Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
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Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is situated in the Churu district of Northwestern Rajasthan in the Shekhawati region of India. It is 210 km from Jaipur and situated on road from Ratangarh to Sujangarh. It is known for black bucks but it is also home of variety of birds. It is named after the village Chhapar that is located at 27°-50' North and 74°-25' East. It is a flat saline depression locally known as "Tal" that has a unique ecosystem in the heart of the Thar Desert.
It lies on the way of the passage of many migratory birds such as harriers. These birds pass through this area during September. Birds commonly seen in the sanctuary are harriers, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, sparrow, and Little Green Bee-eaters, Black Ibis and Demoiselle Cranes, which stay there till March. Whereas skylark, crested lark, Ring Dove, brown dove and blue jay are seen throughout the year.
Desert fox and desert cat can also be spotted along with typical avifauna such as partridge and sand grouse.
In the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary one very special type of grass is found. This grass locally is called Mothiya. The word mothiya comes come from the word Moti or from the English word for Pearl. The shape of the seed of this grass is like very fine round shaped pearls. Mothiya has a very sweet taste. People enjoy eating it, but and it is found in very small quantities -production is only few kilograms every season. This grass and Mothiya is also food for Black bucks and other birds who dig it from earth with their starks.
From Chhapar a very great philosopher and saint named Acharya Kaluram or Acharya Kalu Gani the eighth head of famous Jain Swetambar Terapanth religion belongs. Acharya Kalugani who was born in Chhapar was a great scholar of the Sanskrit, Rajasthani and Hindi languages and led over a thousand followers and monks. Today he has millions of followers throughout world.
The famous Acharya Shree Tulsi succeeded him and nowadays Achrya Shree Mahaprajna is their 10th Successor and head of the Terapanth Sect of the Jain religion.
