Ranthambhore National Park is considered as one of the best places to view the majestic predator in the jungle. Being the royal hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, it has fueled the imagination of photographers and wildlife lovers from all over the globe. One of the biggest and most renowned tiger reserves in India, it is known for an eclectic mix of historical and natural wonders. Ranthambhore is also an heritage site and that comes from the legacy of the Rajput kings such as Prithvi Raj Chauhan. It is located in Sawai Madhopur district of the state of Rajasthan and is located at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya hill range. The massive Ranthambhore Fort overlooks the national park which is dotted with ruins of the erstwhile times. The dry deciduous forests of Ranthambhore are a boon to the wildlife lover - increasing the chances of sighting the wild king. Tigers can be spotted during the day either chilling in the waters or stalking a prey or just marking their territory.

The Ranthambhore National Park is a part of the much larger Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, a Project Tiger reserve. It is right now the only forest reserve in the state of Rajasthan and in the entire Aravali hill ranges, where tigers exist. The Chambal river acts as the natural boundary to the park towards the south, while the  Banas river (a Chambal tributary) bounds the park on the north. Across the river Banas, lies the Keladevi sanctuary, and the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary lies to the south of the park. Both these sanctuaries, along with the Ranthambhore National Park, are part of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. This Project tiger reserve spans over 1334 sq. km of area, of which 282 sq. km is the Ranthambhore National Park.

PARK LANDSCAPE

The tiger reserve changes its moods as you move across the varied terrains. The park is divided into tourist, buffer and core areas where the tourist area comprises of 5 zones, where all the five zones boast of unique topography. The scenery changes dramatically from flat tabletops (locally known as Dang) and gentle slopes of Vindhyas to the conical hilltops and sharp ridges of Aravallis. The 10th century Ranthambhore Fort blends seamlessly with the terrain with its dominating architecture, adding character to the landscape. An important geological fault line - The Great Boundary fault - lying at the confluence of Vindhyan and Aravalli ranges runa across the Park. This confluence is believed to be the reason why Ranthambhore is blessed with such rich bio diversity. The park also houses three big lakes- Padam Talao, Raj Bagh and Malik Talao- along with several water holes all over the park. Ranthambhore National Park acts as the catchment area for the Chambhal river and the reservoirs surrounding it- it also plays a huge role in maintaining the ground water level.