Take a moment to read the following line and observe what you feel. 

Mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, creeks, valleys, volcanoes, animals, birds, plants, history, culture, languages, and traditions. 

For some of us, these sit like textbook images on the surface of our memory but for others, these go deep, span wide and bring us to an enthralling feeling of ecstasy which overtakes the regular and oftentimes, a redundant state of mind, freeing us through its awe. That difference lies in how much time one has spent around these places, feelings, and things. It is impossible to forget that feeling and that effect seeps in to make us more joyful, present, and grateful. 

Amidst the hustle of our daily life, it is easy to displace the value and glory of the beauty that our planet presents every day. Especially a country like India, which has so much culture, wildlife, and history to explore but it's often forgotten, ridiculed, ignored, or slipped. Even if one goes on a holiday every six months, a lifetime would barely be enough to explore all of it and all of them bringing you back fully to yourself, to that place of pristine beauty, awe, and joy.

Ranthambore, the seventh tiger reserve of the Indian Subcontinent and a global tiger spotting destination is one such place. The extremely rich culture of the Rajasthani kings and their people is talked about worldwide and India hosts the largest tiger population in the world, that's what’s unique about Ranthambore,  the marriage of Rajasthani heritage and the preservation of tigers.

About Ranthambore

A hunting ground and home to tigers, leopards, and marsh crocodiles, Ranthambore was once a private game reserve of the Royal House of Jaipur. Ranthambore was not always called Ranthambore. Before Ranthambore the land was called and registered as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955, covering a vast area of 282 square kilometers. Some time later in 1992 the Tiger Reserve went through renovation to be expanded further up north to the neighboring Keladevi Sanctuary and down south to Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary including more forest region along the route. On 1 November 1980 Ranthambore was classified as a National Park.

Located at the junction of the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges, Ranthambore now has an active area of about 1,334 square kilometers, bounded by the Banas River all the way along the north and to the Chambal River all the way to the south. 

The National Park has a diverse range of biota including but not limited to animals such as sloths, leopards, the Indian hare, sloth bears, sambars, gazelles, jackals, boars, mongoose, chital deers, nilgai, mongoose, monitor lizards, prancing around a vast region of 300 different varieties of trees, 50 various types of aquatic plants, 272 diverse birds making it perfect for birdwatching, 12 types of reptiles like the the Marsh Crocodile among other amphibians and 30 species of mammals. With such a diversity of flora and fauna, Ranthambore National Park is quite a memorable sight to see and witness tigers out in the open in their wild, natural habitats. 

Dry deciduous forest, open grassy lands, several lakes, rivers, and the historic Ranthambore Fort (after which the park is named), all lie within the park.

About Tigers

The best part about the place is its rich past. Gone are the glorious days when tigers would walk freely right from the Eastern Anatolia Region (which is the west side) to the Amur River basic situated on the eastern side, and further down south all the way from the base of the Himalayan range to Bali in the Sunda Islands. Right from the early 20th century, populations of tigers have been on downsizing spree owing to multiple human and climatic causes. Populations of tigers have lost up to 93% of their historic range and have been wiped out from wester and central Asia all the way to the islanda of Java and Bali, and and furthermore in large pockets of South Asia and Southeast Asia all the way to China. 

Unfortunately, tigers are now scantily dispersed all over, all the way from the temperate forests of Siberia to the tropical and subtropical forest regions along the Indian subcontinent, Indochina and Sumatra.  

While the animal has gone extinct in most parts of the world, much credit has to be given to India for preserving the biggest of the cat family. As of 2022, India is home to 52 national reserve parks, of which at least 10 parks are global tiger spotting destinations. India is home to Almost 2,967 Royal Bengal Tigers and according to the 2014 census of tigers, there were 62 tigers in Ranthambore National Park. According to the latest record that was taken in 2021, the forest was home to 21 new tiger cubs which is said to be the most number of tiger cub births to happen in a single year. 

Guide to visiting Ranthambore

The best time to visit Ranthambore National Park is a matter of season and the general climate of the place. Summers, especially the months of May and June, are said to be the best times to spot tigers and other creatures who come out of their hiding in search of water holes to quench their thirst. During the monsoon season between July and September, many of the zones of Ranthambore National Park remain closed to visitors. However, not all the gates remain open throughout the season. One can expect gates no. 1 to gate no. 5 to reopen after the monsoons end, and gate no. 6 to gate no. 19 remain open for visitors during the monsoons. 

When trying to get there by air or train connections, it is worth mention that there aren’t any direct modes that get you straight to the park. One can hop onto a train or visit nearby bus stops, especially Sawai Madhipur which is no longer than about 14 km from Ranthambore National park. One of the smoothest ways to find yourself at the park is to book a local guide who will be able to assist you with a vehicle safari or a jungle walk. Prices are negotiable. An important thing to note is that there are no bars or cafes, no eating options, and no accommodation options within the park itself. There are plenty of options to stay near the park, both luxurious and easier on the pockets allowing all kinds of travelers to partake in the jungle safari.

Once you’re done with Ranthambore you must spend some time exploring the Rajasthani food and culture in and around Sawai Madhopur. Indulge in the exclusive dishes of Rajasthan such as Dal Bati, Ker Sangri, Churma, and Mawa Kachori. Explore the rich colorful tradition, clothing, handicrafts, and markets.

Other Attractions within Ranthambore

Ranthambore is more than just a popular wildlife habitat. Within the confines of the park lie many other well-known and ancient treats.

• The Ranthambore Fort is one of the main attractions apart from the Safari itself, the exact date is disputed but it's believed that the fort was constructed in the 8th century.
• Padam Talao is the largest of the many lakes in the park and is a crowd favorite. Princess Padmavati is believed to have committed Sati here. 
• One of the oldest temples in Rajasthan, the “Trinetra Ganesh temple”, where Lord Ganesha is seen with three eyes is located inside the park as well. 
• Be enchanted by the Jogi Mahal near the lake which is made of red sandstone. The mahal was a hunting resort for the royal families.
• Visit Lakarda and Anantpura where you can spot sloths and sometimes hyenas.
• Stone Arches, palace outhouses, domes & steps from the ancient Raj Bagh.
• Irrespective of whether you're an art enthusiast or not, you would love what the Ranthambore School of Art has to offer.
• Visit India’s 2nd largest and most magnificent Banyan Tree near the lake.

Outro

We are going through arguably the roughest times we’ve ever faced. Never have we ever caused so much imbalance and damage to our planet and our collective mental health has never been so low. But for those of us who are no longer willing to succumb to our problems, a good place to begin healing is amidst nature. We can take small doses of healing by going to a peaceful beach, swimming in a river, hiking up a hill or camping in a secluded place or taking bigger doses that completely overwhelm our minds and bodies like visiting Ranthambore. Ranthambore National Park is a part of our national pride and we must learn to cherish it by helping save tigers and being aware of their existence and their conditions.

If you, like us, are a wildlife lover, you will probably love our wildlife collection dedicated to the different national parks in India. Shop from our wildlife and nature collection or better yet, flaunt your favourite national park on your next national park visit.