About Ranthambhore National Park

The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country, although even here their numbers have dwindled due to poachers. Most visitors spending a couple of nights here are likely to spot one of these wonderful animals, although many leave disappointed. Set in dry deciduous forest, some trees trailing matted vines, the park's rocky hills and open valleys are dotted with small pools and fruit trees.

The reserve covers 410 sq km between the Aravalli and Vindhya hills. Scrubby hillsides surrounding Ranthambhore village are pleasantly peaceful, their miniature temples and shrines glowing pink in the evening sun before they become silhouetted nodules against the night sky. Once the private tiger reserve of the Maharajah of Jaipur, in 1972 the sanctuary came under the Project Tiger scheme following the government Wildlife Protection Act. By 1979, 12 villages inside the park had been 'resettled' into the surrounding area, leaving only a scattering of people still living within the park's boundaries. Should the tigers evade you, as you pass along misty dust tracks as the crisp morning air disperses with the sunrise, you may well spot leopard, hyena, jackal, marsh crocodile, wild boar, langur monkey, bear, and many species of deer and birdlife. The park's 10th-century fort, proudly flanked by two impressive gateways, makes a good afternoon excursion after a morning drive.

It is best to visit from October to April, though vegetation dies down in April exposing tigers. Maximum temperatures from 28-49^C. It can be very cold at dawn in winter.

Ranthmbhore Fort: (12 kms. from the Resort) Perhaps the only one fort, which is not visible from a long distance. The Fort is a massive enclave and quite high. Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gifted it to Sawai Madho Singh I of Jaipur in 1754 AD and since then it was maintained as the private hunting preserve. Much later, Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh were part of the Royal Hunting, who stayed here too. It is a unique Rajput Fort.

Archeological Department took it in 1964. It is 1578 ft from the sea level and 750ft from ground. Total area of the fort is about 7 miles. There is no drive way up to the fort, just the stairs. There are three big artificial lakes up in the Fort.

The Ganesh Temple: Located almost centrally in the sprawling fort, the Ganesh temple is still thronged by countless devotees, particularly during the Ganesh Chaturthi fair. An interesting aspect is the arrival of Lord Ganesha's mail from his devotees, which is a daily feature and requires the services of a postman who brings up sacks full of it to the temple.

Amareshwar Mahadev Temple: Nestled amongst the sylvan surroundings of the hills around Ranthambhor Park is the Amareshwar Mahadev Temple . A waterfall and the verdant grove also make the trip to the temple ideal for a picnic.

Balas at Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary: Approx. 10 kms from Sawai Madhopur City, lies this haven for wildlife in the scenic area of the Aravalli Hills. An ideal additional trip or alternative to the safari in RANTHAMBHORE National Park, this sanctuary offers rugged hillsides, beautiful scenery, wildlife and birds. It is one of the best habitats in the area for the Leopard, the Honey Buzzard, the Indian Coarser and many more!

Sawai Madhopur Town: Famous for folk arts.

Bhairon Temple: The Bhairon Temple is located atop the hill close to the main entry point of Sawai Madhopur.

Jain Temple: At a distance of 3 km from Sawai Madhopur railway station is the Chamatkar Temple dedicated to the Join Tirthankar, Rishabh Deo.

Devpura: 14 km from Sawai Madhopur Where black buck abound, is not far from Surwal villages. Interestingly, black buck are almost never seen inside the RANTHAMBHORE Tiger reserve due to their preference for open spaces to jungles along with this trip you can get closer meet with the villages cultural.

Rameshwarghat: Situated about 60 km from Sawai Madhopur, at the confluence of the Banas and Chambal rivers, is Rameshwaram,the site of a stately Shiva Temple . The festivities on Shivratri are colourful.

Gilai Sagar and Mansarovar: GILAI SAGAR and MANSAROVAR are two major water bodies outside the reserve that attract thousands of migratory birds during the winter. Ideal for bird watchers.

Fort of Khandar: The fort of KHANDAR is on the far side of the reserve and well worth a visit.These forts command stunning views of the area. It is also intersting to visit the resettled complexes of Kailashpuri and Gopalpura if you are interested in the story of how communties left the park to give way to the tigers thereby allowing them to flourish.