Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary

Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary covers about 288 sq km of the Aravalli hills surrounding Mount Abu in Sirohi district. Set up in 1960, it protects a green and relatively cool island in a largely arid state: granite cliffs, deep ravines and wooded valleys rising to Guru Shikhar (1,722 m), the highest point of the range.

Vegetation runs from subtropical evergreen forest to dry deciduous woodland, with drought-adapted scrub in drier patches, and includes more than 800 flowering plants such as orchids, ferns, bamboo, sandalwood and khair. Leopards are the top predators; sloth bears, sambar, chinkara, wild boar, jungle cats, civets, porcupines and striped hyenas also occur. Over 250 bird species have been recorded, among them the Indian paradise flycatcher, grey junglefowl and green avadavat. Trails lead to Sunset Point and Honeymoon Point, and Trevor's Tank, made in colonial times for breeding crocodiles, is a quiet spot for birdwatching.