Sariska Tiger Reserve covers 866 sq km of the Aravalli hills, 35 km west of Alwar, and is one of India's less-visited wildlife sanctuaries despite being easily accessible from Delhi. That relative obscurity works in its favour — jeep tracks that in Ranthambore would be traffic-jammed are here often empty, and the scrub forest has an untouched quality that feels genuinely wild.
The reserve is home to Bengal tigers (relocated after the poaching catastrophe of the early 2000s), leopards, striped hyenas, jungle cats, and large populations of sambar, chital, and nilgai. Winter and spring (October to June) are the best times to visit; the reserve closes during monsoon. Safaris depart from Sariska village in jeeps hired through the forest department. The ancient Pandupol Hanuman temple inside the reserve is also a draw for pilgrims.