Ranthambhore National Park:
Near the town of Sawai Madhopur, midway between Bharatpur and
Kota, Ranthambhore National Park is one of the prime examples of
Project Tiger’s conservation efforts in Rajasthan. The 392 sq.km
park
comprises of dry deciduous forests sprawling over an
undulating terrain of the Aravalli and Vindhyan ranges with lodges
and water holes The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in
the country under the project Tiger.
According to 1999 census, the park had a total of 42 tigers (32
adults and 10 cubs).
The park itself covers some 1334 sq.km a system of lakes and
rivers is hemmed in by steep, high crags and on top of one of
these is the Ranthambhore Fort, built in the
10th century. The lower ground alternates between open bushland
and fairly dense forest and is peppered with ruined pavilions,
chhatris ( domed kiosks ) and ‘hides’- the area was formerly a
hunting preserve of the maharajas.The park provides a fine habitat
for sambar; there are also a few leopards, nilgai, sloth bear,
jackal, crocodile, the occasional rare caracal and about 300
species of birds.
The best time to visit the park is between October and April ; the
park is closed during the monsoon from 1st July to 1st October.
Early morning and late afternoon are generally the best times for
spotting wildlife.
