Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve

Ranthambhore National Park is part of the much large 1333sq km Ranthambhore Tiger reserve, in the Sawai Madhopur district of Eastern Rajasthan. It derives its name from the hilltop fortress which stands 700 feet above the park, and is probably India’s best known Tiger reserve, having been the destination of many well known Tiger TV documentaries over the years.

The stunning park and fort, till 1949 was the private hunting reserve of the Maharaja of Jaipur and was where the Queen of England and her husband went on a Tiger shoot in the late 1940’s. The Fort overlooking the lakes, area dates back over 700 years and was conquered by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar in 1569, and with its mixture of ancient temples and summer palaces, alongside abundant Indian wildlife the park provide magical photographic opportunities.

The ancient mountain ranges of the Aravali and Vindhya meet here producing a mixture of flat tablelands and steep cliffs criss-crossing the park. The varied topography of the 400 sq km park provides habitats for animals like the jackal, mongoose, sloth bear, leopard, lesser cats and caracal, and of course the tiger.

Water is provided by the parks three man-made lakes, Jogi Mahal, the lodge used by the late Rajiv Gandhi to view wildlife, is set in an idyllic spot on the edge of the main lake. The lakes attract much of the wildlife, especially in the evenings and both Tigers and Marsh Mugger Crocodiles predate on the deer and antelope as they feed in the lake.

An inspired park director in the 1980’s, Fateh Singh Rathore relocation nine villages from the core area to new land outside the park boundaries proving a resounding success, especially for the wildlife in the core area, and in particular the tiger. With far less human encroachment in the park, the tigers shed their nocturnal cloaks and tiger encounters rose dramatically during the eighties and nineties, leading to its present Wildlife tourism status.

With over 300 types of trees, 272 species of birds and approximately 30 different types of mammals, Ranthambhore is packed full for a wildlife adventure.