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District : Sawai Madhopur Region in Dhundhar
Location : At the junction of Aravallis and Vindhyas, SE of Rajasthan
Famous As : Tiger Reserve
What To Look For : Indian Gazelle, Black Buck, Elephants

Ranthambhore National Park is famous tiger reserve in Sawai Madhopur District of Rajasthan, India. Located at the junction of the Aravalli Hill ranges and the Vindhya Hill ranges, the park was once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur. It is one of the finest places to view animals in their natural surroundings.Ranthambhore National Park The Ranthambhore National Park is bound by two rivers – the River Chambal in the South and the River Banas in the North. There are six man-made lakes in the park which are many perennial water streams passes through the entire park. These streams have no link up with the rivers. The park sprawls in the area of approximately 400 sq km. If the area of Ranthambhore is combined together with the area of Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary, it is around 500 square kilometres. Previously the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, Ranthambhore was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in the year of 1957. Later in 1974 it gained the status of “Project Tiger Reserve”. Finally in the year of 1981, it gained the status of a National Park. Today, Ranthambhore is one of the finest and most popular national parks of the country known for tiger populations.
Park Encompasses The Magnificent Landscape
Ranthambhore has a wide variety of dazzling landscape to offer. The most frequented areas in the Park are around the beautiful lakes where a large number of the wild conjugates. One also gets a chance to drive through rolling grasslands, rushing streams, open scrubs, heavily wooded valleys and through deep ravines walled on either side with steep cliffs.
A Royal Hunting Reserve Of Jaipur Maharajas
The Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and as a National Park in 1980, seven years after the launch of Project Tiger. In 1984, the southern and northeast forests were declared as Sawai Man Singh and Keladevi sanctuaries. Before Independence, the forests of Ranthambhore were the preserve of the maharajas of Jaipur who frequently hunted here, and royal hunts go

back to the 12th century AD. These forests were the favorite hunting grounds of Prithviraj Chauhana, a Rajput ruler whose hunting zeal took him into other ruler’s lands and consequently into battle! In recent times, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were Maharaja Man Singh’s special guests in 1960.
Best Time To Visit
The Park is open from October to April, after which the monsoons make it impossible to enter forests as the muddy trails are washed away. The best times to view wildlife are the early mornings and evenings, as fixed by the forest department, and in Ranthambhore there is a fairly good chance of spotting a tiger.
A network of four tracks crisscross the park. A maximum of three open jeeps are allowed on each trail at a time. There are open roofed canters (small trucks) but these are not very good for viewing wildlife as they seat 20 people who can get really excited on seeing an animal and scare it away. Also, canters are shaky vehicles and photography is nearly impossible from them because their drivers stop and start on their own whims and without warning. Rides into the jungle in open jeeps is pretty safe as most of the wild animals are accustomed to human presence.
Rich Diversity
Wildlife Safaris in Ranthambore For a relatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of species including 272 birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile & amphibians and 30 mammals. Tigers, the park's pride makes it one of the best places in the country to observe them. Apart from that a large numbers of Sambar, Chittal, Nilgai, Gazzelle, Boars, Mongoose, Indian Hare, Monitor Lizards and a large number of birds are found.
Wildlife Safaris
The most thrilling perspective of a holiday in a wildlife sanctuary is the safari into the jungles, of knowing the unexplored aspects of wilderness. Your kids must have seen animals in a zoo, but the dangerous thrill of actually encountering a wild beast in its natural habitat will surely make them more confident.
The best times to view wildlife are the early mornings and evenings, as fixed by the forest department, and in Ranthambhore there is a fairly good chance of spotting a tiger. A network of four tracks crisscross the park. Rides into the jungle in open jeeps is pretty safe as most of the wild animals are accustomed to human presence.
Tiger Safaris
The highlights of your Ranthambore experience is the three and a half hours of jeep safari. Book a tourist jeep in advance and enjoy to the hilt. The bookings are done in advance at the RTDC Office for jeep safari but make sure that you are going in there in a perfect season. Chances are that you spot many of tigers and varied wild animals.
Ranthambore Fort
This ancient citadel is situated almost exactly at the meeting point of the Vindhya and Aravalli ranges. It is this fort after which the park is named, and it is one of the strongest fort of India. The view of the park and its three forts is worth seeing.
Ranthambore Tracks
The nearest railhead is at Sawai Madhopur and has good connections with other Indian railway stations. The drive from Jaipur via Tonk and Sawai Madhopur to Ranthambore is 10 kms longer than an usual.