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| Ranthambore National Park |
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History
The Ranthambhore National Park stretches across an area of 1,334 sq km on the eastern edge of the Thar Desert. Once the hunting grounds of the erstwhile ruling family of Jaipur, today it is one of the last sanctuaries of the big cat, the Royal Bengal Tiger. Ranthambhore actually consist of not one, but three, wildlife preserves: the Ranthambhore National Park itself, the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary and the Keladevi Sanctuary.
Ranthambhore is an oasis of dense dry deciduous forests amidst a vast tract of semi arid scrub and thorny desert vegetation surrounded by the hills of the Vindhyas and the Aravalis.
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.
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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.
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Trivia
Ranthambhore National Park is a perfect getaway for wildlife enthusiasts and adventure buffs. You can witness the amazing flora and fauna and catch a glimpse of the tigers at Ranthambhore.
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Timing
The park is open to all from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
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Travel Tools
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