Ranthambore Reserve is situated in
India's northwestern state of Rajasthan, near the town of Sawai Madhopur,
midway between Bharatpur and Kota townships. It is surrounded by the Vindhya
and Aravali hill ranges and is very near to the outer fringes of the Thar
Desert.
The entire area has sprawling tracts of the desert and
semi-desert vegetation.
Originally a hunting ground of the Maharaja
of Jaipur, Ranthambore was declared a game sanctuary in 1955. In
1980, it became a national park and listed among the reserves protected
under Project Tiger (1973). Presently the Kaila Devi Sanctuary, also famous
for its tigers, and Mansingh Sanctuary also form part of Ranthambore
Reserve.
Ranthambhore
Tiger Reserve lies on the junction of Aravali and Vindhyas just 14
kms from Sawai Madhopur in Eastern Rajasthan. It sprawls over a varying and
undulating landscape. The scenery changes dramatically from gentle and steep
slopes of the Vindhyas and sharp and conical hills of the Aravalis.
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.
A thousand year old fort also blends amicably with
the background. Pure sands of Dhok interspersed with grasslands at the
plateaus, meadows in valleys and luxuriant foliage around the canals make-up
the jungle. Three big lakes –
Padam Talab (meaning Lake),
Malik Talab and Raj Bagh – are similar turquoises studded in
the vast forest.
| » Major Attractions of Ranthambhore |
|
Ranthambhor National Park : Situated in
Eastern Rajasthan, where the Aravali Hill ranges and the Vindhyan plateau
meet, the Ranthambhore National Park was once the hunting preserve of the
Maharajas of Jaipur. The rivers Chambal in the South and Banas in the North
bound the Ranthambore National Park. Six man made lakes are the central
focus of the park and many perennial streams criss-cross 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.
Ranthambore
National Park is famous for its Tigers and is a favorite with
photographers. For a relatively small area, 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 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. The avian population comprises of about 264
species, found within the park.
Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary
today offers an intense diversity of flora and fauna. 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, Chital, Nilgai, Gazzelle,
Boars, Mongoose, Indian Hare, Monitor Lizards and a large number of
birds.
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.
| » How to Get there |
|
Air : Nearest airport is Jaipur (175 kms).
Rail : Nearest railhead is Sawai-Madhopur (12
kms) which is on the Bombay-Delhi section of Western Railway.
Road : Ranthambore is connected by regular bus service to
Sawai-Madhopur 12 km, Agra 226 km, Bharatpur 166 km, Delhi 434 km, Kota 217
km, Jaipur 180 km.
Local Transport : Private
Horse driven tongas are available at the Railway Station. R.T.D.C. or
private jeeps can be hired from Tourist Information Bureau, Sawai-Madhopur.
Charges Rs.350-400 for full jeep for one trip to the National Park.
| » Places to Stay in Ranthambhore |
|
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.
| » General Information |
|
»
Area : 1,334
sq. km.
»
Climate :
Summer :Max. - 37°C Min. - 23°C
Winter
: Max. - 29°C Min. - 9.1°C
Rainfall
: 68 cms.
»
Clothing
: Summer - Light Tropical
Winter:
Woolen
»
Languages :
Rajasthani, Hindi, English
Ranthambore
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