Ranthambore Tour

Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the world’s best known wilderness areas. Located 14 kilometres from Sawai Madhopur and at the junction of some of the geologically oldest mountain ranges - the Aravallis and Vindyas - Ranthambore offers some of the finest opportunities for sighting the magnificent tiger in the wild. A mix of rolling hills and crags, and meadows, lakes and rivulets, this dry-deciduous forest system is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna. Apart from the tiger, you can also spot sloth bear, leopard, caracal, jackal, fox, hyena and mongoose at Ranthambore. The elusive Indian wolf too, has been spotted here occasionally.

The dainty chital, sambhar deer, the blue bull antelope or nilgai, rhesus macaque, langur and an incredible variety of birds amidst a setting of dhok, fig and banyan trees makes a visit to this park a delight – for tourists and naturalists alike. Basking crocodiles, king vulture on a snag, the scream of the serpent eagle, the alarm call of spotted deer are some sights and sounds that make this a safari experience like none other. The landscape is dominated by the 10th century fortress of Ranthambore while the valleys have numerous cenotaphs, ruins and abandoned settlements overcome by nature - testament to battles and romances of an era long gone. Open from October to June, Ranthambore is accessible by rail from Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur and by road from Jaipur and Delhi. Sawai Madhopur has a range of accommodation to suit every budget and travelers can stay back for a few days to soak in the sunshine and calm of the forests. Given the popularity of the Park among tourists from across the world, it is advisable to make reservations in advance.

Ranthambore - Location
Ranthambore is situated in the Northwestern state of Rajasthan. It lies midday between Bharatpur and Kota townships, close to the town of Sawai Madhopur.

Ranthambore - When To Visit
The best time to visit Ranthambore is anytime between November and March. During the summers, the weather can get too hot for some.

Ranthambore - History In Brief
The Ranthambore National Park, was initially a hunting area of the Maharaja of Jaipur. It was declared a game sanctuary in 1955 and in 1980 it became a National Park and came under the Tiger Project.

While you are on your tour of the Ranthambore National park, you can check out Tigers besides various other animals. The great thing about this National Park is that here you can observe the magnificent Tiger at close quarters. There are approximately 25 tigers and 40 leopards in the Reserve. They can usually be spotted on the edges of three lakes, the Padam Talab, Raj Bagh Talab and Milak Talab. There are many panthers too, which can be spotted close to Kachida Valley.
In Ranthambore you can see sambar, chital, nilagai, boar, gazelle, mongoose and Indian hare. Various kinds of birds can also be seen such as the black, stork, the painted stork and peafowl. There are also Indian horned owl, quail, paradise flycatcher, partridge and spur fowl.

Ranthambore - Excursions
A good site for excursion is the Ranthambore Fort, which was built by Chauhan rulers in the 10th century. Many people have heard of this fort because when a Muslim invader Alauddin Khilji laid siege to this fort in 1303, then the women of the household performed jauhar, to save their honor. The Fort was declared a protected site by the Archeological survey of India. The fort is definitely worth a tour, if you are exploring the Ranthambore National Park.