Dhok, Kadam, Khajur, Khair, Karel, Khejda, Kakera, Mohua and Neem.
Darrah National Park is wealthy when it comes to its faunal population. The forest covers play the role of safe habitat for the mysterious animals like Wild Boars, Sloth Bears, Nilgai, Cheetah and Deer. The park also takes pride in being home to a large number of Antelopes and Wolves in the region. Other significant faunal species of the park include Chinkaras, Leopards and a good number of birds and reptiles. With more than 266 unique species of birds, this wildlife sanctuary is indeed a haven for bird-lovers and bird-watchers.
