Ranthambhore – Ranthambore National Park | Hotels in Ranthambore

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Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National park is known for its large tiger population and is one of the best places to see these majestic beasts in their natural environment. Tigers are easily spotted during the daytime. The best time for tiger sightings at Ranthambore National Park is from November till May. The park’s deciduous forests, mainly consists of Acacia trees. Other major wild animals include leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, hyena, sloth bear and chital. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles, as well as one of the largest banyan trees in India.

In 2005, there were only 26 tigers in the park. This was significantly lower than the recorded tiger population of the reserve in 1982, which was 44. According to non-government sources there were 34 adult tigers in the Ranthambore National Park in 2008, and more than 14 cubs. This increase was attributed largely to sustained efforts by forest officials to curb poaching. Villagers in the region were being given incentives to stay out of the park, and surveillance cameras were also fitted across the reserve

Ranthambore National Park was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India, and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. Ranthambore became a national park in 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary, and in 1991 the tiger reserve was enlarged to include Sawai Man Singh and Keladevi sanctuaries.

Ranthambore Fort – A World Heritage Site

The majestic fort, built in the 10th century, towers over the entire park area. It stands 700 feet above the surrounding plain. Inside the fort, there are three red Karauli stone temples devoted to Ganesh, Shiva and Ramlalaji. There is a Digamber Jain temple of Lord Sumatinath (5th Jain Tirthankar) and Lord Sambhavanath. The temples were constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries. The exact origin of the Ranthambore fort is still disputed but it is generally accepted that there was a settlement at the site of the Fort, as far back as the 8th century A.D. It is widely believed that the construction of the Ranthambhore Fort was started during the reign of the Chauhan rajput King Sapaldaksha in 944 AD. Another theory stipulates that King Jayant, also a Chauhan rajput, built the Ranthambore Fort during 1110 AD. It is most likely that the construction of the fort commenced during the mid-10th Century A.D. and continued for a few centuries after that.

Chambal Gharial Sanctuary

National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 5,400 km2 (2,100 sq. mi) tristate protected area in northern India for the critically endangered gharial (small crocodiles), the red-crowned roof turtle and the endangered Ganges river dolphin.The Chambal river originates in Kota, Rajasthan and merges with the Yamuna at Bhareh.Located on the tripoint of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh the river passes through sandy ravines which are famous for its dreaded dacoits. Within the sanctuary, the pristine Chambal River cuts through edges of ravines and hills with many sandy beaches protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

National Chambal Sanctuary on the River Chambal is a shelter for the rare and rare Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica).The 400 km stretch of crystal clear water also supports Marsh Crocodiles, Smooth Coated Otters, 6 species of Terrapins/Turtles plus 250 species of birds.The critically endangered gharial crocodile and the red-crowned roof turtle live here, and together with the endangered Ganges river dolphin are the keystone species of the sanctuary. Other large threatened inhabitants of the sanctuary include muggar crocodile, smooth-coated otter, striped hyena and Indian wolf. Chambal supports 8 of the 26 rare turtle species found in India, including Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle, three-striped roof turtle and crowned river turtle. Other reptiles who live here are: Indian flap shell turtle, soft shell turtle, Indian roofed turtle, Indian tent turtle and monitor lizard.

Crocodile Sighteeing, Boat Ride, Birding

Other local excursion in ranthambore: Ranthambore Ganesh Temple, Amershwar Temple, Art School Visit, Village trip