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Wildlife, Faridabad

Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary

The Aravalli forest on the Delhi side of the border, run by the Delhi forest department. Easy morning walks near the Tughlakabad gate, and Neeli Jheel deep inside.

Directions (opens Google Maps)

What it is

Asola Bhatti covers the old mining belt of the southern ridge, now growing back as scrub and dhau forest. Leopards and jackals live here, though you are far more likely to see birds, especially in winter.

Near the Tughlakabad gate there are short walks, including a 1.5 km jungle walk through old dhau trees and a butterfly park. Neeli Jheel, the blue lake people come to photograph, is about 14 km inside.

Getting there

The entry is the Tughlakabad gate on Shooting Range Road. From Faridabad, take the Violet Line north to Tughlakabad and an auto from there, or drive in via the Surajkund side. Tickets can be booked online on the sanctuary's website.

When to go

The sanctuary opens at 7 am, and the first couple of hours are the best for birds and for avoiding the heat. Winter is the best season. Weekends get crowded, and the Hindustan Times has reported long waits for parking near the lake on busy Sundays.

Good to know

The official site says permits for the Neeli Jheel drive are issued at the gate, but rules on vehicles inside have changed before, so check when you book. Carry water and wear closed shoes. Phones and cameras need a Rs 10 instrument ticket, and bicycles go in free.

More places in Faridabad

VenueSurajkundA 10th-century stepped reservoir in the Aravallis and, beside it, the ground where the Surajkund crafts mela runs every year from late January into February.Badarpur Border, 4–5 kmLakeBadkal LakeDry for years, Badkal has water again, pumped in as treated sewage. The tourist works around it are running years late and the water quality is disputed.Badkal MorParkTown Park, Sector 12Faridabad's biggest town park, around 40 acres in Sector 12. Good for a long walk or a run, though the upkeep has slipped in recent years.Badkal Mor or Old FaridabadMonumentRaja Nahar Singh PalaceBallabgarh's 18th-century palace, tucked into the old market at Ambedkar Chowk. Haryana Tourism runs it as a small heritage hotel with a restaurant.Raja Nahar Singh

All places to visit in Faridabad