Ranthambore National Park is one of India's frequently visited wildlife reserves. The park is spread over a massive area of 392 sq km in the town of Sawai Madhopur, in the state of Rajasthan. The park, which is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country, is one of the best places in the country to see these majestic predators in the wild. It also contains abandoned fortress and lakes. The prime assets of the park are the extinct tigers that are slowly diminishing. Getting back into time, these forests formed the the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The Ranthambore National Park is regarded as the most suitable place for wildlife photography in the world. Its 'friendly' tigers have made it one of the most filmed wildlife reserves in the world. Ranthambore was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and became part of Project Tiger in 1973. Here you can capture the tiger in its various moods and moments. A walk down Ranthambhore will ensure some spectacular sight. If one notices, you will find open shrubs, lush grasslands and calm lakes. This park one witnessed the majestic Ranthambore Fort, today however only the ruins and remnants remain. It is set between the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges, and located very near to the outer fringes of the Thar Desert. The varied topography of the national park is home to animals like the jackal, mongoose, sloth bear, leopard, and of course, the tiger. Ranthambore National Park is famous for its Tigers and is a favorite with photographers. For a relatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of fauna and flora - species list includes 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, 272 birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile & amphibians and 30 mammals. The entry point to the Ranthambore National Park, goes straight to the foot of the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The highlight of the place is extinct species of tiger. Year after year, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve continues to attract numerous tourists worldwide. The tigers can be spotted even during daytime, quite often hunting and taking care of their cubs.
For the wildlife savvy, Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary today offers an intense diversity of flora and fauna. Tigers, the park's pride makes it one of the best places in the country to observe them. Apart from that a large numbers of Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Gazzelle, Boars, Mongoose, Indian Hare, Monitor Lizards and a large number of birds. Besides these majestic predators, it is a sheer delight to see the other creatures of nature. A pack of langurs hopping from one tree to another is a common sight. The "Chinkara", is the the Indian Gazelle and the smallest gazelle in the world is also found here. The park has some calm lakes, one of them is the "Malik Talao" where one can get to see a large variety of birds there. The landscape is dotted with ancient Banyan Trees, Dhok & Pipal trees, clusters of mango trees and crisscrossed with evergreen belts. The terrain is made up of massive rock formations, steep scarps, perennial lakes and streams and forest suddenly opening up into large areas of Savannah. The amazing variety of the terrain and also the vegetation present a fascinating display of contrasting colours. The park can be toured in a jeep or lorry-van. A guide and a park ranger generally accompany tourists. There is a network of four travel tracks inside the park for safaris. This park is opened from October and closes around May every year. Park is famous for its tiger sightseeing, which is captured in various different books.
Climate : A good time to visit is between November and May when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes sightings common. Summers (April. June) are particularly harsh with temperatures above 38°C. The area receives rainfall in July and August. The onset of winters (October. March) brings down the temperature and encourages tourists to visit Ranthambore. Ranthambore National Park is open from 1st October to 30th June (July - September closed to visitors).
Get IN :
By Air : The nearest airport is the Jaipur Airport, about 145 km away. Regular flights are available from Jaipur to other destinations in Indian including Delhi, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Jodhpur, and Udaipur.
By Road : An excellent road network links Ranthambore will the other major cities of Rajasthan. Distance by road: Delhi - 480 km (via Dausa), Jaipur - 180 km (via Tonk).
By Rail : Nearest Town is Sawai Madhopur, situated on the Delhi-Mumbai railway line and also linked with Jaipur and Agra by rail. Distance by rail: Delhi - 362 km, Agra - 227 km, Mumbai - 1027 km, Kota - 108 km, Jaipur - 132 km.
