Ranthambhore National Park
Welcome to Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park is located about 13.5 kilometers from the city of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. Located at the junction of the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges, this is one of the finest places to view wild animals, especially as they are used to being stared at here. The park covers an area of approximately 400 sq km, and if combined with the area of Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary area, is around 500 sq km.
Ranthambore National Park is dotted with structures that remind you of bygone eras. There are numerous water bodies scattered all across the park, which provide perfect relief to the wild animals during the scorching hot days in summers. A huge fort, after which the park is named, towers over the park atop a hill. There are many ruins of bygone eras scattered all over the jungle, which give it a unique, wonderful and mixed flavour of nature, history and wildlife. Tigers at Ranthambore National park have been known to even hunt in full view of human visitors.
History of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
Ranthambore National Park was established initially as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India. In 1973, it was declared as one of the Project Tiger reserves in India. It was on 1st November, 1980 that Ranthambore was declared a national park, while the forests located beside it were named Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary & Keladevi Sanctuary.
Popular Attractions in Ranthambore
Trinetra Ganesh Temple
Situated inside the Ranthambore Fort, it is one of the oldest temples in Rajasthan. The statues of Lord Ganesha here consists of 3 eyes.
Kachida Valley
Located in close proximity to Ranthambore, Kachida Valley is home to a large population of panthers & sloths.
Raj Bagh Ruins
These are ancient stone ruins of palace outhouses, arches & domes. Surrounded by thick jungles, they are inhabited by tigers & can only be seen from a distance.
Bakaula
Dotted with several water holes, Bakaula offers a great opportunity of spotting the Royal Bengal Tiger & other wildlife.
Lakarda and Anantpura
Located in the northern & northwestern regions of Ranthambore, these regions are inhabited by a large number of sloths & a few striped hyenas.
Padam Talao
Princess Padmavati is believed to have bathed & committed sati here. You can spot a variety of animals, from Chinkara to the crocodiles.
Best Time to Visit Ranthambore
Summmer Season
During the summer season from April to June, the temperature can go as high as 40℃. However, during this season, the chances of spotting tigers & other animals is quite high as they visit the water holes to quench their thirst.
Monsoon Season
During the monsoon season, from July to September, several zones of the Ranthambore National Park remain closed for visitors. The core of the park with Gates 1-5 are closed, while the buffer zone, with Gates 6-10, remains open for visitors.
Winter Season
The winter season, which starts from October & lasts till March, is a great time to visit Ranthambore National Park for its pleasant weather & the numerous opportunities for spotting the animals as they bask under the sun.
