Ranthambore National Park is famous for frequent tiger sightings. It is commonly saying : if do not see tiger here than you cannot see tiger else where. Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest National parks of India and most famous one. Situated in the vicinity of the Aravali hills and Vindhya plateau, the Ranthambore forest covers an area of 1334 sq km with having the 392 sq km of the area as the national park. Highly revered for the natural habitat to the significant number of Royal Bengal tigers, the Ranthambore tiger reserve is very popular among the wildlife lovers for its diurnal tigers, which means tourist can easily spot a tiger during their day safari visit.
Ranthambore National Park is in Sawai Madhopur District of Rajasthan state.Located at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya hill range, this is one of the finest places to view animals, especially as they are used to being stared at here.The park covers an area of Approximately 400 sq Km and if combined it with the area of sawai man singh sanctuary area,it is around 500 Sq km.
Ranthambore national park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974 it gained the protection of “Project Tiger”. It got it’s status of a National Park in 1981.
Ranthambore National Park is dotted with structures that remind you of bygone eras.There are many water bodies located all over the park, which provide perfect relief during the extremely hot summer months for the forest inhabitants. A huge fort, after which the park is named, towers over the park atop a hill. There are many ruins of bygone eras scattered all over the jungle, which give it a unique, wonderful and mixed flavour of nature, history and wildlife.Tigers at Ranthambore National park have been known to even hunt in full view of human visitors. These tigers are famous for being seen in the daytime too, due to their lack of fear of human presence in vehicles. This lack of fear of humans is excellent for tourists, as they get to see the tigers often.
This National park is a wildlife enthusiast and photographer’s dream. It offers excellent accommodation and internal transportation facilities. The park remains open every year from October to May.Famous for the exciting and frequent tiger sightings captured dramatically in several books, this park is today affected by ecological pressures and poaching.
The Ranthambhore National Park not only boasts of its populous tiger reserve, but also the heritage sites which includes the mighty Ranthambore Fort, Jogi Mahal, Ancient temple and Rajbagh ruins which are the reminders of glory and grandeur of the Rulers of Ranthambore. Many picturesque lakes like Padam Talao, Malik Talao, Raj Bagh Talao and others are enriching the landscape of this forest which consists of deciduous forest, small hills, valleys and lush greenery. The park is enclosed by the Chambal River and Banas River from the two sides enhancing the wild ambience of the Ranthambhore forest. Without any doubt, the tour to this National Park of Rajasthan will be the best holiday for you if you actually love nature and wildlife. The whole experience of watching majestic tigers roaming freely in the park, a mesmerizing gamut of ultimate species of animals and birds and captivating greenery will enthrall your mind and you will be thanking yourself for having embarked on this wildlife journey Click Here For More Information About National Park.
FACTS :RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK
- 1955 – Establishment of the Sawai Madhopur Gaming Sanctuary to protect wildlife by the Government of India.
- 1973 – The Ranthambore forest is incorporated in the Project Tiger, a tiger conservation initiative by Indian Government.
- 1973 – The Ranthambore forest is incorporated in the Project Tiger, a tiger conservation initiative by Indian Government.
- 1980 – Ranthambore forest declared as the National Park.
- 1984 – The adjacent forests of Ranthambore were acknowledged as the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary.
- 1991 – The Ranthambore tiger reserve was extended to incorporate the Sawai Mansingh and Kaladevi Sanctuaries.
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Ranthambore National Park is Home To-
- 40 species of mammals
- 320 species of birds
- 40 Species of Reptiles
- 50 species of Butterflies
- 300 species of plants
Ranthambore Tourist Attractions
Ranthambore Fort
One of the ancient forts in India, the Ranthambore Fort is declared as the UNESCO world heritage site due to its historical significance. The fort is located inside the Ranthambore National Park, at the distance of 13 km from the Sawai Madhopur railway station. This heritage fort is said to be built in 944 AD and has witnessed the long history of Rajasthan. The epitome of valor and pride of the Rajput rulers of the various Kingdoms, the Ranthambore Fort was the strategic fort and thus captured by various rulers. At the time of the Independence of India and the abolition of the imperial era, the fort was under the Maharaja of Jaipur and the Ranthambore forest was the exclusive hunting ground for the Royals of Jaipur Kingdom.
Trinetra Ganesha Temple
Highly famous among the devotees of the Lord Ganesha since ancient times, the Ganesha temple located at the entrance of the Fort is the only temple of Trinetra Ganesha in the country. The idol of Lord Ganesha with his wives Riddhi and Siddhi makes it also a special temple of Ganesha with his full family. There are many legends associated with the foundation of the temple which make this temple a unique and popular religious place for the Hindu devotees. The temple is also famous for its unique tradition of getting the postal invitation letters sent by the devotees for inviting the Lord Ganesha for any auspicious occasion in their family. The temple receives many thousands of invitation letters every day and each and every letter has been read by the priest in front of the Idol.
Bakula Region
Considered as the best region for the tiger visibility in the Ranthambore forest, the Bakula region is the ultimate scenic landscape covered with the dense greenery and water bodies. The thickly forested land of Bakula along with the numerous ponds, water holes give the unique wilderness effect to the Ranthambore forest. Due to the dense forest, water availability and remote area, there is the abundance of the wildlife in the area making it a paradise for the wildlife lovers. The tiger sighting is relatively high in this area and tourists often get the sight relaxing tiger, especially tigress relaxing or walking with her cubs are often seen in the area.
Kachida Valley
Located at the periphery of the tiger reserve zone, the Kachida Valley is a must visit place for the wildlife with the abundance of the panthers, bears and other wild animals as well as a distinguished mesmerizing landscape which having steep outcrops, small valley, low hills, ravines and water bodies. The lush greenery and tranquil surroundings make this place a true wilderness away from any human activity. You can visit here only through the Jeep Safari Ranthambore and explore the wilderness and the beauty of the Kachida Valley.
Jogi Mahal
The Jogi Mahal, which is now a tourist attraction inside the Ranthambore forest, was once the resting abode for the Royals of Jaipur Kingdom while they visit Ranthambore for the hunting excursion. The small palace beautifully nestled in the wilderness of the Ranthambore at the bank of the famous Padam Lake offers an amazing site for monuments lovers. The big banyan tree situated near the palace is the second largest banyan tree in the country which is also an attraction for tourists.
Padam Talao:Nothing beats a beauty of a lake in the dry deciduous forest and thus one can’t ignore Padam Talao while visiting inside the Ranthambore forest. It is the biggest lake in the vicinity and home to a large number of resident and migratory birds. The Jogi Mahal, another testimony to the Royal grandeur inside the forest, located beside the lake adding an ancient view to the lake.
Malik Talao :One of the famous lakes within the forest, the Malik Talao offers you a captivating natural view along with some good sighting of marsh Crocodiles. A large number of beautiful birds are found around this small lake.
Raj Bagh Talao :Known as the best place to spot a tiger, the Raj Bagh Talao is among the beautiful lakes of the forest. This lake is named after the Raj Bagh whose ruins are located beside the lake.
Raj Bagh Ruins :Located in between the two famous lakes – Padam Lake and Raj Bagh Lake, the ruins are of the pre-historic era and offer you a view that enhances the beauty of the landscape.
Dastkar Ranthambore :
A small souvenir market located outside the forest offering you the handmade gifts and memento such as beautifully crafted colorful handbags, cushion or pillow covers, table cloths, sandals and many more things which are not only beautiful but durable too.
Jung leTour in Ranthambore National Park :Exploring the interiors of a dense wild forest always fascinates wildlife lovers and they visit such forest where they can explore the wildlife. The forest of Ranthambore has always been an attraction for the wildlife tourists for many years due to its amazing wildlife especially the Royal Bengal Tigers. The safari organized by the Ranthambore forest administration is the best way to explore the large tranquil forest which is the natural habitat for the numerous distinct wildlife species. The Jeep safari and Canter Safari are the only two options to explore the Ranthambore National park. Here are details about the safari organized in the Ranthambore tiger reserve-
Jeep Safari Inside Ranthambore Park :The Jeep Safari Ranthambore is the Jungle tour allowed in the 6-seater Jeep vehicle which is all sides open vehicle for the best viewing experience. Jeep is considered the best option for the wildlife photography and mostly preferred by the core wildlife enthusiasts as the Jeep, being a smaller vehicle than the Canter, can go even in the narrow place and can easily trail the wild animals without making much noise which increases the chance to spot the tiger as well as provide you the closer view of the wildlife. Also, the few number of seats means you can book all the seats in Jeep for you and your friends or family, and trail the wildlife as per your likings within the allotted zone and time slot. The Jeep safari is organized in two shifts in a day and 17 Jeeps are allowed in each shift.
Canter Wildlife Safari :The Canter Safari is the Jungle tour allowed in the 20-seater Bus which is also all sides open vehicle to offer you the best viewing experience. The Canter Safari is not as good as the Jeep Safari, but it offers you the economical way to explore the forest. Also, it is hard to book a seat on a Jeep Safari as almost all the seats in Jeep Safaris have been booked in advance, while it is comparatively easy to get seats in Canter Safari. The Canter Safari is also organized in two shifts in a day and 20 Canter is allowed in each shift. However, the number of tourists is much higher than the available safari so it is always advised to book your Jeep or Canter safari well in advance before visiting the Ranthambore to avoid any last minute hassle.
Zones: There are 10 safari zones in the Ranthambore National Park and the zones are randomly allotted to the safari vehicles at the time of entry by a computer generated zone allotment system. Each vehicle has to enter in the given zone only and is allowed to drive anywhere within the zone but only on the safari tracks. The sighting of the Majestic tiger depends on the sheer luck, but zone 1 to 6 are considered best zones when it comes to the tiger sighting as the most of the big lakes are in these zones and the chances of spotting tigers, leopards and other wild animals are higher near the water bodies.
Best time to Visit Ranthambore for Tiger Sighting : As the Ranthambore National Park is situated in the western part of India and has a dry subtropical climate. The ‘extreme’is a common phenomenon for the temperature in the Ranthambore region as it crosses above 45 degrees in the peak summer season as well as it drops up to 2 degrees in the peak winter season. So, from October to April is a relatively better time to visit Ranthambore, as the temperature is moderately warm in the daytime and cool at night.
During the period from July to September, the park is closed due to the monsoon season and the monsoon season is the mating season for the Tigers. However, the summer season is considered best for the tiger sighting, especially, near the lakes and water holes as big cats often visit to quench the thirst and also to hunt the prey who visit the lakes.