Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest and most famous national parks in north India. It is named after the historic Ranthambhore fortress that is found within the park. Ranthambore is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, about 180 km from Jaipur. The park covers an area of 392 sq km (square kilometer).
The Government of India instituted Ranthambhore under the name of 'Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary' in 1955. The park was selected as a Project Tiger reserve in 1973. However, it was only in 1980 that Ranthambhore became a national park. Four years later, in 1984, the adjacent forests became the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and the Keladevi Sanctuary. The tiger reserve was further enlarged in 1991 to include these two sanctuaries.
Bound to the north by the Banas river and to the south by the Chambal river, Ranthambore lies at the edge of a plateau. There are several lakes here and it is home to a variety of plants and animals. However, Ranthambore's pride is the population of tigers that inhabit the park and it is also the site of one of the largest banyan trees in India.
Ranthambore National Park is open from October 1 to June 30. It remains closed to visitors between July and September every year. The ideal time to visit the park is between November and May, when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes it easier to spot wildlife.

How to reach

The town and railway station closest to Ranthambore is Sawai Madhopur (11 km). It is situated on the Delhi-Mumbai railway line and is also linked by rail to Jaipur and Agra. The nearest airports are at Jaipur and Kota.
If travelling by train, Ranthambore is 362 km from Delhi, 227 km from Agra, 1027 km from Bombay, 108 km from Kota and 132 km from Jaipur.
Ranthambore is 480 km by road from Delhi (via Dausa) and 180 km from Jaipur (via Tonk).

Wildlife

Ranthambore National Park is famous for its tiger population, and is considered to be one of the best places in the country to observe these magnificent animals. The tigers have also made Ranthambore one of the most filmed wildlife reserves in the world.
In addition to the tiger, Ranthambore National Park is home to the leopard, striped hyena, sambar deer, chital, nilgai, common or hanuman langur, macaque, jackal, sloth bear, blackbuck, the Indian wild boar, chinkara, common palm civet or toddy cat, desert cat, fivestriped palm squirrel, Indian flying fox, Indian fox, long eared hedgehog, ratel (honey badger) and many more. The amphibian species residing in the park consist of the common India toad and the common frog.
Due to the abundance of lakes and streams, the park is home to reptiles such as the snub nosed marsh crocodile, desert monitor lizard, tortoise, banded krait, cobra, common krait, Ganga soft shelled turtle, Indian python, North Indian flap shelled turtle, rat snake, Russell's viper, saw-scaled viper and Indian chamaeleon.
Ranthambore has an excellent population of resident and migrant birds due to its varied terrain and abundance of water. Some of the best birdwatching locations are Malik Talao, the Ranthambore Fort, Rajbagh Talao, Padam Talao and the Jhalra area.
Some of the most important birds found in Ranthambore include the graylag goose, woodpecker, Indian gray hornbill, common kingfisher, bee-eater, cuckoo, rose-ringed parakeet, Asian palm swift, barn owl, nightjar, pigeon, dove, crake, snipe, sandpiper, gull, tern, Great crested grebe, eagles, darter, cormorant, great egret, grey heron, bitterns, flamingo and ibis.

Geography and Climate

The terrain is made up of massive rock formations, steep scarps, perennial lakes and streams, and forest area that opens up into large areas of savannah. The terrain of Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bush land. The forest is of the typically dry deciduous type, with the dhok (Anogeossis pendula) being the most prominent tree.
In summer, the temperature ranges between 35 °C - 47 °C. Tourists visiting during this time can expect a hot day out, especially if they come between April and June. In the winters, especially between November and February, the mornings tend to be extremely cold and it is advisable to wear several layers of warm clothing. It is usually pleasant during the day time but it begins to get colder once again as evening approaches.

Additional Information

In 1982, the tiger population recorded at Ranthambore stood at 44. By 2005, this number had fallen to 26. However, in 2008, 34 adult tigers were found in Ranthambhore National Park (according to non-government sources), along with more than 14 tiger cubs.
The increase in the number of tigers was largely attributed to sustained efforts by forest officials to curb poaching. The methods used to reduce poaching included offering incentives to villagers in the region to stay out of the park and installing surveillance cameras. In addition, the Indian government has set aside $153 million for tiger conservation.


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