Not too many people are aware of this but, in order to get to a wildlife sanctuary, one does not need to drive all the way to Jim Corbett or Sariska. In fact Delhi has its very own wildife sanctuary – the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary which, while not exactly comparable to the aforementioned wildlife sanctuaries, is still a boon for nature enthusiasts in the city.

The sanctuary is located at the southern extreme of Delhi and the road to the sanctuary is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Delhi with lush greenery and pink bougainvillea bushes on both sides. The park has two entrances through which it can be accessed. The main one is located close to the popular Surajkund area opposite the Karni Singh Shooting Range. The other, and lesser used, entrance is from the direction of Chhattarpur and the Bhatti area.

This side has no guides to accompany you and no proper tracks to follow. It's just a beautiful walk through some impressive scrub jungle. At the main entrance on the Surajkund side however, a guide can be arranged for those wanting one and there are proper vehicle and walking tracks that one can follow into the forest.

The sanctuary covers an area of 26 sq kilometers. Though not much wildlife exists in Asola anymore, the sanctuary is a haven for smaller birds and animals. Among the wildlife found here, some are the Nilgai or Blue Bull, Common Mongoose, Small Indian Civet, Small Indian Mongoose, Jungle Cat, Flying Fox, Porcupine, Palm Squirrel, Spiny tailed Lizards, Rufus Tailed Hare and Monitor Lizards.

However, Asola is more popular among wildlife buffs for its bird population than for its animals. The number of bird species found here are said to be in the region of 200. Some of these are Bee-eaters, Cormorants, Egrets, Grebes, Falcons, Partridges, Quail, Peafowl, Waterhens, Lapwings, Sandpipers, Woodpeckers, Doves, Parakeets, Cuckoos, Owls, Nightjars, Barbets, Swallows, Shrikes, Orioles, Drongos, Mynahs, Flycatchers, Warblers, Babblers, Wagtails, Pipits, Buntings and Muniahs among many others.

So, in case you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city without having to drive for five or six hours, just head out to Asola, and remember to carry your binoculars.