Ranthambore is located in India's northwestern state of Rajasthan, near the town of Sawai Madhopur, midway between Bharatpur and Kota townships. It is surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravali hill ranges and is very near to the outer fringes of the Thar Desert. The entire area has sprawling tracts of the desert and semi-desert vegetation. Originally a hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur, Ranthambore was declared a game sanctuary in 1955. In 1980, it became a national park and listed among the reserves protected under Project Tiger (1973). Presently the Kaila Devi Sanctuary, also famous for its tigers, and Mansingh Sanctuary also form part of Ranthambore Reserve.
The sanctuary has river Chambal in the south and river Banas in the north bordering it. Dry deciduous forest, open grassy paddock, several lakes and rivers that make up the park can be passed through only by the roads built by the Forest department. Another dominating feature of the Tiger Reserve is the Ranthambore Fort, dating back to the 10th century. There are three big lakes in the sanctuary, the Padam Talab (Lake), Malik Talab and Raj Bagh.
Apart from the tiger, the main attraction of the Ranthambore National Park tour, the park is also rich in other wildlife. Other wild life in the reserve include Leopard, Caracal, Hyena, Jackal, Jungle cat, Marsh crocodiles, Wild boar, Bears Deer, etc. Ranthambore in Rajasthan, India also houses a wide variety of birds, both resident as well as migratory. Approximately 272 species of birds have been observed in the park. The park opens for sightseeing half hour before sunrise and closes down half hour after sunset.
Area of Ranthambore : 1334 Sq. Kms. (approx.)
STD Code of Ranthambore : 07462
Best time to visit Ranthambore : Ocotober to March
Languages Spoken in Ranthambore : Hindi, English and Mewari
Climate of Ranthambore : The climate of Ranthambore is of a typical desert type i.e. in the extreme. Ranthambore weather experiences a dry and hot summer season, lasting from April to June. The average temperature remains in the range of 37.0° C (max) to 23.0° C (min). The climatic conditions of Ranthambore, Rajasthan in winters range from being cool to being chilly. Stretching from October to March, the winter season witnesses average temperature around 29.0° C (max) to 9.1° C (min). The days are sunny and pleasant days but nights can see the temperature dipping to quite a low degree. The best time to visit Ranthambore is during 1st October to 30th June. At any other time, the park is closed for visitors.
Ranthambore Tourist Attractions :Ranthambore National Park : Rajasthan has a rich wildlife including Tigers (including the most famous diurnal tigers), Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, Macaques, Jackals, Black bucks, Rufous tailed Hare, Chinkara, Desert Cats, Five striped Palm Squirrels, Indian False Vampires, Indian Flying Foxes, Indian Porcupines, Small Indian Mongoose, etc. The only amphibians in the park are Common Frog and Common Indian Toad. Almost all the tourist attractions in Ranthambore are related to the nature. Ranthambore, Rajasthan sightseeing tour will include some of the below mentioned attractions:
Ranthambore Fort : A visit to Ranthambore means a visit to the noteworthy Ranthambore fort too. The fort was built by the Chauhan rulers in the 10th century and is regarded as one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan. Due to its strategic location, the fort was ideal to keep the enemy at bay. The fort is also related to the historical legend of the royal women performing jauhar(self immolation) when the Muslim invader Ala-ud-din Khilji laid siege on this fort in 1303. The fort is characterised by temples, tanks, massive gates and huge walls.
Jogi Mahal : The Jogi Mahal makes a must visit place in Ranthambore. It is the forest rest house that overlooks the pretty Padam Talab. The Mahal lies close to the park and has all the facilities for a comfortable stay. The most important aspect of Jogi Mahal that attracts a large number of tourists every year is the ancient banyan tree which is believed to be the second largest banyan tree in India.
Malik Talab : The smallest lake in Ranthambore National Park, Malik Talab is an area full of action. The Malik Talab area is always having a good population of birds of all kinds. Indian Marsh Crocodiles can also be seen at the lake.
Raj Bagh Talab : The most scenic lake in the park is the Raj Bagh Talab. The ruins scattered along the edges of the lake add to its attraction. Numerous animals and birds feeding in the lake are some of the other attractions of the lake. Apart from being a favorite haunt of the Sambhar deer, the areas around the Raj Bagh Talab are also prime tiger spotting areas.
Padam Talab : Padam Talab is the largest lake in the Ranthambore National Park. The lake has been named after the water lilies that grow in the lake in season. It is a good place to see the wild animals in the early hours of the morning and just before sunset.
Kachida Valley : Kachida Valley is located near the outskirts of the park. Numerous rocky outcrops and low hills make up this place. This area is famous as it consists of a majority of the Panther population of the park, along with a good population of beers.
Raj Bagh : Ruins Located between Padam Talab (lake) and the Raj Bagh Talab, Raj Bagh ruins are ancient stone structures like arches, palace outhouses, domes, steps, etc. They serve as a reminder of the bygone era.
Lakarda & Anantpura : Lakarda & Anantpura lie in the northern and northwestern regions of the park. It is known as the ideal place for spotting Sloth Bears.
Fairs and Festivals in Ranthambore :Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birth of Lord Ganesha and is celebrated all over the country. This is also symbolic of the advent of all festivals dedicated to other Indian Gods. The temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha is located in the fort of Ranthambhor, about 12 kms from Sawai Madhopur and it is one of the most important Ganesha temples in the State. There is always a lot of activity at the temple because people believe that the first invitation to a marriage should be sent to Lord Ganesha. This temple is the site for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations attracting devotees from all over to join in the singing of devotional songs. The Orange color in which the idol is painted as well is the holy colour for this festival. The idol is lavishly decorated with golden ornaments and every day felicities with huge garlands of marigold. There are markets around the temple attracting the tourists and visitors. It is preferable to approach Ranthambhor from Sawai Madhopur, which lies on the main Delhi-Mumbai railway line and is also connected to Jaipur by rail. A road link with Jaipur exists as well.
Accommodations in Ranthambore :In order to make the travel tour to Ranthambore even more joyful you need to choose just the right kind of accommodation for you and your family or friends in Ranthambore. The various hotels packages in Ranthambore offer the best of facilities. You may take your pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels in Ranthambore besides the star categorized accommodation hotels around Ranthambore. Most of the places to stay in Ranthambore are strategically located near the national park. Tourist Places in India offers you comfortable stay at the wildlife resort at Ranthambore.
Resorts in Ranthambore
- Sawai Madhopur Lodge
- Vanyavilas Resort
How to Reach Ranthambore :By Air : Nearest airport is Jaipur (175 kms).
By Train : Nearest railhead is Sawai-Madhopur (12 kms) which is on the Bombay-Delhi section of Western Railway.Ranthambore is connected by regular bus service to Sawai-Madhopur 12 km, Agra 226 km, Bharatpur 166 km, Delhi 434 km, Kota 217 km, Jaipur 180 km.
By Road : Ranthambore is connected by regular bus service to Sawai-Madhopur 12 km, Agra 226 km, Bharatpur 166 km, Delhi 434 km, Kota 217 km, Jaipur 180 km.
