| An
ancient fort lies within the park boundaries of Ranthambore, adding to its charm.
Ravines, nallahs, water bodies and waterfalls add to its beauty and offer many natural
hideouts for tigers and the other wildlife endemic to this park. Part of Project Tiger (one
of Asia's most important conservation efforts), Ranthambhore is the favourite haunt of
wildlife buffs and professional wildlife photographers from around the world who come to
see tigers, panthers, wild cats, hyena, jackal, marsh crocodile, wild boar, bears, many
species of deer and a rich birdlife of over 300 species, including the great Indian horned
owl. Ranthambhore encompasses three lakes: Raj Bagh, Malik Talab and Padam Talab, where
aquatic birds can be seen.
Although latest
reports show that the tiger population of Ranthambhore is on the decline, it’s still
one of India’s best places to see the
great cat in all its glory.
Entry Requirements
Entry to the
Ranthambore National Park is limited; all visitors must obtain a permit at the entrance to
Ranthambhore before they’re allowed to enter. Foreigners pay an entrance fee
of Rs 200; for Indians, the fee is Rs 25, while Indian students pay Rs 5. Additional
charges are levied for cameras.
Access
The Ranthambore
National Park is 145 km from Jaipur though the nearest railhead is at Sawai Madhopur, 12
km away. Sawai Madhopur, which lies on the main Delhi-Mumbai railway route, is connected
by train to a number of cities and towns across India, including Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur.
The nearest airports are at Kota and Jaipur, from where a bus or train can be taken to
Sawai Madhopur, where a taxi may be hired to get to Ranthambhore; alternatively, you can
take the bus which goes to the park.
Within the park,
hired vehicles- especially jeeps- can be hired at the entrance to Ranthambhore. The RTDC
(Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation) organizes jeep and truck safaris for tourists,
besides which you may bring your own vehicle into the park.
Best time to visit
Ranthambhore is open for visitors between October and June. Summers are very hot in this
part of the country, and temperatures rise so high that you’ll probably end up being
utterly uncomfortable. However, the summer heat attracts animals to the waterholes, so
there’s greater chance of seeing wildlife in May or June.
The best time for
a trip remains between December and April, when the weather’s great and there’s
plenty of opportunity for doing some hardcore wildlife-watching. March and April,
especially, are months when tiger-spotting is more common.
Accommodation
Hotel accommodation
suiting all wallet sizes from deluxe heritage hotels to economy class is available both
inside and outside the park. The forest department has forest rest houses within
Ranthambhore National Park, and private hotel companies operate facilities- cottages,
heritage hotels, wildlife resorts and the like- outside the park; some of these are
extremely luxurious and offer nearly all the facilities you’d expect of a deluxe
property.
Sawai Madhopur too
is well-equipped with accommodation facilities, both private and RTDC. It’s so close
to Ranthambhore that it actually makes a lot of sense to stay in the town and visit the
park during the day.
Both within the park and in Sawai Madhopur, accommodation
tariffs range between Rs 400 to Rs 1500 per night, most rooms costing about Rs 500- 800.
Cottages, which are more convenient for groups, cost about Rs 1200-1500 per night.
Further details on
visiting Ranthambhore may be obtained from the Field Director, Ranthambhore National Park,
Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan (Tel: 07462-20223). There is also a Tourist Reception Center at
the RTDC Hotel Vinayak in Sawai Madhopur (Tel: 07462-21169) where you can get information. |
