One
of the finest tiger reserves in the country, the Ranthambore National Park
remains surrounded by the hill ranges of Aravali and Vindhya. The deserted
forests and the crisscrossing lakes of the park add to the charming setting
of the park all the more. The national park was the erstwhile hunting ground
of the maharaja of Jaipur. Back in 1955, the park came to be recognised as a
game sanctuary and after 25 years in 1980, it was raised to the status of a
national park. The park claims an area of 1,334 sq km and has two adjoining
sanctuaries - the Kaila Devi Sanctuary and the Mansingh Sanctuary.
Besides being a famous wildlife refuge, the park also boasts of picturesque
ruins of ancient forts and palaces. An imposing fort, that dates back 1000
years, is a major draw for tourists arriving here. The Royal Bengal tigers
are the main attractions of the park. Many dignitaries and celebrated
personalities have paid a visit to the park to spot the Ranthambore tigers
that are popular far and wide.
Go
There For
The friendly (don't take it otherwise) tigers of Ranthambore are the
biggest draw for tourists and wildlife enthusiasts from across the globe.
And which is more, you can spot these majestic tigers even during the
daytime as they diurnal in nature. The park has been harbouring a wide
variety of animals right from the predators, their prey and smaller inmates
to avian and reptilian species.
While at Ranthambore, you can also catch sight of animals like leopards,
striped hyenas, sambar, chital, nilgai, black buck, Sloth bear, chinkara
etc. The smaller inmates include Common Palm civet, Small Indian mongoose,
Small Indian civet, Desert cat etc. The park also has a good number of
reptiles. These include Banded kraits, cobras, Desert Monitor lizard, North
India Flap shaped turtle, Rat snakes, Snub nosed marsh crocodiles etc.
Safaris & Other Attractions
A
jeep safari is a fine option to spot the wildlife inhabitants of the park.
You can choose an open jeep or a canter to penetrate deeper into the park.
However, you must remember that safari timings vary depending on the season.
During your trip to the park, you can also view the following attractions.
The Padam Talao is also attracts a lot of visitors. It is the largest lake
in the park. On the bank of this lake stands the much popular Jogi Mahal.
Rajbagh Talao and the Malik Talao are the other famous and picturesque lakes
located inside the park. Another popular spot inside is the Bakaula area
which has a number of little water-holes and is covered with thick foliage.
The Ranthambore Fort, after which the park is named, is also a big
attraction for tourists. The fort dates back to the 10th century and is
positioned on a rocky outcrop in the middle of the park.
Reaching The Park
Jaipur, 140 km from the park, is the closest airport from the Ranthambore
National Park. First, you need to fly to Jaipur. From there, you take the
rail or road route to reach the town of Sawai Madhopur, 11 km from the
national park. Sawai Madhopur is also the closest town from the park and has
regular bus services connecting to different cities and towns of the state.
