The Home of Tigers
The Ranthambore National Park is set amidst the Aravalli and Vindhya
mountain ranges. Its dry & deciduous forests were once a part of the
magnificent jungles of Central India. The landscape of the forest is rugged
and there are rocky ridges, hills and open valleys with lakes and pools.
The Ranthambore National Park was the hunting ground of Maharaja of Jaipur.
In 1955, it was declared a game sanctuary; in 1980, it became a national
park. But with the commissioning of Project Tiger in 1972, it was included
in the project. With the inclusion of neighbouring Keladeo and Mansingh
sanctuaries, the total area of the national park now stands at 1,334 sq km.
But the entire park - the core area is just 392 sq kms - is not open to the
public. Ranthambore is a heritage site because of the picturesque ruins that
are scattered around the wildlife park. There are lake palaces, 'chhatris',
old fortifications and a majestic 10th century fort, overlooking the park.
How
to Approach
Sky Way: Jaipur at 145-kms is the nearest airport from Ranthambore
wildlife sanctuary.
Trackway: Ranthambore National Park is around 11-kms away from Sawai
Madhopur railway station, that lies on the Delhi to Bombay trunk route.
Expressway: A good network of buses connect Sawai Madhopur, the
nearest town from Ranthambore to all the major cities within the state of
Rajasthan.
The Wildlife Stock
The Ranthambhore National Park is famous for tigers and due to conservation
efforts, the tiger population has stabilized if not increased here. The
tigers can be spotted quite often even during the day, at their normal
habits - hunting and taking care of their young ones. Ranthambhore is one of
the best places to see these majestic jungle king. Ranthambore National Park
offers a vast diversity of flora and fauna. The park has a rich diversity of
fauna and flora - species list includes 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, 272
birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile & amphibians and 30
mammals. Apart from that a large numbers of Sambar, Chital, Nilgai,
Gazzelle, Boars, Mongoose, Indian Hare, Monitor Lizards and a large number
of birds. There are about 25 tigers and 40 leopards in the reserve. These
are supported by a large population of healthy herbivores.
The Most Popular Sights to Visit
The Ranthambore Fort
The ruins of the 10th century fort is a major attraction of this place. It
plays a perfect background to the wildlifes of the forest. The ranthambore
National Park got its name from the Ranthambhore Fort, which sits on a rocky
outcrop in the heart of the Park. The fort, probably the oldest existing
fort in Rajasthan, was a vital citadel for control of Central India and
particularly the Malwa plateau.
Jogi Mahal: The gateway to the Ranthambore National Park, goes
straight to the foot of the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The
latter features the second-largest Banyan tree in India.
