" The Royal Indian Pride , Ranthambore National Park
unlocks the doors of wild secrets of the sub-continent".
This
Park is a jewel in the crown of India`s Tiger Parks and it is situated in
southern Rajasthan. The reserve derives its name from a hill top fortress
dominating the approach to the park. The mixture of historical sites and
wildlife provides magical photo opportunities.
Fauna
The ancient mountain ranges of Aravali & Vindhya meet here producing a
mixture of steep cliffs criss crossing the park. The varied topography
provides a diversity of habitat for animals like the Jackal, Mongoose, Sloth
Bear,
Leopard & of-course
the Tiger. The park was
declared wildlife sanctuary in 1957 & in 1974 it came under The Project
Tiger. It is the best park for photography because of diurnal behaviour
exhibited by the Tigers and also because of the the fact that tigers shed
their nocturnal claok because of far less human encroachment. This has
resulted in a dramatic increase in encounters with the Tiger.
The diversity of flora & fauna in Ranthambore is remarkable. There are
over 300 different types of trees, 272 species of birds and around 30
different types of mammals.
Maharaja's Hunting Grounds
Ranthambore used to be the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
Today, it is famous for its tigers and is one of the best places in the
country to see these majestic predators in the wild. The tigers can be
easily spotted even during the day. A good time to visit between November
and May when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes sightings common.
Flora
The Park which covers an area of nearly 400 sq. km. and is set between the
Aravali 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. Ranthambore's
royal past manifests itself in the picturesque ruins the dot the Park. There
are lake palaces, chhatris, old fortifications and a majestic thousand year
old fortifications and a majestic thousand year old fort on a height
overlooking the Park. The forest rest house at the foot of the Ranthambore
fort is located in the lovely Jogi Mahal. It overlooks a tank the pretty
Padam Talao, afloat with water lilies.
One can visit the park using jeep or large canters (truck) which can
accommodate 20 persons.
General Information
Best time to visit : October to May
Nearest Town : Sawai Madhopur
How to get there : Rail-Sawai Madhopur (11 km) Air-Jaipur (145 km)
Accommodation : Hotel Vanya Vilas, Ranthambore.
