Indira Priyadarshini (Asola) Wildlife Sanctuary

About Asola Wildlife Sanctuary

Located on the Southern Ridge which is on the northern fringes of Aravalli Hills, the oldest mountain ranges in the Country, Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is known worldwide for its biodiversity. As the Southern Ridge merges with the Indo-Gangetic Plains, it is the home of numerous flora and fauna. This wildlife sanctuary has many lakes that have been created due to pits formed by years of continuous mining.

One of them is the ‘Nili Jheel’ or Blue Lake which is the home of many types of fish and has rich population of many types of aquatic flora. Another Lake within this wildlife sanctuary is Lake Peacock, which has a narrow channel, rocky cliffs and beautiful sandy beach. 

A huge population of monkeys can be seen around these lakes. The deepest and largest lake of Asola, located on the Surajkund-Bhatti Road, is a resting place for the adventure seekers, cyclist and hikers. This wildlife sanctuary houses more than 193 types of birds. More than eighty butterfly species, numerous insects and mammals are seen in this sanctuary. The sanctuary also has many medicinal plants.   

Location of Asola Wildlife Sanctuary

Asola Wildlife Sanctuary is located in South Delhi District. This sanctuary is covered with extreme northern part of Aravalli Hills. Asola Sanctuary is located along the interstate border comprising of states of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi.

History of Asola Wildlife Sanctuary

Asola Wildlife Sanctuary is formed over an area of 4707 acres of land that includes Maidangiri, Asola and Shapur villages. This notification was given in the year 1986. In the year 1991, 2167 acres of land of Bhatti got added to this wildlife sanctuary area.

In the year 2000, an Eco-Task Force was formed by the Government of Delhi which was given the responsibility of restoring back of natural ecology of this region which was badly affected by uncontrolled mines of Bhatti Areas.

Fauna of Asola Wildlife Santuary

Visitors of Asola Wildlife Sanctuary could get to see many types of fish and migratory birds. A giant turtle resides in the water of ‘Nili Jheel’ of Asola Wildlife Sanctuary and is rarely seen on the surface of the water. Birds like Spot-billed Ducks, Northern can be seen at the lakes of Asola Wildlife Sanctuary. Birds like Peafowl, Orioles, are found in this sanctuary area.


Rocky cliffs around Lake Peacock of Asola Wildlife Sanctuary are the home of numerous Black Kites. Animals like Mongoose, Black Napped Hare and Striped Hyenas are seen in this wildlife sanctuary. Varieties of snakes are found in this wildlife sanctuary.

Flora of Asola Wildlife Sanctuary

Trees like Amaltas, Peepal, Dhak, Siris, Sheesham are found in abundance in the semi-arid forest area of Asoal Wildlife Sanctuary.  Thorny Kikkar is also seen in this region. Kankera, Ber and Bistendu. Trees are commonly seen in this wildlife sanctuary. Wild flowers like Little Glory, White Leadwort (Chitrak), are seen in this region.

Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary Monkey Feeding Shelter

 In the year 2007 in the month of March, an order has been issued by the Delhi High Court to capture and rehabilitate stray monkeys from the nearby areas of this wildlife sanctuary. For rehabilitation of these monkeys 30 platforms made of cement were built within Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. Fruits and vegetables are kept on these platforms from Azadpur Subzi Market so that monkeys can get their food.

How to Reach Asola Wildlife Sanctuary

Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is located 25 KM away from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. The sanctuary is located at a distance of 32 KM from Maharana Pratap Bus Stand and 30 KM away from Delhi Railway Station. 

Visitors could approach this wildlife sanctuary through two entry gates. One is from Mehrauli through Chhatarpur Temple which is only 6 KM away from the sanctuary. This gate is located at the terminal of Shani-Dham road, a road branching off from Chhatarpur Road. 

This sanctuary can also be reached from Tughlagabad-Surajkund Road. Nature Walks and School Kids prefer to enter this wildlife sanctuary through the gate located opposite to the Karni Singh Shooting Range situated on the Surajkund Road.