Ranthambhore National Park
Ranthambhore National Park
Location: 14 Km from Sawai Madhosingh.
Major wildlife attractions: Tigers, Leopard, Caracal
and Peacock.
Best Time to Visit: November to March.
A Glance at Ranthambhore National Park
On the eastern edge of Thar desert is situated the picuresque
Ranthambhore National Park. The park is one of the most beautiful
wildlife sanctuaries in India. The 400 sq km stretch of the park is home
to more than 35 Tigers. There are many other species of mammals and
birds here. The park used to be a hunting playground of the legendary
Indian ruler, Prithviraj Chauhan. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary
in 1955 and eventually came under Project Tiger in 1973. The status of
National Park was given in 1982. A 10th century fort is situated amidst
the sanctuary. Ruins of ancient tombs, forts and mosques are scattered
all over the park.
Wildlife attractions
Tigers: The Ranthambhore National Park is famous for
its population of tigers. One of the largest member of the cat family,
tigers can be as long as 10 Ft and weigh upto 650 lbs. The royal animal
is now endangered and a global quest is on to save the tigers. Its
comparatively easy to spot a tiger here as the surroundings are very
open and tigers usually come out of there hideouts to the open areas.
The three lakes in the park are very good sites for tiger sightings. A
sight of the powerful super-predator is bound to excite anyone.
Other wildlife attractions: There are about 40
leopards in the park. Other major species in the park are the highly
endangered Caracal, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal, Sloth Bear, Porcupine,
Spotted Deer, Indian Gazelle, Sambar and Nilgai. The park is also a rich
in the avian population. The major birds found here are Peapock, Indian
Horned-owl, Bonelli’s Eagle, Spoonbills, Partridge, Quail,
Parakeets, Kingfishers, Storks, and ducks.
Other attractions: There is a 10th century fort in the
middle of theis park. The fort is not in a very good condition. But it
provides shelter to the tigers and the leopards during monsoon. The
remains of this fort along with those of a mosque, tomb and palace are
scattered in a vast area. The fort is said to be a vital centre for
control in India during 12th-15th century.
The Park Trip
The park can be seen on a jeep safari. Entry fee to the park is Rs 200
for the foreign nationals and Rs 25 for the Indians. Private vehicles
can also be taken in after paying the entry fee and obtaining the
permissions from the forest authorities. Open Gypsy safaris are arranged
inside the park.
Best Time to Visit
The park is open from October to April and is closed for the rest of
the year.
How to Reach
Air: The nearest airport is the Jaipur Airport, 145 Km
from the park.
Rail: Sawai Madhopur (14 Km) is the nearest railhead.
This place is 290 Km from Agra, 269 Km from Ajmer and 350 Km from
Jaipur.
Road: Regular bus services to the park are available
from the major cities of Rajasthan.
Where to Stay
There are some good hotels, guest houses and cottages in and around the
park. The cottages and hotels in the park offers comfortable stay with a
wide price range. Sawai Madhopur also has some good private and
goverment owned hotels and guest houses.
