India is the home of several tiger reserves that protect the fast-disappearing tigers of the country. Ranthambhore in Sawai Madhopur district is a stunning destination of Rajasthan where you’re likely to spot this majestic and ferocious animal within the iconic setting of the Ranthambhore National Park. Enduringly identified with the extrovert tigers who are hardly affected by the sounds of jeeps or the shutterbugs, the magnificent Tiger Reserve couldn’t be more fascinating, amid scrubland and grassy ridges. Ranthambore is situated 130 km south-east of Jaipur, and 110 km north-east of Kota, with a total area of 1334 sq km, of which about 400 sq km make up the core zones of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. Bordered by spikes of Aravallis & Vindhya Range on the edge of a plateau and set among ephemeral forest, hills and wide valleys, the national park is flecked with three lakes in the vicinity that add to the beauty of the wildlife. Besides the terrestrial flora and fauna a striking 10th century citadel- Ranthambhore Fort poised atop a rocky height draws visitors for its imposing structure flanked by massive doorways, encircling 7 km of walls, allowing one a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape. The relics of buildings inside this UNESCO World Heritage Site - a museum, a mosque, various temples; including the much revered Trinetra Ganesha Temple- are among the major attractions within the National Park.
With the plenty of mammals like sambar, chital, nilgai, chinkara, wild boar, jackals, hyenas, panthers, leopards, jungle cats, desert lnyx and sloth bear, over 250 species of birds, marsh crocodiles, alligators and the Gangetic dolphins in Chambal River and around 200 species of plants & trees, Ranthambhore is an extremely renowned wildlife destination of Rajasthan among the top two in India.