Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park A place famous for tiger sightseeing, Ranthambore captivates tourists by its fabulous beauty.

Introduction

Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve is located at a distance of 14km from Sawai Madhopur District in the state of Rajasthan. The sanctuary was once a hunting ground of the erstwhile Maharaja of Jaipur. It is a popular destination among wildlife enthusiasts. Surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravali hill ranges, the park serves as the natural habitat to the majestic royal Bengal tigers.

Ranthambore is also an ultimate destination for photographers as here they get to capture some of the best shots of wildlife. The wildlife sanctuary is visited by tourists from all over India as well as abroad to get a glimpse of the mighty tiger. Apart from tigers, it is home to huge variety of flora and fauna.

The Indian Government founded Ranthambore as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 which was listed under the “Project Tiger” reserves in 1973. In 1980, it was declared a national park. Currently, Kela Devi Sanctuary and Man Singh Sanctuary also fall under the reserve. Spread in an area of about 392 sq km, the park derived its name from the historical Ranthambore fort.

Attractions

Fauna

The park is mainly famous for tigers. However, tourists can also spot other animals such as Indian wild boars, leopards, sambar deers, striped hyenas, sloth bears, wild cats, chital, nilgai, common langurs, macaques, jackals, chinkara, black bucks, caracals, desert cats, five-striped palm squirrels, Indian false vampires, Indian flying foxes, Indian foxes, Indian mole rats, Indian porcupines, small Indian mongoose and small Indian civets. Common Indian toad and common frog comprise the amphibian species.

The park also has large number of reptiles like snub nosed marsh crocodiles, desert monitor lizards, tortoise, banded kraits, cobras, common kraits, Ganga soft shelled turtles, Indian pythons, north Indian flap shelled turtles, rat snakes, russel's vipers, saw-scaled vipers and Indian chameleon.  

About 272 species of birds, which consist of resident as well as migrant ones, are also found in the wildlife sanctuary. They include graylag goose, woodpeckers, Indian gray hornbills, common kingfishers, bee eaters, cuckoos, parakeets, owls, nightjars, pigeons, doves, crakes, snipes, sandpipers, gulls, terns, great crested grebe, eagles, darters, cormorants, egrets, herons, bitterns, flamingos, storks, crows, flycatchers, wood shrikes, bayas, sparrows, finches, wagtails, bulbul, mynas and falcons etc.

Flora

The place is blessed with richness of flora comprising about 300 species. As the park is near to the Thar Desert, the amount of rainfall is quite less here, resulting in the growth of dry deciduous type vegetation. Here, the trees of banyan, dhok, mango, pipal, jamun, kadam, khajur, khair, babul and imli are found in huge number. Its forests are majorly dominated by the trees of karel, khejda, kakera, mohua and neem.

Activities

The most popular activity among tourists is Jungle safari. You will have many thrilling moments while exploring the area through jungle safari for which canters and jeeps are used.

Other places to visit

From the famous 10th century Ranthambore Fort one can get the best and entire view of the park. Jogi Mahal, Kachida Valley, Raj Bagh Ruins, Padam Talao, Rajbagh Talao and Malik Talao are other major attractions in and around the park which are frequented by tourists.

Luxury hotels & resorts

Vivanta by Taj

The heritage hotel, earlier known as Sawai Madhopur Lodge, is a hot favourite among travellers. The building of the hotel is about 80 years old and very minor changes have been made to it. The luxury hotel once served the Maharaja of Jaipur and also Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. With its unsurpassed services, the hotel offers luxury in a grand way through its rooms and suites. The art deco styled hotel impresses its guests by its warm hospitality and old charm.  

 

The Oberoi Vanyavilas

This luxury jungle resort sprawled over 20 acres of land is blessed with the breathtaking surroundings of natural beauty. Its 25 beautifully crafted air-conditioned Swiss tents are equipped with contemporary high-end facilities. These tents with teak wood floors have finely embroidered canopies, private walled gardens and luxurious bathrooms.

Hotel Nahargarh Fort

This is a heritage hotel offering 68 air-conditioned luxury rooms. Surrounded by Aravali hills range, the 16th century styled fortress promises a memorable stay by providing excellent services and facilities. Its exceptional color scheme, ambience and style make it a popular luxury hotel offering absolutely comfortable stay.

Other prominent luxury hotels are Khem Vilas, Dev Vilas, Aman-i-Khas and Sher Bagh serving their guests with impeccable services. 

Luxury trains

Take a tour on luxury trains and cherish an experience of lifetime!! Palace on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Maharaja Express and Deccan Odyssey’s Indian Odyssey and Indian Sojourn offer tourists to view the splendid beauty of Ranthambore. Marked by luxury and opulence, these trains will take you to the bygone era of royalty.

Preferable time to visit

The park is open between October and June for visitors. However, the best time to visit Ranthambore National park is from October to March.

How to reach

By Air: Jaipur airport at 180 km from Ranthambore is the nearest airport.

By Rail: Sawai Madhopur at 10 km from Ranthambore is the nearest railway station.

By Road: Ranthambore is easily accessible by road. There are state-run and private buses as well as taxicabs to reach Ranthambore.

Ranthambore - a treat for wildlife lover

Ranthambore is renowned for its distinctive wildlife drawing huge number of tourists each year.