Tourist Places in Sawai Madhopur

Sawai Madhopur is one of the prominent conurbations of Rajasthan. Popularly known as the 'Gateway to Ranthambore', the town has seen many historic episodes and reigns. Sawai Madhopur has partly plain and partly undulating hilly terrain. The South and south east part of the district has hills and broken ground which form a part of a vast track of rugged region enclosing the narrow valley of the Chambal river. Surrounded by Vindhyas & Aravalis, this place is a treat for adventure enthusiasts as well as the ones with a fascination for history, with the Ranthambore National park- the most renowned national park in northern India and the Ranthambore Fort which was recently included in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, being the main attractions.
Passed on from the Chauhan Rajput king, Govinda to Vagabhatta, from RanaKumbha to Akbar and Aurangzeb, the city has been patronized by almost all the rulers. Beautification and renovation of the city has been regularly undertaken in almost all the regimes. Under the rule of Rao Hammir, the last Chauhan ruler the Ranthambore region prospered magnificently. In ancient India the region was more popularly known as Ranthambore. It was much later that it received the name, Sawai Madhopurfrom Maharaja SawaiMadhoSinghji I who is believed to have given the city its current plan in 1765 AD. During the British Rule Sawai Man Singh built a railway line between Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur. As a result it became accessible from a central spot in the state of Rajasthan. Today it has grown as one of the popular tourist destination in India.
Former state of Karauli, Ranthambore was amongst the strongest forts of medieval India and is linked to Prithviraj, the ruler of Shakambhari who has golden cupolas put on the Jain temple of Ranthambore. To check the increasing incurious of the Marathas, Madho Singh, the ruler of Jaipur State requested for the grant of the fort of Ranthambore but did not succeed.

Ranthambore National Park
Are you a wildlife photographer? Then, you are at the right site. A place which once served the Jaipur kings to quench their thirst of hunting is now an abode for a lot of wild animals. Ranthambore National Park is surrounded by other sanctuaries like Mansingh Sanctuary and Kaila Devi Sanctuary. It's a thrilling sight to spot the predators in their natural habitat. Sighting a tigress nurturing her little ones is a great experience. The National Park is filled with a wide variety of birds and other animals and is certainly worth a visit.

Ranthambore Fort
The majestic Ranthambore Fort is said to have been built in the mid 10th century. The earlier name of the fort was Ranasthambha during the reign of Prithviraj Chauhan. The fort has been ruled by the Chauhans, the Mughals and the Delhi Sultans. Located amidst the lush green forests of Aravali and the Vindhya mountains, this fort is a splendid grandeur. The massive fort spreads across an area of 7 km and is known for its Hammir court. Even the slightest of murmurs gets echoed in a most fascinating way here due to its acoustic ambience.

Trinetra Ganesha Temple
Have you been to a temple where the devotees write letters to the Lord to find solutions to their problems? Yes, here it is. The Trinetra Ganesha Temple in Ranthambore Fort is known for these strange prayers. The temple is said to have been built by king Hammeer who was a staunch devotee of Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha in this temple is a self-manifested one. An idol of Lord Ganesha with three eyes emerged out of one of the fort walls and the king built a temple to celebrate his victory over a war against Alauddin Khilji. This place is of great religious significance and a lot of devotees come here to seek blessings from the Lord.

Khandar Fort
One of the must-visit attractions in Sawai Madhopur is the Khandar Fort. The fort which is concealed and secured in a strategic location almost never came under an easy attack during a lot of wars. The fort has been a favourite one of many rulers. The fort has been ruled by the Sisodia Kings, Mughals, Jaipur Kings, Bargujar Kings and the Khiljis. The fort is known for its marvellous Jain temple with delicate and intricate carvings. The fort also houses two huge tanks known as Ramkund and Lakshmankund. The fort also has seven temples and seven other ponds out of which only four are visible. Wild animals like leopards and tigers can easily be spotted in the fort premises.

Padam Talao
Located inside the Ranthambore National Park, Padam Talao is one of the must-visit places in Sawai Madhopur. The lake gets the name from the abundant lotus flowers it bears. Legend also has it that this was the place where Princess Padmavati committed Sati. Padam in the local dialect refers to the lotus flower. Being one of the largest lakes inside the National Park, it is frequently visited by a lot of wild animals to quench their thirst. The architecture around the Padam Talao is amazing and if you would like to have a close watch of the wild animals you can get on the machans that are build around the lake.

How to Reach Sawai Madhopur
Sawai Madhopur is the gateway to enter the Ranthambore National Park, which is home to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger. Many other varieties of birds and animals are found in the dense forest here. Naturally it has continued to remain a haven for wild life lovers. The national park is located in the outskirt of the township. So if you want to visit Ranthambore, you have to reach Sawai Madhopur first. From Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore lies only a few kilometers away. So it is easy to approach the national park once you have reached Sawai Madhopur.

By Air : Sawai Madhopur does not have an airport of its own. The nearest airport is at Jaipur. Several airlines service this domestic airport by regular flights and connect it to other important airports like Delhi, Mumbai.

By Road : The town of Sawai Madhopur is well networked by road to many important cities in north India, like Jaipur, Delhi and so on.

By Train : The town has a railway station of its own. A well-laid rail network links Sawai Madhopur to major railway stations of the country like: Delhi, Jaipur and many others.