Covered
In This Section : Introduction, Park Facts, Features, Wildlife,
Ranthabhore Fort, Activities, Transportation, Accommodation, Tour Packages.
Facts about the Park
District : Sawai Madhopur town
Location : 145 kms South East of Jaipur
Area : 392 sq kms
Park Attractions : Wild animal species including Tigers,
landscapes, fort
Best Time To Visit : October to March
Entry Fee : Indian Citizens - 25 Rs; Foreign Tourists 200
Rs; Students
Introduction to Ranthambhore National Park
Ranthambhore National Park is one of the frequently visited wildlife
sanctuaries in Rajasthan. The sanctuary lies on the junction of Aravali and
Vindhyas mountain ranges. The park extended over an area of about 400 sq kms
is short for nothing. The undulating terrains, with steep and gentle slopes,
flat hill tops, small valleys, dense vegetation, lakes, meadows and rich
wildlife are some features that make it a tourist hot spot. Although small
in number, Indian Tiger continues to be the celebrity at Ranthambore. The
favorite game resort of the erstwhile Maharajas amuse people, but now as
protected lands, especially for Indian Tigers.
Ranthambhore National Park
Features
Ranthambore National Park, located amidst the Aravali and Vindhya ranges,
has more than you can expect of. Ranthambore National Park lies stretched
over a great area. With adjacent sanctuaries of Kaladevi and Mansingh, the
park area goes over 1000 sq kms. However, only 300 sq kms forms the core
park area. The picturesque landscapes sets an aura of life in the barren
territorial plains of Rajasthan. The distant hills with decidous vegetation
and encompassing diverse topography makes it one exciting place to explore.
The northern and southern frontiers are bound by the rivers - Chambal and
Banas. The steep rocky hills give rise to small valleys in the region.
Located within the park territory are several lakes including three major
ones - Padam Talab, Malik Talab and Raj Bagh. The water fronts see a lot of
species and aquatic life depending on them. In the covers of the jungles
roam some of the feared wild predators.
Wildlife at Ranthambhore
The diurnal tigers are the prized attraction at the park. Ranthambhore
National Park is one of the several sanctuaries that comes under the Tiger
Project reserves. Besides these Indian Tigers other species include
leopards, hyena, jackal, sloth bear, wild boars, gazelles, sambar, nilgai
and various species of Indian monkey.
Great many species of marsh animals are also found at large in the park.
These include snub nosed crocodiles, lizards, tortoise, cobras, kraits,
turtles, Indian python, rat snakes and Indian chameleon.
Ranthambhore National Park supports as many 270 species of birds. Many of
these species are migratory who reach here after travelling a long distance.
The birds commonly found are Indian horned owl, spoonbills, patridges,
kingfishers, storks, ducks and the much sighted peacocks.
Ranthambhore Fort
Grounded within the park premises is an ancient fort called Ranthambhore
Fort. This fort was built by the Chauhans in the 10th century. The fort
bears some historical importance. The fort is known for a practice called
Johar. Johar stands for a suicide by immolation so as to escape humiliation.
During the siege by Ala-ud-din Khilji, in the early 14th century, the Rajput
women, as is popularly believed, carried out these acts. The fort also
houses a temple and water reservoirs.
Activities You Can Take Part In
Jeep Safari in Ranthambore National Park : Jeep Safari is
an ideal way of exploring the Ranthambore National Park. The Jeep Safaris
are made available by the park authorities for an in depth exploration of
the sanctuary. In fact, the highlight of your Ranthambore experiences is the
3.5 hr Jeep Safari for Tiger Spotting. Remember, that private vehicles are
not permitted inside the park, so book a tourist jeep safari well in
advance.
Camping in Ranthambore
: If you wish for camping in Ranthambore, the resorts near the
Ranthambore National Park offer you exciting camping opportunities. Sher
Bagh Resort, adjacent to the Ranthambore National Park provides camping in
its 12 luxury tents. Tiger Moon Resort is another resort near the park which
offer camping option in its 8 Swiss-cottage-tents. By staying in these
resorts you can enjoy camping alongwith a pleasant stay. Besides, the sounds
of wild animals, chirping of birds reaching your ears, rejuvenate your
sense.
Places Where You Can Stay
Accommodation at Ranthambhore are provided by several hotels and resorts.
Some popular ones are given below:
Hotel Ranthambhore Regency (Three Star), Hotel Castle Jhoomar Baori
(Heritage Hotel run by RTDC), Sawai Madhopur Lodge (Deluxe Lodge), Hotel
Vinayak (Budget Hotel), Hotel Ganesh Ranthambhore (Budget Hotel), Ankur
Resort, Tiger Den Resort, Hammir Resort.
Transportation Services for Ranthambhore
Air : The nearest airport to Ranthambhore is the one at
Jaipur. The airport is about 148 kms from Ranthambhore.
Train : The railway station at Sawai Madhopur is the
nearest railhead. It is about 12 kms from the national park.
Bus : There are regular bus services for Sawai Madhopur
town from Agra, Bharatpur, Delhi, Kota and Jaipur.
