Desert National Park

Desert National Park covers about 3,000 sq km of the Thar Desert across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts. In place of forest it protects shifting sand dunes, rugged rocky ground and salt lakes, along with old ruins and traditional villages that lie within its limits. The area also holds a geological record stretching back some 180 million years.

Only certain shrubs, grasses and drought-hardy plants survive here, yet the park supports blackbuck, chinkara, desert foxes, camels and about 40 kinds of reptiles. Its best-known resident is the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard. Among the birds of prey, eagles, falcons, harriers, kestrels, buzzards and vultures live here year-round, and in winter migrant raptors such as Himalayan and Eurasian griffons, the eastern imperial eagle and the saker falcon arrive from across Eurasia. Camel rides suit the summer months and jeep safaris the winter.