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| Best Time To Visit
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September-March |
| Languages |
English, Hindi & Rajasthani |
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| NEARBY
CITIES |
Sawai
Madhopur: 10-km
Jaipur: 145-km
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A small village near the township of Sawai
Madhopur, in the state of Rajasthan, Ranthambore gets
its name from the two hills, Ran and Thambor, which
are in close proximity. The Ranthambore Park is set
between the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Its deciduous
forests were once a part of the magnificent jungles
of Central India. The terrain is rugged and there
are rocky ridges, hills and open valleys with lakes
and pools.
Ranthambore is a heritage site because of the picturesque
ruins that dot the park. There are lake palaces, 'chhatris',
old fortifications and a majestic 1,000-year-old fort
overlooking the park. The lovely Jogi Mahal is located
at the foot of the fort and gives magnificent view
of the Padam Talao, painted white with water lilies.
It has a chequered history and was the stronghold
of the Yadavas in the 8th century. It came under Chauhans,
and was ruled by them 10th century onwards. The Mughal
emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb also occupied the magnificent
fort.
The park is famous for tigers and due to conservation
efforts, the tiger population has stabilized if not
increased here. The tigers can be spotted quite often
even during the day, at their normal pursuits-- hunting
and taking care of their young ones.
Ranthambore is one of the best places to see these
majestic predators. Old crumbling walls, ruined pavilions,
wells, and other ancient structures stand witness
to the region's glorious past. The entire forest is
peppered with the battlements and spillovers of the
Ranthambore fort - tigers are said to frequent these
ruins, too.
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| PRIME ATTRACTIONS |
WILDLIFE
Ranthambore National Park:
Ranthambore National Park is an outstanding example
of Project Tiger's efforts at conservation in the country.
The forests around the Ranthambore Fort were once, the
private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur.
The desire to preserve the game in these forests for
sport was responsible for their conservation, and subsequent
rescue by Project Tiger. In 1972, it was estimated that
there were around 1927 tigers in India, of which Rajasthan
had 74, and the number of big cats in Ranthambore Sanctuary
was 14. 1972 was also the year that Project Tiger was
launched, and this sanctuary was taken into its wings,
along with seven other sanctuaries and national parks.
As a result of stringent efforts in
conservation, tigers, the prime assets of the park,
have become more and more active during the day. More
than in any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers
are easily spotted here in daylight. They can be seen
lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting
down Sambhar around the lakes. Therefore, Ranthambore
is probably the ideal park for wildlife photography,
and it does attract professional wildlife photographers,
from all over the globe.
Inhabitants Of
The Park:
Apart from tigers, the park has its share of panthers,
too. They are to be found on the outskirts of the
park, due to the inevitable conflicts with the tiger
population. Kachida Valley is believed to be the place
to sight these rather elusive cats. The other permanent
residents of the park include marsh crocodiles, hyenas,
jungle cats and sloth bears. Sambars are found in
abundance all over the area, the prime target of all
the predators. Chital, Nilgai, and Chinkara, are the
other inhabitants of the region. The avian population
comprises of about 264 species, found within the park.
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Watching
The Wild:
The park is best explored through jeeps
or lorries, which are available on hire. |
FORTS AND PALACES
The Fort:
Steep crags embrace a network of lakes and rivers,
and atop one of these hills, is the impressive Ranthambhore
Fort. Built in the 10th century, the fort is considered
to be one of the oldest forts in the state. Strategically
built on the border of Rajasthan and Malwa, the fort
houses some splendid monuments, within its precincts.
The terrain fluctuates between impregnable forests
and open bush land. The forest is the typically dry
deciduous type, with Dhok, being the most prominent
tree.
The Jogi Mahal:
The entry point to the park, goes straight to the
foot of the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal.
The latter boasts of the second-largest Banyan tree
in India.
The Badal Mahal:
The “palace of the clouds”, situated in
the fort has a very interesting location and seems
as if hanging out in space. The famous 84-column 'chhatri'
of King Hammir stands out magnificently where he used
to hold an audience. The Padam Talab, the Raj Bagh
Talab and the Milak Talab are some of the lakes in
the area worth seeing.
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| HOW TO GET THERE
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Air:
Jaipur (145-km) is the nearest airport.
Rail:
The Park is around 11-km away from Sawai Madhopur railway
station, that lies on the Delhi to Bombay trunk route.
Road:
A good network of buses connects Sawai Madhopur, the
nearest town, with quite a few areas around. |
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