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TIGER, TIGER BURNING BRIGHT
A small village near the township of Sawai
Madhopur, in the state of Rajasthan, Ranthambhore gets its name from
the two hills, Ran and Thambor, which are in close proximity. The
Ranthambore Park is set between the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Its
deciduous forests were once a part of the magnificent jungles of Central
India. The terrain is rugged and there are rocky ridges, hills and open
valleys with lakes and pools.
Ranthambhore
is a heritage site because of the picturesque ruins that dot the park.
There are lake palaces, 'chhatris', old fortifications and a majestic
1,000-year-old fort overlooking the park. The lovely Jogi Mahal is located
at the foot of the fort and gives magnificent view of the Padam Talao,
painted white with water lilies.
It has a chequered history and was the stronghold of the Yadavas in the
8th century. It came under Chauhans, and was ruled by them 10th century
onwards. The Mughal emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb also occupied the
magnificent fort.
The 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 pursuits-- hunting and
taking care of their young ones.
Ranthambhor is one of the best places to see these majestic predators.
Old crumbling walls, ruined pavilions, wells, and other ancient structures
stand witness to the region's glorious past. The entire forest is peppered
with the battlements and spillovers of the Ranthambhore fort - tigers are
said to frequent these ruins, too.
PALACE ON WHEELS
Ever wondered what luxury in the royal times was all about! Welcome to
Palace On Wheels, a luxury train that carries with it an ambience of the
Rajputana era and an exciting fairytale journey, which takes the visitor
to the imperial cities of Rajasthan every single day. The coaches also
carry out an image of the Rajput states with beautiful interiors. Last but
not the least the "Royal Treat" for the passengers on board
include saloons, bar lounges & libraries in every coach as well as
restaurant and organized shopping facilites. more...
WILDLIFE
Ranthambore
National Park: Ranthambhor National Park is an outstanding
example of Project Tiger's efforts at conservation in the country. The
forests around the Ranthambhore Fort were once, the private hunting
grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The desire to preserve the game in
these forests for sport was responsible for their conservation, and
subsequent rescue by Project Tiger. In 1972, it was estimated that there
were around 1927 tigers in India, of which Rajasthan had 74, and the
number of big cats in Ranthambhore Sanctuary was 14. 1972 was also the
year that Project Tiger was launched, and this sanctuary was taken into
its wings, alongwith seven other sanctuaries and national parks.
As a result of stringent efforts in conservation, tigers, the prime
assets of the park, have become more and more active during the day. More
than in any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers are easily spotted
here in daylight. They can be seen lolling around lazily in the sun, or
feverishly hunting down Sambhar around the lakes. Therefore, Ranthambhore
is probably the ideal park for wildlife photography, and it does attract
professional wildlife photographers, from all over the globe. more...
Inhabitants Of The Park: Apart from tigers, the park has its
share of panthers, too. They are to be found on the outskirts of the park,
due to the inevitable conflicts with the tiger population. Kachida Valley
is believed to be the place to sight these rather elusive cats. The other
permanent residents of the park include marsh crocodiles, hyenas, jungle
cats and sloth bears. Sambars are found in abundance all over the area,
the prime target of all the predators. Chital, Nilgai, and Chinkara, are
the other inhabitants of the region. The avian population comprises of
about 264 species, found within the park.
Watching
The Wild: The park is best explored through jeeps or lorries, which
are available on hire.
FORTS AND PALACES
The Fort: Steep crags embrace a network of lakes and rivers, and
atop one of these hills, is the impressive Ranthambhore Fort. Built in the
10th century, the fort is considered to be one of the oldest forts in the
state. Strategically built on the border of Rajasthan and Malwa, the fort
houses some splendid monuments, within its precincts. The terrain
fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bush land. The forest is
the typically dry deciduous type, with Dhok, being the most prominent
tree.
The Jogi Mahal: The entry point to the park, goes straight to the
foot of the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The latter boasts
of the second-largest Banyan tree in India.
The Badal Mahal: The “palace of the clouds”, situated in
the fort has a very interesting location and seems as if hanging out in
space. The famous 84-column 'chhatri' of King Hammir stands out
magnificently where he used to hold an audience. The Padam Talab, the Raj
Bagh Talab and the Milak Talab are some of the lakes in the area worth
seeing.
Air: Jaipur (145-km) is the nearest airport.
Rail: The Park is around 11-km away from Sawai Madhopur railway
station, that lies on the Delhi to Bombay trunk route.
Road: A good network of buses connects Sawai Madhopur, the
nearest town, with quite a few areas around.
Jhoomar Baori Forest Lodge, RTDC Hotel Kamdhenu, Sawai
Madhopur Lodge, PWD Rest House are some of good accommodation options
available at Sawai Madhopur. Jogi Mahal is another accommodation place
that lies within the park premises.
The place is famous for “khus” perfumes and other objects made of “khus” including fans, small boxes and caps etc.
Sawai Madhopur: 10-km
Jaipur: 145-km
| Climate | Max | Min | |
| Summer | : | 37°C | 23° C |
| Winter | : | 29° C | 9.1° C |
| Rainfall | : | 68 cms. | |
| Best Time To Visit | : | September-March | |
| Clothing | |||
| Summer | : | light tropical | |
| Winter | : | light woollen | |
| Languages | : | English, Hindi, Rajasthani. | |
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