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General
Information
Tourist
Attractions :
The Fort, Badal Mahal, The National Park.
Best
Time To Visit: October To June
Location:
10-km From Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan
TIGER
BURNING BRIGHT
A small village near the township of Sawai Madhopur, in the state of
Rajasthan, Ranthambhore gets its name from the two hills, Ran and
Thambor, which are in close proximity. The Ranthambore Park is set
between the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Its deciduous forests were
once a part of the magnificent jungles of Central India. The terrain
is rugged and there are rocky ridges, hills and open valleys with
lakes and pools.
Ranthambhore is a heritage site because of the picturesque ruins
that dot the park. There are lake palaces, 'chhatris', old
fortifications and a majestic 1,000-year-old fort overlooking the
park. The lovely Jogi Mahal is located at the foot of the fort and
gives magnificent view of the Padam Talao, painted white with water
lilies.
It ha s
a chequered history and was the stronghold of the Yadavas in the 8th
century. It came under Chauhans, and was ruled by them 10th century
onwards. The Mughal emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb also occupied the
magnificent fort.
The park is famous for tigers and due to conservation efforts, the
tiger population has stabilized if not increased here. The tigers
can be spotted quite often even during the day, at their normal
pursuits-- hunting and taking care of their young ones.
Ranthambhor is one of the best places to see these majestic
predators. Old crumbling walls, ruined pavilions, wells, and other
ancient structures stand witness to the region's glorious past. The
entire forest is peppered with the battlements and spillovers of the
Ranthambhore fort - tigers are said to frequent these ruins, too.
RAJASTHAN
TRAIN TRAVEL
PALACE
ON WHEELS
Ever wondered what luxury in the royal times was all about! Welcome
to Palace On Wheels, a luxury train that carries with it an ambience
of the Rajputana era and an exciting fairytale journey, which takes
the visitor to the imperial cities of Rajasthan every single day.
The coaches also carry out an image of the Rajput states with
beautiful interiors. Last but not the least the "Royal
Treat" for the passengers on board include saloons, bar lounges
& libraries in every coach as well as restaurant and organized
shopping facilites.
PRIME
ATTRACTIONS
WILDLIFE
Ranthambore National Park: Ranthambhor National Park is an
outstanding example of Project Tiger's efforts at conservation in
the country. The forests around the Ranthambhore Fort were once, the
private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The desire to
preserve the game in these forests for sport was responsible for
their conservation, and subsequent rescue by Project Tiger. In 1972,
it was estimated that there were around 1927 tigers in India, of
which Rajasthan had 74, and the number of big cats in Ranthambhore
Sanctuary was 14. 1972 was also the year that Project Tiger was
launched, and this sanctuary was taken into its wings, alongwith
seven other sanctuaries and national parks.
As a result of stringent efforts in conservation, tigers, the prime
assets of the park, have become more and more active during the day.
More than in any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers are easily
spotted here in daylight. They can be seen lolling around lazily in
the sun, or feverishly hunting down Sambhar around the lakes.
Therefore, Ranthambhore is probably the ideal park for wildlife
photography, and it does attract professional wildlife
photographers, from all over the globe.
Inhabitants
Of The Park: Apart from tigers, the park has its share of
panthers, too. They are to be found on the outskirts of the park,
due to the inevitable conflicts with the tiger population. Kachida
Valley is believed to be the place to sight these rather elusive
cats. The other permanent residents of the park include marsh
crocodiles, hyenas, jungle cats and sloth bears. Sambars are found
in abundance all over the area, the prime target of all the
predators. Chital, Nilgai, and Chinkara, are the other inhabitants
of the region. The avian population comprises of about 264 species,
found within the park.
Watching The Wild: The park is best explored through jeeps or
lorries, which are available on hire.
FORTS AND PALACES
The Fort: Steep crags embrace a network of lakes and rivers,
and atop one of these hills, is the impressive Ranthambhore Fort.
Built in the 10th century, the fort is considered to be one of the
oldest forts in the state. Strategically built on the border of
Rajasthan and Malwa, the fort houses some splendid monuments, within
its precincts. The terrain fluctuates between impregnable forests
and open bush land. The forest is the typically dry deciduous type,
with Dhok, being the most prominent tree.
The Jogi Mahal: The entry point to the park, goes straight to
the foot of the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The
latter boasts of the second-largest Banyan tree in India.
The Badal Mahal: The “palace of the clouds”, situated in
the fort has a very interesting location and seems as if hanging out
in space. The famous 84-column 'chhatri' of King Hammir stands out
magnificently where he used to hold an audience. The Padam Talab,
the Raj Bagh Talab and the Milak Talab are some of the lakes in the
area worth seeing.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Air: Jaipur
(145-km) is the nearest airport.
Rail: The Park is around 11-km away from Sawai Madhopur
railway station, that lies on the Delhi to Bombay trunk route.
Road: A good network of buses connects Sawai Madhopur, the
nearest town, with quite a few areas around.
PLACES TO
STAY
Jhoomar Baori
Forest Lodge, RTDC Hotel Kamdhenu, Sawai Madhopur Lodge, PWD Rest
House are some of good accommodation options available at Sawai
Madhopur. Jogi Mahal is another accommodation place that lies within
the park premises.
SHOPPING
The place is
famous for “khus” perfumes and other objects made of “khus”
including fans, small boxes and caps
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