Ranthambhore National Park

About Park

The Ranthambhore National Park, which is a part of the much larger Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, lies in the Sawai Madhopur district of eastern Rajasthan.

Till the mid 20^th century, the National park was a private hunting ground for the Maharaja of Jaipur, but was nationalized soon after India gained independence. In 1972, when the Project Tiger was launched, Ranthambhore was one of the “original 9” parks to be earmarked for tiger conservation, under the Project Tiger.

Ranthambhor National Park is situated 14 kms. from Sawai Madhopur. The park derives its name from the Ranth-ambhor Fort situated within its precincts. 

The Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is a “secluded” ecological island, surrounded by fields and over grazed plains. The Northern tropical dry deciduous forests that are found here lie on the conjunction of two hill systems – the Aravalis and the Vindhyas. The Reserve is located in the eastern part of the north western state of Rajasthan, between the latitudes 25⁰41' N to 26⁰22' N and longitudes 76⁰16' E to 77⁰14' E, with an average elevation of 350 meters above m.s.l.

The total area of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is 1394 square k.m. out of which 773 square k.m. lies in the Sawai Madhopur district and the rest, 621 square k.m. in the Karauli district. This area is divided into different sanctuaries / park as follows:

Ranthambhore National Park         392 square k.m. approximately.

Kela Devi sanctuary                       674 square k.m. approximately.

Sawai Man Singh sanctuary           127 square k.m. approximately.

Other Reserve forests                     40 square k.m. approximately.  

Humidity :-  The relative humidity is generally low in most part of the year; it becomes as low as 10 to 15 percent during summer months. However during the rainy days the relative humidity goes over 60%.

Important water holes

Tiger :- Though tiger are usually nocturnal, in Ranthambhor their preservation has led to a change in their habits and they are fairly easily sighted during the day. Another change has been in their living habits - as family units rather then just solitary hunters. The density, at one tiger for every 10 sq. kms. is fairly high. Though there were attempts at poaching a few years ago that called for strict vigil from the forest guards, in principle, the population of tigers has increased since it became a Project Tiger reserve.

Other Predators :- A hunter, at per with the tiger, is the marsh Crocodile, seen most often basking on the shores of the park's lakes. Almost three meters in the length, they catch fish, turtle and even deer along the banks. At times, they have even got into conflicts over tigers for a favorite prey-sambhar. Their number has increased over the years.

The park has a large number of leopards too. These have a significantly high population, but because the tigers remain in the central areas, the leopards, witch overlap in their requirement of the prey species, largely confine their activities to the periphery of the park.

Other then these, the park is home to jungle cats and caracals. In the night, hyenas and jackals stalk the undergrowth.

Prey Species :- The large variety of deer, seen standing in the shallow waters of the lake's banks or foraging in the undergrowth, from the dominant prey species in Ranthambhor. These include sambhar, seen everywhere in herds, as are cheetal and neelgai. Chinkaras are more solitary in appearance. It is not uncommon to find that sambhar spend a considerable part of the day swimming and eating in the lakes. The park also has here, mongoose and monitor lizards. Langoors chatter incessantly through the rich canopy of tree cover.

Other Wildlife Species :- When driving through the jungle trails, it is possible to spot the occasional sloth beer in the park. Groups of wild boar, on the other hand, are more likely to be encountered around the lakes.

The best time for visiting Ranthambhor depends on the special interest of the visitor. The park opens from October to June. November to March are the best months.

Entry to the park is only in Gypsy and Canter vehicles that can be hired locally from the office of the Forest Department.

Visiting hours to the Park

6:30 to 9:30 AM

3:00 to 6:00 PM

(Timings vary with season.)

Entry Fee

Rs. 25/- per head (For Indians) & Rs. 200/- per head (For foreigners) Student School Group Rs. 5/- per head

Camera Fee

Still Camera Free.

• Smoke
• Walk
• Picnic
• Litter
• Blow Horn
• Make Noise
• Tease Wild Animals
• Use camera Flash of spot-light
• Deviate from the allotted route
• Leave the roads and drive cross-country
• Enter without proper tickets
• Enter before sun rise or after sun set

Please DO

• Wear sober clothes
• Go around the Reserve slowly & Cautiously
• Enjoy nature in totality and keep patience for tiger sighting
• Respect nature