Area:1,334 sq.kms
Major Attractions: Tigers, Sambars, Boars
Best Season to Visit: October to March, April-June
About Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary
Like many other wildlife parks, the Ranthambore National Park is also a beautiful version of an erstwhile hunting ground of Maharajahs of Rajasthan. This was declared a full fledged national park in the year 1955.Welcome to Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the world's largest collection of Indian native animals. The Sanctuary is an oasis, located in the center of India's popular holiday destination, Rajasthan. With coverage area over 392-sq-kms, this sanctuary was developed ideally under the project Tiger, to preserve Tiger, the royal creature. But the landscaped and bushland of Ranthambore caters other inhabitants of the sanctuary such as marsh Crocodiles, Hyenas, Jungle Cats Chital, Nilgai, Chinkara and Sloth Bears. This apart, 264 species are present of the avian population. Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary offers a unique natural experience.
With the launch of project tiger reserve in 1973, the National park began to be protected in earnest. The surrounding areas of Keladevi Sanctuary, and Sawai Madhopur Sanctuary was consolidated and added to the National Park in 1992, bringing the spread of reserve to an impressive 1,174 sq. km. Today, what seems as Ranthambore National Park is a resounding glory of park's royal past when kings and Nawabs gather here for annual tiger shoot.
Discovering Ranthambore
Despite its popularity with tourists, there is something primal about being in around Ranthambore. While truckloads of visitors may seem annoying at first, it is if you can yourself see it that way, what makes the park not artefacts, but rather a very real place where ancient ruins, nature and contemporary village life make layers of history almost tangible. Don't miss the fort and wake up early to witness its beauty at sunrise.
Water Resource
There are six man made lakes in the park and many everlasting watercourses entwining the entire park. The Ranthambore National Park has internal drainage and has no link up with any river system, even though two rivers bound the Park in it's north and south side.
Flora
Ranthambore forest is dry deciduous with dhok trees as the main vegetation, which is an important fodder tree for animals. But perhaps the most spectacular is the flame of the forest which blooms in April, enveloping the forest in a spectacular fiery red aura. The four lakes in Ranthambore are surrounded by a numerous species of trees like salar, gurjan and gum. The landscape is made up of huge rock formations, steep scarps, flowing lakes and streams and forest opening up into large areas of Savannah.
Rich Diversity
For a relatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of species
including 272 birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile &
amphibians and 30 mammals. Tigers, the park's pride makes it one of the
best places in the country to observe them. Apart from that a large
numbers of Sambar, Chittal, Nilgai, Gazzelle, Boars, Mongoose, Indian
Hare, Monitor Lizards and a large number of birds are found. Wildlife Safaris
The most thrilling perspective of a holiday in a wildlife sanctuary is the safari into the jungles, of knowing the unexplored aspects of wilderness. Your kids must have seen animals in a zoo, but the dangerous thrill of actually encountering a wild beast in its natural habitat will surely make them more confident.
The best times to view wildlife are the early mornings and evenings, as fixed by the forest department, and in Ranthambhore there is a fairly good chance of spotting a tiger. A network of four tracks crisscross the park. Rides into the jungle in open jeeps is pretty safe as most of the wild animals are accustomed to human presence.
Tiger Safaris
The highlights of your Ranthambore experience is the three and a half hours of jeep safari. Book a tourist jeep in advance and enjoy to the hilt. The bookings are done in advance at the RTDC Office for jeep safari but make sure that you are going in there in a perfect season. Chances are that you spot many of tigers and varied wild animals.
Ranthambore Fort
This ancient citadel is situated almost exactly at the meeting point of the Vindhya and Aravalli ranges. It is this fort after which the park is named, and it is one of the strongest fort of India. The view of the park and its three forts is worth seeing.
Ranthambore Tracks
The nearest railhead is at Sawai Madhopur and has good connections with other Indian railway stations. The drive from Jaipur via Tonk and Sawai Madhopur to Ranthambore is 10 kms longer than an usual.
Accommodation in Ranthambore Sanctuary:
