A small distance away from Shekhawati district lies a glorious sanctuary awaiting your arrival. Nestled in the heart of the great Indian Thar desert, Tal Chhapar is a refuge spot for blackbucks and a home to plentiful birds. The sanctuary may be small in size but it makes up for it with its long list of wildlife and beautiful sun-kissed fields. The sanctuary is not new to tourists and has always enjoyed many interested travelers exploring its beauty. However, after Salman Khan’s Blackbuck case, the popularity of this delightful forest soared even higher. The tall trees, shallow grasslands, auburn hues and scattered acacia liken the forest to a typical savannah and beckon curious explorers into its lap of wonders.
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India
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Rajasthan
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Jaipur Airport
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9/10 for Raptors sighting
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Beauty of Forest Index
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8/10 Beauty of Forest
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7/10 Stay & Amenities
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60 Days in Advance
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Flora of Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
Tal Chhapar has frequently been listed as a must go-to destination for bird lovers, and we’ll come to that, but first let me introduce you to some other exciting features of this grassland. The sanctuary has open fields, shallow grasses, low-lying vegetation, and a mix of Acacia and Prosopis trees. Technically, the forest is tropical but it leans towards a desert thorn forest more as per the classification of Indian forests. There are minimal trees and open plains, perfect for viewing some of the forest’s special mammals. Most importantly, the geology of the grassland makes it perfect for migratory birds to use it as a passageway making the forest come alive with flocks of vibrant birds dotting the sky during September all through winter till March.
Another peculiar finding in these magical lands has to be the Mothiya or pearl grass. This grass is specifically known to grow in small quantities at Tal Chhapar. Its seeds are round and pearly and the grass itself has a sweet after taste. If you come across this special grass during your expedition to Tal Chhapar, you can even have a bite!
- Acacia
- Prosopsis
Fauna of Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
Bird watchers usually gravitate towards the sanctuary during the winter months when the most diverse set of bird species decorate the horizon, common ones include harriers, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, sparrow, and Little Green Bee-eaters, Black Ibis and Demoiselle Cranes. There are many other birds like skylark, crested lark, Ring Dove, brown dove and blue jay are seen throughout the year. Although being celebrated for its assortment of birds, the forest has some good collections of mammals as well, especially unique ones like Blackbuck, desert fox, desert cat, wild dogs, deer and typical avifauna like partridge and sand grouse also!
The forest truly comes alive with the chirping and singing of its impressive bird collection during the migratory period. Thus, winters are usually the best time to visit Tal Chhapar and hundreds of visitors enjoy the pleasant temperatures, scenic beauty and the vibrancy of the wildlife during this time. The forest is also known for the curious case of Kurja! You can witness this majestic migratory bird that flies in from far off countries as Siberia, Magnolia, Tajikistan, central Asia and starts to migrate in the month of September
- Desert fox
- Desert cat
- Kurja crane
- Montagu’s Harrier
- Marsh harrier
- Pale harrier
- Imperial eagle
- Tawny eagle
- Short toed eagle
- Demoiselle Crane
- Sparrow hawk
- Skylark
- Crested lark
- Ring drove
- Brown dove
- Blue jay
- Green bee- eaters
- Black ibis
- Blue bull
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Explore The Known and Unknown of Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
The lively healing energy of the bird park is unparalleled, but that’s not all! At Tal Chhapar you have quite a few sightseeing and activity oriented options to explore in order to add colour to your exodus. In order to truly assimilate the essence of the savannah-ish forest, you must definitely go on a Jungle Safari. Enjoy the desert forest, its plants, trees and most of all its surprising wildlife as you cruise through the vast plains.
Like moths to flame, most visitors of Tal Chhapar are in anticipation of its exciting bird views. So, yes! When in Tal Chhapar one must definitely enjoy the birding sites and capture the rich fauna in your memory for years to come. Moreover, you should also look around outside the sanctuary as there are many monumental sights to behold. Firstly, the entire Shekhawati region is famous for its painted havelis, ancient step wells, cenotaphs, and forts. The towns of Mandawa, Churu, Fatehpur, and Ratangarh, etc are close to the sanctuary to see the beautiful murals and frescoes
Tal Chhapar Sanctuary Safari Booking
Timing: 5:30 AM – 6 PM on all days.
Entry Fees: INR 20 per person and INR 3500 per jeep safari trip.
How to reach Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
This popular birding destination is easily accessible and well connected to nearby cities by all kinds of transport. Located in Sujangarh Tehsil of Churu District, the sanctuary can be accessed via the nearest Jaipur Airport about 215 km away. Chappar is the nearest railway station to Tal Chappar Sanctuary and is located in the Degana-Churu-Rewari line. Tourists can access the bird park by taking a bus, hiring a taxi or driving by themselves along the Nokha-Sujangarh highway that’s only 85 km from Churu.
Resorts at Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
Tal Chhapar is one of the few destinations with a guest house arranged by the Forest Department just outside the park. The location is prime and the guesthouses are good for a comfortable stay. However, the number of rooms in the guesthouses are limited and sheer luck is required to land a spot there. But don’t fret! There are a number of different resorts and hotels that you can explore and choose from while on your trip to Tal Chhapar. The resorts, although privately owned, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and are varied from budget friendly to luxury and even premium class. The OYO 70829 Hotel Royal is an ideal spot for travelers wanting to discover the city.
The OYO 70829 Hotel Royal is an ideal choice for travelers who want to take in the sights and sounds of Churu. This hotel makes a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of sightseeing. Raptors Inn is another popular choice, its budget friendly and home based located in very close proximity to the Tal Chhapar sanctuary. The Inn provides an authentic family stay option and offers home cooked food along with an amazing experience of bird watching. If you want a city oriented premium hotel then a good choice would be Hotel Parmeshwari.
You can make yourself at home in one of the 54 guestrooms featuring minibars and LED televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. It also offers mouth watering food options, from restaurants to the hotel’s impeccable room service. Other possible options include Chirmi Churu Hotel, Alsisar Mahal, Ramgarh Fresco and Malji Ka Kamra