Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve

West India

Striking images of tigers lying on ancient tombs or fortress walls or lapping up water from its picturesque lakes draws thousands of visitors to Ranthambhore each year. It is brimming with tigers too, over 30 individuals plus numerous cubs at the last count. Ranthambhore National Park is part of the much larger 1,333 square kilometres Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. It derives its name from the hilltop fortress within its boundaries and has been the destination of many well-known documentaries over the years. The fort overlooks the lakes and is a picturesque spot where many birds and animals can be found, making you want to linger just a little bit longer, to watch one of the tiger royalties who reside here. The ancient mountain ranges of the Aravalli and Vindhya meet here creating a mix of flat tablelands and steep cliffs. These forests were, until 1949, the private hunting reserve of the Maharaja of Jaipur. This is where the Queen of England and her husband went on a tiger hunt in ...the late 1940’s. An inspired Park Director, Fateh Singh Rathore, pioneered the relocation of nine villages from the core area to lands outside the park boundaries between 1973 and 1975. This proved a resounding success as the dependence on the forest resources was reduced. The wildlife, relatively free from human interference, could roam the forests during the day and tiger sightings increased dramatically. Many of his ideas have helped shape the park you see today, flourishing with wildlife. Read more