Overview
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.
Things to Do
Visitors come to Ranthambore primarily for the chance to see tigers in their natural environment. The park is one of the best places to see tigers in the wild, although sightings are never guaranteed. The park is divided into 10 different wildlife zones and visitors can only enter these zones on a guided safari tour, so you can't drive in yourself or walk around the park on your own.
The Bengal tigers are the star residents at Ranthambore, but don't overlook the rich diversity of wildlife that calls the park home. Other animals you may see include leopards, sloth bears, langur monkeys, sambar deer, hyenas, and much more. And those are just the mammals. There are also countless species of reptiles, birds, and insects, ranging from massive river crocodiles to delicate butterflies. The flora is just as impressive, including one of the largest banyan trees in the world—which is the national tree of India and considered sacred in many local cultures.
Outside of the wildlife zones, one of the most important attractions is the 10th-century Ranthambore Fort that gives the park its name. Built over a thousand years ago, the fort contains three Hindu temples as well as a Jain temple and is one of the most important structures in Rajasthan. In 2013, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Safari
There are two general routes for booking your safari expedition: the easier, more expensive way or the complicated but less costly way.
The cheap but complicated way is to book your own safari online through the Rajasthan government portal. You'll firstly need to sign in or register for an account and then select the "Forest and Wildlife" option to find Ranthambore and book your tickets. You'll select the date of your visit and choose which zone you want to visit. However, the website is not user-friendly and getting to the point of actually booking your tickets is a convoluted process. Plus, travel agencies and hotels often book up huge blocks at a time, leaving few options for travelers to choose from. If you do get a reservation, you'll be randomly assigned to a vehicle and a guide.
An easier way of going on safari is to leave the planning to a tour group or your hotel. You'll pay more for the service, but you don't have to worry about booking the right zone, getting a bad tour guide, or transport to the park. Since you can look at reviews for travel agencies or hotel safaris beforehand, you can choose one with high ratings instead of just being assigned a tour guide. Many hotels in the Ranthambore area include safari packages for guests, which is often the easiest way for getting into the park. Some tour operators even offer multi-day excursions that travel through multiple cities around India, an ideal option for travelers who want the entire itinerary to be taken care of.
Whichever method you choose, you'll have to pick your vehicle type. The options are a canter, which is an open-topped truck seating 20, or a gypsy, which is an open-topped jeep seating six. The gypsy is a much more comfortable and intimate ride with fewer people and easier navigation. However, often you have to reserve an entire gypsy vehicle instead of just a seat, which can be difficult for solo travelers or pairs. If you can, ask around for other travelers who are looking to share a gypsy to split the cost.
Important Facts & Figures
- Ranthambore National Park is located around 13.5 kilometres from Sawai Madhopur, a city in Rajasthan.
- One of the best spots to see wild animals is near the intersection of the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges since the animals are accustomed to the attention they receive there.
- When the 400 sq km of this park and the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary’s area are merged, the total size is close to 500 sq km.
- Many buildings in Ranthambore National Park transport you back in time.
- The park has many water bodies that offer the wild animals in the park the perfect place to unwind during the hot summer days.
- The massive fort that looms over the park from a nearby hill is honoured by the park’s name.
- The forest has a distinct, spectacular, and well-balanced flavour of flora, history, and environment because of the different ancient ruins that are dispersed across it.
- At Ranthambore National Park, tigers have also been spotted hunting in front of people
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