Ranthambore National Park - Spot Tigers with Royal Experience

The Ranthambore rings in the ears with roars of tigers freely roaming in their natural wild habitat, prowling to be spotted and mesmerized. Built on a land of 1334 sq km of area, Ranthambore is a wild jungle scrub hemmed in by rocky edges. The centre piece for this thrilling National Park is the infamous Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th Century, yet still standing strong and imposing, dominating the skyline of the picturesque park.

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The fort is surrounded by temples, mosques, and lakes now populated with crocodiles scattered around it, along with eerie vine-laden chhatris, which are ancient burial tombs. The park was once the hunting ground for the royals of Rajasthan. It was the Maharajas of Jaipur who hunted in this jungle before it was legally prohibited by the government after Indian independence. However, rumor has it that a Maharaja still used this land as his hunting ground until the early 70s, even after proclaiming the area as a sanctuary. Later, conservationists strengthened the norms and the protection, which has now stopped hunting and poaching of the animals.

Presently, the fort, along with the surrounding vast land area of dense jungle, has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is policed and secured from poachers and hunters by the authorities. While spotting tigers at their prowl was a rare occurrence even a few years ago, it is now a frequent sight thanks to the diligent conservation work of the ecologists and zoologists. Apart from the infamous jungle cat, there are plenty of other animals special to see at Ranthambore too, like above 300 species of birds, apes, deer, and many more.

The forest grew in area upon the recent merging of nearby forests of Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Kaldevi Sanctuary, to ensure animal protection, which made this park the largest in the country. as a traveler prepare to witness breath-taking panoramic views of alternating deciduous forests, interrupted by swathes of grasslands, flanked by the Banas River in the north and the Chambal River in the southern parts.

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All you need to know about Jungle Safaris at Ranthambore:

Two types of safari rides across the jungle are available – Jeep safari and Canter Safari.

1. Jeep Safari

The jeep-safari offers the four-wheeled Gypsy drive through the park, which is a 6-seater vehicle. This ride is especially recommended for wildlife photographers and nature photographers. The all side open Gypsy is perfect for clicking pictures in the jungle of wild-lings sighted almost at eye-level. The odds of spotting a tiger is also increased with this safari ride as the Gypsy being a smaller vehicle can take on narrow winding paths around jungle and cover more territory. Furthermore, with only 5 other co-passengers, travelers can request stopping points as per their preference.

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2. Canter Safari

The canter safari is a 20-seater ride and is yet another option to explore the intriguing topography of the jungle. However, it is strongly recommended that one book this safari well in advance, as it gets fully booked quite fast.
While sightings of the infamous jungle cat, for which Ranthambore is famous, are a matter of luck. But the sightings of other animals like leopards and deer are quite frequent, especially near the water bodies. The ride is a three-and-a-half-hour journey through the park and is the best way to explore the diverse topography.

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Timings of Safari Rides and Their Durations

• The National Park opens safari rides for visitors at different times based on the different seasons. In October, the park is open for safaris during the morning from 7 AM to 10:30 AM, the evening hours include 2:30 PM to 6 PM.
• In November to January, the safari rides are open from 7 AM to 10:30 AM, while the evening hours include 2 PM to 5:30 PM.
• February to March opens the park for safaris during the usual 7 to 10:30 AM in the mornings and 2:30 to 6 PM in the evening.
• During the summer months of April to May, the park opens early in the morning for safari rides from 6 AM to 9.30 AM, while in the evening it stays open till late from 3 PM to 6.30 PM.
• Later in the summer, from 15^th May to 30^th June, the park stays open longer for safaris, where the morning hours are from 6 AM to 9.30 AM while the evening hours begin from 3.30 PM to 7 PM.

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Best Time to Visit Ranthambore National Park

The best months to visit Ranthambore are between October to March as the weather remains pleasant, and exploring the place is comfortable for tourists. The hottest months are April and May, when temperatures soar up to 45 degrees Celsius. The period of July to September should be avoided as the park remains closed during this time and no one can enter the area.

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Ticket Prices

The fort is free to enter at any time of day, but it lies within the park ground which requires an entry fee. The Canter safari can be hired for INR 510 for Indians and INR 1250 for foreigners. And the gypsy safari is available for booking for INR 750 for Indian nationals and for INR 1350 for foreigners.

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How to Reach Ranthambore

The national park is located close to Sawai Madhopur, which is the nearest township. While there are several places to stay near the town, those seeking a different experience can embark on the enchanting journey of the Indian Panorama aboard the Maharajas Express. It is a 7-night 8-day trip across the most popular spots of northern India, covering Delhi - Jaipur - Ranthambore - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Gwalior - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Lucknow – and then back to Delhi. The third day of the journey takes passengers to a guided trip to Ranthambore and then to the mysterious ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri, which is yet another UNESCO World Heritage site.

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