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Jhalana Leopard Reserve, also known as the Jhalana Safari Park, is India’s first leopard reserve, located in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It is flanked by the Aravali hills, India’s oldest mountain range. In 2017, Jhalana was designated as a leopard reserve. The reserve covers an area of 20 square kilometres and is home to a diverse range of vegetation and fauna. The Jhalana Leopard Reserve now has almost 40 leopards and 5 cubs! Striped hyenas, Indian civets, desert cats, jungle cats, desert foxes, jackals, porcupines, jungle rats, monitor lizards, and mongooses, Sambar deer, spotted deer (chital), Blue Bull (Nilgai), and a variety of snakes can also be seen. You can also pay a visit to Shikaar Audi, the three-story hunting lodge of Jaipur’s royal family. It’s directly in the heart of the leopard reserve! It has an animal-spotting platform from which to watch the sunrise and sunset. 

Safari in Jhalana first opened its doors to visitors in 2016. Jhalana Leopard Reserve is the finest site to see a leopard because it has a strong leopard population. Sometimes it happens within the first five minutes of entering the park. Leopards can be spotted during the day because they are not afraid of the presence of jeeps and humans in their natural environment. Jhalana Leopard Reserve quickly obtains popularity among wildlife aficionados and maintains a major position in global wildlife tourism. Nestled in the foothills of the gorgeous Aravali mountainous landscape, the park is a fantastic gateway to an adventure-filled holiday amidst raw nature, complete with unforgettable sightings of unique wild creatures.

FLORA & FAUNA IN JHALANA Leopard reserve:

The terrain of Jhalana Leopard Reserve is dominated by small Aravallis valleys and sheer cliffs of hills. The stunning natural surroundings and tranquillity of Jhalana’s woodland are wonderfully calming and a delight for the mind. The presence of such diverse wildlife in the metropolitan area distinguishes this property as a distinct and one-of-a-kind destination for nature aficionados.

Jhalana is classified as a dry deciduous forest. The forest is dry for most of the year because trees drop their leaves in the dry season and turn lush emeralds during the monsoons. Plants such as juliflora (Prosopis juliflora) and khejri dominate the Jhalana forest (Prosopis cineraria). The juliflora was originally planted to provide firewood for local villagers.Trees, on the other hand, do not foster the establishment of other grasslands and trees. The slanting valleys contain a greater diversity of local flora, including dhak (Butea monosperma), salar (Boswellia serrata), dhonk (Anogeissus pendula), and kumta (Acacia senegal).

Fauna In Jhalana Leopard Reserve

The gorgeous Leopard is obviously the main and most covered mammal of this Jhalana Leopard Reserve, which is also the top predator of the region and who comes first in the Jhalana forest reserve’s food chain. Although the leopard is believed to be a nocturnal, solitary, reclusive, and rare-sighted predator with masterful stealth hunting skills, leopards in Jhalana National Park are diurnal in nature, similar to tigers in Ranthambore and Sariska, making it one of the most frequented reserve forests by Leopard lovers. 

Other big cats in the Jhalana Leopard Park include the Leopard, Indian civets, desert cats, and jungle cats. Other species that live in this forest include the Striped Hyena, desert foxes, jackals, porcupines, jungle rats, monitor lizards, mongooses, Sambar deer, spotted deer (chital), Blue Bull (Nilgai), and a variety of snakes.

Jhalana Leopard Reserve is home to several uncommon bird species, making it a birdwatcher’s dream. Jhalana National Park is home to a variety of birds, including the Indian Pitta, Dusky Eagle, Owl, Spotted Owlet, and others.

BEST TIME TO VISIT JHALANA SAFARI: 

The Jhalana Leopard Reserve (India’s first leopard reserve) is open for safari trips for guests all year, even during the monsoon season, which runs from 1st January to 31st December each year, depending on admission dates. During the monsoon season, most of the country’s protected areas are closed, but here’s something to make up for it.

Though one may enjoy the Jhalana Leopard Safari and admire the beautiful Leopard at any time, November to April is considered the greatest time to visit Jhalana reserve because the weather is pleasant and nature is in full bloom around this time, emphasising the splendour of the reserve.

GETTING TO THE JHALANA LEOPARD RESERVE:

By Air: The Jaipur International Airport is about 6 kilometres from Jhalana Leopard Reserve, which is around a 15-minute drive from the airport. There are numerous domestic and international flights linking the pink city of Jaipur to places around India and overseas. To get to Jhalana Safari Park, take a taxi, cab, or bus from the Jaipur airport.

By Rail: The nearest rail station to the Jhalana Leopard Reserve is Jaipur Junction. This is around 11.7 kilometres away from the forest. The station is a popular tourist destination with direct trains from major Indian cities such as Udaipur, Delhi, and Mumbai.You can either hire a taxi or use the local bus to get from the station to Jhalana.

By Road: A direct road passes close to the Jhalana forest reserve, connecting it to cities such as Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Kota, and others, which are further connected to India’s major cities. So, if you choose a direct road trip from Delhi, Mumbai, or Udaipur, you will have no trouble reaching Jhalana. To get to Jhalana, you can either drive yourself or take the state bus.