Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

The Ranthambore National Park located between the Aravali Mountains and the Vindhya plateau is one of the renowned national parks of India. This national park with an area of 392 sq km is famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers that can be seen near the marshes and the lakes even during the daytime.

In the past, this area was a hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur. It was declared a game sanctuary in 1955 and later became a National Park in 1980. Finally on 1980, it became a Tiger Reserve in India. Ranthambore is also cited as a heritage site because of the pictorial ruins of the fort within the park.

Location- The Ranthambore National Park lies between the Aravali hills and the Vindhyan plateau and is located in Ranthambore, 11 km away from Sawai Madhopur and 145 km from Jaipur.

• Connectivity- The Ranthambore National Park is well-connected with other towns and cities.
• Nearest Town- Sawai Madhopur
• Nearest Railways- Sawai Madhopur station
• Nearest Airport- Jaipur (145 km)
• The Ranthambore National Park has a wide-ranging topography and hence is the haven of numerous flora, fauna and avifauna.

Flora

The Ranthambore National Park is covered by dry deciduous type of vegetation and has about 300 species of trees and plants, with the Dhok (Anogeossis pendula) dominating the vegetation. The flora of this natural place consists of Tamarind (Tamarindicus indica), Babul (Accasia nilotica), Mango (Magnifera iIndica), Banyan (Ficus benghalensis), Dhak or Chila (flame of the forest), Ber (Zizyphus mauritania), Kadam (Authocephalus cadamba)Date (Phoenix sylvestris), Khair (Accacia catechu), Kakera (Flacourtia indica), Mohua (Madhuca indica), Karel (Capparis decidua), Neem (Azadirachta indica) etc.

FaunaThe wildlife consists of leopard, wild boar, nilgai, sambar, sloth bear, striped hyena, southern plains gray langur, rhesus macaque and chital.The different amphibian species include the common frogs and the Common Indian Toad. The varied spes, the Indian Chamaeleon Soft Shelled Turtles, North Indian Flap Shelled Turtles, Tortoise, Rat Snakes, Cobras, Russel's Vipers, Indian Pythons andcies of reptile include Marsh Crocodiles, Desert Monitor Lizards, Banded and common Krait the Saw-scaled Vipers.

Avi Fauna

Owing to the presence of abundant water bodies in this wildlife park, a variety of 272 bird species have been found including migratory species as well as native species. All these birds can be seen around the Malik Talao, Rajbagh Talao and the Padam Talao.

Other Attractions

Besides the flora and fauna, other attractions in the park are the The Jogi Mahal and the picturesque lakes.On 9 December, 2006 the entry of private vehicles was banned by the Rajasthan high court and hence tourists cannot not go on a wildlife safari within the tiger reserve.

Hotels in Ranthambore

• The Tigress
• RTDC Hotel Vinayak
• Ranthambhore National Resort
• Sher Vilas
• Ananta Palace
• Ranthambhore Heritage Haveli Resort, and many more.

Best Time to VisitThe best time to visit this national park is between October and June. The park remains closed rest of the months.

How to Reach Ranthambore

Ranthambore is one of the foremost wildlife destinations in India. The national park at Ranthambore boasts of a variety of species of birds and animals but the prime attraction is of course the tiger. The lure for watching tigers in their natural habitat remains the biggest draw for tourists from across the world.Ranthambore National Park is located on the edge of sleepy little village of Sawai Madhopur, which serves as the gateway to reach Ranthambore. So, once you have reached Sawai Madhopur, be assured that Ranthambore is only some 15km away.

By Air

The nearest airport is in Jaipur, which is only a four-hour-drive from Ranthambore. Jaipur is an important domestic airport, linked to the major cities like Delhi and Mumbai

.By Road

The nearest township of Sawai Madhopur is only 15km away from Ranthambore. One can reach Sawai Madhopur from Delhi, Jaipur or Agra.

By Train

The nearest railhead from Ranthambore is Sawai Madhopur. Many important trains service this station linking it to cities like Jaipur and Delhi.

Places to Visit in Rajasthan

Hotels in Rajasthan

Last Updated on: Mar 01, 2019