Sambhar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is India's largest saline lake covering an area of 190 sq km. It is located about 60 km towards west of Jaipur just outside prosaically named Salt Lake city. Average depth of this vast body of glacial saline is 0.6 cm deep and never increases 3 m even after monsoon. It has a length of 22.5 km and its width vary between 3 and 11 km. Two major rivers Mendha ahs Rupangarh feed this several seasonal freshwater stream. A 5 km long stone dam divides this vast, roughly elliptically shaped lake into two sections. The
The reservoirs for salt extraction, canals and saltpans all lie in the eastern section. Water is pumped through a sluice gate from vast shimmering western section to the other side when it reaches a degree of salinity considered optimal for salt extraction. The waters here are glacially still, edged with a glittering frost of salt. Flies abound, drawn by the blue-green algae in the water, and queue up in order to crawl into your mouth and ears. There is a sharp briny tang in the air that takes one straight back to coastal fish markets. An indigenously developed rail trolley system-the lines were laid by the British-takes one across the dam and to various far-flung points in the salt works.
The place has a tropical climate here like other north Indian places. The summer here are very hot which can even cross 45°C where as winters are really cold and temperature can drop down to 10°C.
From Jaipur it is day's trip only. One can take National Highway 8 to Dudu and then head north to Sambhar. Other way is take NH 8 to Malhan and then ask for Phulera which is a short way to Sambhar.
