Ranthambore National Park
The Ranthambore National Park is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque forest reserves across the globe. The park is a joy to explore and diverse assortment of flora and fauna captivates the attention of the wildlife enthusiasts from all the major corners of the world. When thinking of safaris, Ranthambore is a heaven for the tourists. Jeep and canter safari is one of the best ways to explore the dense regions of the park and get up, close and personal with magnificent species of wildlife.
Popular for verdant serene surroundings, the Ranthambore National Park is nestled in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. It is one of the most visited and beautiful national parks in India, spread over an area of 400 sq km with many steep crags embracing a network of lakes and rivers. Ranthambore was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1957 and got the national park status in 1981. The park is one of the prime examples of Project Tiger's conservation efforts in Rajasthan. The majestic Ranthambore Fort located atop of a hill stands like a silent sentinel is also a major crowd puller besides the wildlife. The terrain is a blend of impregnable forests and open bush land.
Wildlife at Ranthambore
The forest is typically dry deciduous with dhok being the most prominent tree. Ranthambore National Park is best known for its high tiger population. The visitors to the park can easily see the tigers roaming freely or playing with their cubs and click wonderful pictures with their camera. Apart from the tigers, the national park has its share of panthers too. Kachida Valley is believed to be the place to sight these rather elusive cats. One can also find Marsh Crocodiles, Hyenas, Jungle Cats and Sloth Bears, Chital, Nilgai, and Chinkara.
The Ranthambore National Park also houses a large avian population comprising of Black Storks, Quails, Bonelli's Eagles, Spur Fowls, Crested Serpent Eagles and Painted Storks. During the winter months, the park attracts a lot of migratory birds, including a variety of ducks. The park is a heaven for the wildlife photography lovers as they can get a wonderful opportunity to capture the enchanting beauty of the nature and amazing wildlife.
Wildlife Safari in Ranthambore
Tourists have an option to enjoy a jeep or canter safari to explore the park. Tiger safari is conducted in a 6 seater jeep and 20 seater open top canters. A very important point to be considered here is that the Jeep Safari in Ranthambore must be pre booked well in advance, since the park authorities limit the number of jeeps entering the Park. Another prominent thing to remember here is that the safari timings may change according to the season. For instance, during winter season, the entry and exit timings tend to vary primarily because of the short daylight hours.
Best Time to Visit
The Park remains open from 1st October to 30th of June every year. The best time to visit Ranthambore would be from November to March as far as the weather is concerned.
How to Reach
By Air : Jaipur is the closest airport to the Ranthambore National Park, which is around 180 kms away from Jaipur city.
By Train : Sawai Madhopur is the nearest railway station connected to all the major regions of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, etc.
By Road : The park is just 11 kms away from Sawai Madhopur and one can hire private cabs or take state transport buses to reach Ranthambore conveniently.
