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Ranthambore
National Park
Earlier the
hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the Park at Ranthambore as once the
scene of royal hunting parties.
Today, it is famous for its tigers and is one of
the best places in the country to see these majestic predators in the wild.
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The
tigers can be spotted quite often even during the day, at their normal pursuits
– hunting and taking care of their young. With the strict measures that have
been taken for their conservation, they seem quite accustomed to human activity
and are not disturbed by it. A good time to visit is between November and April
when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes sightings common.
Ranthambore
has large numbers of sambar, chital and nigai. Sounders of boar and an occasional
gazelle – the chinkara can be seen, as also the Indian hare, mongoose and
monitor lizards. The lakes and pools at to Park are where the deer congregate and
where it is easiest to see the animals. Among the other local fauna are the
leopard, hyena, jackal, jungle cats, sloth bear and marsh crocodile
Jacanas,
painted stork, black stork, and white necked stork are seen along the water
bodies. Peafowl are found in abundance and other birds include Bonelli’s eagle,
crested serpent eagle, the great Indian horned owl, quail, partridge, spur fowl
and the paradise flycatcher.
The Park,
which covers an area of 392 sq. km. is set
between the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Its deciduous forests were once a part of
the magnificent jungles of central
India
. The terrain is rugged and there are rocky ridges, hills and open valets with
lakes and pools.
Ranthambore’s
royal past manifests itself in the picturesque ruins that dot the Park. There are
lake a majestic thousand year old fortifications and a majestic thousand year old
fort on a height overlooking the Park. The forest rest house at the foot of the
Ranthambore fort is located in the lovely Jogi Mahal. It overlooks a tank – the
pretty Padam Talao, afloat with water lilies.
| Best time to visit |
October to June |
| Accommodation |
Excellent hotels at Sawai
Madhopur |
| Nearest
Town |
Sawai
Madhopur |
| Species found |
Tiger, panther, hyena,
jungle cat, civet, sambar, chital, nilgai, bear, wild |
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boar, partridge, green
pigeon, red spurfowl etc. |
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Though known as a desert state, Rajasthan has excellent wildlife
retreats. The two fine tiger reserves at Ranthambore and Sariska and the
magnificent bird sanctuary at Bharatpur
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How To Get
There |
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| By
Air |
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Jaipur 145 Km is the nearest airport.
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| By
Train |
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Nearest Rail Head at Sawai Madhopur 11Km |
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| By
Road |
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A good network of bus services operate from Sawai
Madhopur
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