Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary in Kota

Distance : 56km south of Kota

Darrah, located 56 Km south of Kota, was the favourite hunting terrain of the maharajas of Kota with quite dense forest cover. It was of strategic value in medieval times as the invaders from Rajasthan moved into the Hadoti region and plains of Madhya Pradesh through this town.


¤ Darrah - the most Preferred Hunting Ground of the Maharajas

Darrah was formerly the favourite hunting terrain of the maharajas of Kota. In those days the region was a massive dense forest heavily populated with big and small game like tigers, deer and rhinos. Today very little of the wildlife remains, and even the forest has decreased to about 100 square miles. However, the sanctuary is worth a visit if you’re in Rajasthan, and chances of spotting a leopard or a sloth bear are pretty high. Antelopes and wolves can be seen at almost any given time, and the best places to see them from are the old hunting lodges of the rulers. These hunting lodges themselves are a sight to see, built specifically by kings for their hunts. The royalty, with their guests and an entourage of servants, would descend on a lodge for a week, staying here and making it the base for their excursions into the forest.


¤ Darrah formed A Great Pass

This region was also of immense strategic value during medieval times when battles were fought at the faintest clink of metal. The word darrah means `pass’, and it was through here that invaders from Rajasthan moved into the hills of Hadauti and onwards to the plains of Madhya Pradesh. The darrah pass was the venue for the marauding Marathas during the reign of Umed Singh in Bundi and Zalim Singh in Kota. Even the British found the pass to be the perfect place to engage the Rajputs and the Marathas.

Opening Timings : The sanctuary is open from July through September.

¤ Nearby Attractions

National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
Another place to visit is the nearby National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary which extends into Madhya Pradesh. The sanctuary spans an area of almost 550 square km and a number of animals like the gharial, blackbuck, antelopes and the scarcely sighted caracal can be sighted here.

Sorsan
While into fauna, you could also make a short trip to the Sorsan grasslands, a sight for sore eyes if you’re coming from the Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur route. 45km east of Kota, the grasslands have a rich variety of migratory birds and insects during the monsoons. Close at hand is a canal and a few ponds for ducks to splash around in.