What are the Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries in Udaipur?

Wildlife Sanctuaries are probably not the first thing to pop into your mind when you think about Udaipur, right? Ladies, Udaipur is one diverse city. And when I say Udaipur has everything, I mean it. On your solo trip to Udaipur, you will see the Aravalli range and lush greenery encompassing the city. Especially the outskirts of the city are filled with various species of flora and fauna. Thus, Udaipur has quite a few wildlife sanctuaries, to many people’s surprise.

Wildlife sanctuaries in Udaipur

Some of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Udaipur are Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Mount Abu Sanctuary, Kumbhalgarh National Park, Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary, Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bagdarah Nature Park.

1. Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Let’s start with the nearest wildlife sanctuary to Udaipur. You have to travel 5 kilometres from the city to reach this place. I feel Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary has become a must-visit place for tourists. The wildlife sanctuary is home to the popular Sajjangarh Palace or the Monsoon Palace perched on the top of Bansdara Hill. The government of Rajasthan decided to convert the entire region of wilderness around the palace into a sanctuary.

On your way to the palace, you can explore this sanctuary. It is filled with innumerable birds and other wild animals. With luck by your side, you can spot panther, chital, sambhar, etc. All you have to do is have patience and use your senses to spot these wild animals.

How to reach: You can hire a cab or drive your car up to the sanctuary. There are shared jeeps available as well. Look out for the agencies that provide shared jeep services.

Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM except on Tuesdays.

Entry Fees: Indian tourists must pay Rs. 30, whereas foreign tourists must pay Rs. 300 to enter the sanctuary. Keep in mind that extra charges are applicable for cameras.

2. Mount Abu Sanctuary

Mount Abu is a place very close to my heart, and so is the sanctuary. Although you must travel for almost 3 hours to cover a distance of 163 kilometres from Udaipur, it is worth every second of your time. Whether you are an ardent lover of nature or wildlife, Mount Abu Sanctuary knows how to impress the visitors.

The sanctuary lies on the Aravalli range and offers panoramic views. I guarantee you will immediately fall for this place if you love adventure. You do not have to believe my words. Go check it out yourself! You can either trek your way through the jungles of Mount Abu or go for jeep safaris. 

Now can we skip to the best part? The sanctuary comprises a massive range of trees and 250 species of birds. You can easily spot leopards, hyenas, jungle cats, wolves, porcupines, bears, wild boars, etc., in the dense parts of the forest. 

How to reach: Mount Abu is the nearest city to the sanctuary. You can take a cab or bus to reach the sanctuary from the Morthala railway station.

Take a look at my blog post on how to reach Mount Abu.  

Timings: 9 AM to 5:30 PM

Entry Fees: Rs. 300 – Rs. 600 as per your guide and safari.

3. Kumbhalgarh National Park

Kumbhalgarh National Park is one of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Udaipur. The national park is named after the Kumbhalgarh Fort that resides inside the park. Tourists prefer to visit this park as it is far from the chaos of the city. 

This area of Kumbhalgarh was once the hunting ground of the royals. Later, the government decided to secure the diverse topography of the place and turned it into a sanctuary.

The real deal of the place is the famous 40 wolf pack. I hope you get to witness it. Besides, you can spot hyenas, jackals, antelopes, birds, etc.

How to reach: Take a cab from Udaipur to reach the national park.

Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fees: Rs. 100 on weekdays and Rs. 75 on weekends.

4. Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the closest to the city of lakes, Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, is at a distance of 51 kilometres from Udaipur. The sanctuary covers an area of 62 square kilometres. 

The presence of the lakes lets you spot crocodiles in the sanctuary. Other species like panthers, wild boars, deer, jungle cats, etc., can also be spotted.

How to reach: From private buses to taxis, you can opt for any mode of transport to reach the sanctuary from Udaipur.

Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM

Entry Fees: Rs. 10 for Indians. Rs. 80 for foreigners.

5. Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary

On your way to Chittorgarh from Udaipur, you must explore the Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary. Nature enthusiasts won’t be able to hold their excitement after visiting this place. It is at a mere distance of 5 kilometres from Chittorgarh.

The Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary is home to cheetahs, panthers, wild boars, antelopes, and other wild animals. Also, the Orai and Bassi dams are within the periphery of the sanctuary and attract many migratory birds.

How to reach: The best way to reach is by car from Udaipur.

Timings: 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Entry Fees: INR 10 for Indians and INR 80 for foreigners.

6. Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary

It is the farthest on the list, yet it is considered among the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Udaipur.

You can spot flying squirrels. It is probably the only place in North India where you can spot them. The sanctuary has more than a hundred varieties of plants with medicinal properties. If you are in the right season, you can also spot migratory birds.

How to reach: You can board a bus or go by car.

Timings: 9 AM to 5:30 PM

Entry Fees: Rs. 20 for Indians and Rs. 80 for foreigners.

7. Bagdarah Nature Park

The Bagdarah Nature Park is only 15 kilometres away from Udaipur. The nature park is primarily known for crocodiles. Hence it is also called Bagdarah crocodile reserve. The reserve plays an active part in the crocodile breeding project of Rajasthan.

You can have a little picnic at this place while enjoying the scenic beauty. There’s also a luxury campsite here. 

How to reach: You can use public transport to get to this place.

Timings: 9 AM to 5:30 PM

Entry Fee: Rs. 40

So these are the wildlife sanctuaries near the city of lakes. If possible, visit all of them, but I guess that’s not doable in one go! So make sure to pick your favourites and incorporate them into your Udaipur itinerary. A solo trip to Udaipur will remain incomplete if you do not visit one of these wildlife sanctuaries. 

Till then, keep travelling, ladies.