Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is a significant ecological zone that provides a buffer between the urban landscape and natural wilderness. Situated on the Delhi-Haryana border, the sanctuary is part of the Southern Ridge Forest and stretches across Delhi, Faridabad, and Gurgaon.
Spread over an area of 32.71 square kilometres , the sanctuary is also part of the Aravali hill, which is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. In Delhi, Sanctuary passes through historical sites such as Chattarpur Temple, Tughlakabad, Surajkund, Anangpur Dam, and Adilabad Ruins.
Leopard wildlife corridor
The Aravali range has always been an important habitat for wildlife, but rapid construction activities by humans have disturbed the ecology. To conserve wildlife, the government has identified a 200 km long Sariska to Delhi leopard wildlife corridor. Corridor provides seamless movement to wild animals like leopards and jackals of Aravali.
History
As we already discussed, the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary was once a place of mining. There were illegal mining activities around the place for Lal Badarpur sand and stone. In the sanctuary, you can see abandoned mine pits that have now turned into lakes. To curb all these activities, the government awarded protection status in 1896 to these community lands (4707 acres), and the Bhati lands of Asola, Shahpur, and Maidangadi were notified. In 1991, it was renamed the Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary, which derives its name from Asola village, near Tughlakabad in Delhi.
Flora and Fauna
The semi-arid forest vegetation of the Aravali region provides homes to certain plant species. It includes dhak (flame of the forest), babool (Acacia), khejri, and various shrubs and grasses that are well-adapted to dry conditions.
The sanctuary is also home to a wide variety of animals, including the Indian leopard, jackal, Indian blue bull, sambar deer, wild boar, and mongoose. It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 200 species of birds spotted here, including the Indian peafowl, crested serpent-eagle, and Indian roller.
Reptiles such as the monitor lizard, Indian cobra, and Russell’s viper can also be found here. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of butterflies and insects, making it a great place for nature enthusiasts.
Things to do near Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
Butterfly park
Everyone loves butterfly colours. To spread awareness about them, the Delhi government established a butterfly park in an area of 2.5 acres that houses different species of butterflies. The whole process of a butterfly flying between native plants, host plants, and nectar plants is beautiful to watch.
Nursery
Different varieties of plants and trees are grown in the nurseries. Many plants that grow in nurseries are planted in the city.
On a Bicycle
If you love cycling on weekdays, you can go for a 3 km long Neelam Talav cycle. The flora and fauna of Aravalli give you a great feel of nature.
Five Hidden Lakes
In the Sanctuary, several mining pits have filled with rainwater over the years. It has now converted into serene lakes that have become a popular spot for nature lovers.
Neel jheel
Reclaimed from the land of Mines, the Asola wildlife sanctuary houses a number of lakes, and Neel Jheel is one to consider. But be careful, the trail is not that well marked; Use pre-downloaded maps to avoid getting lost. The place can serve as a great picnic spot. Do not swim in the lake because it is very deep and not ideal for swimming.
Timing
The wildlife sanctuary is open from Monday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed on Sunday.
Ticket price
Entry to the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary is free.
How To Reach Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
By road: Asola Wildlife Sanctuary is located about 20 km from the heart of Delhi, and can be reached by road via the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road. You can take a taxi or hire a private car to reach the sanctuary.
By metro: The nearest metro station to Asola Wildlife Sanctuary is the Saket metro station on the Yellow Line and Tughlakabad Metro Station on the Violet Line. From there, you can take a taxi or an auto-rickshaw to reach the sanctuary.
By train: The nearest railway station to Asola Wildlife Sanctuary is the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, which is located about 20 km away. From there, you can take a taxi or hire a private car to reach the sanctuary.
By air: The nearest airport to Asola Wildlife Sanctuary is the Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is located about 25 km away. From there, you can take a taxi or hire a private car to reach the sanctuary.