Ranthambore National Park

One of the Largest National Parks in India

Located in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, the Ranthambore National Park is one of the most rustic and renowned sanctuaries in India. It lies at the meeting point of Aravali Ranges and the Vindhya Plateaus. Government of India had established Ranthambore National Park initially as a Game Sanctuary in 1955.

Later in 1973, in order to preserve the dwindling number of tigers, it was also put into the Project Tigers Reserves. It only became a national park in 1980. Later, the adjacent forests near the park were declared as Keladevi Sanctaury and Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary. In 1991, the tiger reserve was stretched to include both these sanctuaries, finally leading to the complete establishment of the Ranthambore National Park.

Following are the main tourist attractions in Ranthambore Park

Flora
Generally, the dry and deciduous trees make most of the vegetation of Ranthambore Park. The major trees found in this national park are Banyan, Mango, Babul, Khair, Khajur, Dhok, Jamun, Ber and Imli. The largest Banyan tree in India is located in Ranthambore National Park.  Almost 80% of the vegetation is covered with "Dhok' Along with it, there are 300 different species of plants grown in this park. Deer, antelope and Nilgai feed on the leaves on Dhok. The leaves from the Tendu Plant are used to make beedis (rolled cigarettes) in India. The world renowned Vetiveria oil is obtained from Khus Grass which are normally present in the edges of the lake. This oil helps in controlling anger, irritation and healing of wounds. The medium sized Flame of the Forest tree is also present in this park, which literally colours the entire forest in orangish and vermillion colours. The bark of Khair tree is used to make the paste for paans. Porcupines are addicted to the bark of the Khair tree. The park receives scanty rainfall due to the close proximity with the Thar Desert. Lotus and water lilies grow in the lake, consisting of the main aquatic flora of the water bodies in Ranthambore Park.

Fauna
Ranthambore National Park is known for its rich fauna, basically comprising of tigers that form the apex core of the food chain. Apart from tigers, the park also has leopards, striped hyenas, jungle cats, black bucks, rhesus macaques, chinkara, etc. In terms of reptiles, the park includes Desert Monitor Lizards, Common Kraits, Cobras, Indian Pythons and Rat Snakes.
272 different varieties of birds have been reported so far in the park, making Ranthambore National Park a paradise for aviphiles. Most of these species are of migratory birds. India's national bird, the peacock, is one of the easily spotted birds in the park.
Several fishes are also found in the water bodies of the national park, such as Catla, Mirgal, Greyei, Bital, Savank, Sheenghari and Lanchi.

Excursions from Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore Fort:This formidable fort is located within the periphery of the national park. It is perched on a 700 ft Thambhore hill and is also included in the UNESCO world heritage sites. Established in 944 AD, this fort derived its name from two hills, Rann and Thambhore, respectively. It is advised to visit the fort on Wednesday as Lord Ganesh is worshipped on this day and a lot of people come here to pray.

Padam Talao: It is the largest lake in Ranthambore park. It derives its name from the large number of lotus flowers that bloom in this lake. The Jogi Mahal is situated near this lake. One can easily spot the largest banyan tree in India near the Jogi Mahal.

Bakaula Forest: This heavily forested region within the periphery of the Ranthambore National Park is know as Bakaula region. It is filled with forests and lakes, and thus attracts a large number of wildlife species. Several birds can also be spotted in this region.

When to go
The Ranthambore National Park is open for visitors from October to June. The best time to see tigers is from April to June.

How to go
By Air: Jaipur is the nearest airport to Ranthambore and it is situated 4 hours away. Tourists can use the regular bus service from Jaipur to Ranthambore and vice versa for commuting purposes.
By Rail: Sawai Madhopur is the nearest railway station to Ranthambore. One can easily reach this railway station from jaipur, Agra and Delhi.
By Road: The nearest town to Ranthambore is Sawai Madhopur which is 11 km away.