Ranthambore National Park is considered to be one of the largest and most famous national parks in North India. It is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of south-eastern Rajasthan. It is only 130 kilometers from Jaipur, which is home to the nearest airport. Sawai Madhoupur is the nearest city and has the nearest railway station.
The new name of the park is Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary. It was also declared as a reserve of Project Tigre. The facility became a national park in the year 1980. The adjacent forests became known as Keladevi Sanctuary and Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary in the year 1984. In 1991, this tiger reserve grew and now has both sanctuaries listed.
The park is a popular wildlife sanctuary due to its tiger population. It has become one of the best tourist attractions in India with its deciduous forests belonging to the once magnificent jungles of central India. Even during the day, you will be able to see tigers. The best time to visit the park is during the months of November to May.
Located on the edge of a plateau, the park is bordered to the south by the Chambal River and to the north by the Banas River. Apart from the two, there are many lakes within the park. Its name is derived from the Ranthambhore forest which is still within the park premises.
Ranthambore National Park spans 392 square kilometers. Aside from its large tiger population, many other wildlife roam the park freely. This includes leopards, tigers, wild boars, hyenas, sloth bears, and chital, among others. There are also various reptiles, birds, plants, and trees throughout the city.
As the park becomes very popular with tourists, the population of neighboring towns also increases. This led to the increasing incidence of poaching and fatal human-tiger interactions. In 1982, 44 tigers were recorded in the park. As of 2005, only 26 tigers were seen. However, in 2008, the number seemed to rise to 34. There were even 14 tiger cubs reported, all due to efforts by locals and forest officials to control poaching. Just to stay away from the park, the villagers were given incentives. Other than that, surveillance cameras were also installed throughout the reserve.
Main attractions of Ranthambore National Park
The popularity of Ranthambore National Park is not just limited to the animals and plants that you will find here. There are several other top attractions that tourists love within the park. Here are some of them:
Ranthambore Fort – This is a majestic fort from the 10th century. It towers over the entire park area. Its height is 700 feet. over the surrounding plain. Inside the fort are 3 red Karauli “stone temples” built between the 12th and 13th century which are dedicated to Ramlalaji and Ganesh Shiva.
Tigers – This park has one of the best national parks in the country to see a tiger. These majestic predators are often seen basking or wandering around in the sun.
Padam Talao – This is considered to be the largest among all the lakes situated within the park. It features the magnificent red sandstone Jogi Mahal along its edge. Near it is a huge Banyan tree that ranks as the second largest in India.