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.

IN THE FIELD UPDATE

Feb 2011 – This beautiful park is still very green and the mirrored lakes still full of water, birds, deer and crocodiles for this time of year. It’s looking in great health and the sightings of leopards and sloth bear are increasing, having been poor historically. Tiger viewing has been good, and occasional young cubs are seen. Sadly, one female tigress died recently leaving four cubs who are now orphaned (and unlikely to survive). Another Tigress has moved into dangerous buffer reserve with her two sub adult cubs to get away from a new male tiger threatening them. Experts feel there is a decline in the tiger numbers within the reserve and of course female survival rate is crucial to long term stability in tiger populations.

Please note: Tourism pressure continues to grow and the ‘wilderness experience’ can be of a poor quality (if clients have been on African safaris or are keen and appreciative nature lovers) and obtaining park entrance permits has become a lucrative quasi black market operation. This is ‘tick box’ tourism not wilderness tourism and visitors should understand this. (Alternatively visitors should all stop coming– and we all demand changes that will make the whole ‘wilderness experience’ more memorable!) A walk into the Ranthambhore fort is well worth the effort, with superb views of the lakes and rugged hills.