Best Time to Visit Ranthambore National Park

One of the largest National Parks in Northern India, the Ranthambore National Park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan (about 130 kms from Jaipur). Once an exclusive hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, it was established as the Sawai Madhopur Games Sanctuary in 1955; Project Tiger Reserve in 1973 and a National Park in 1980.

Today more and more people are taking holidays to the Ranthambore National Park owing to its popularity as a major hotspot for wildlife tourism. Ranthambore National Park is world famous for its tigers and is one of the best locations in India to see the big cat in the wild. Spread over an area of 1,334 sq km; many water holes and ruins of the old fort (after which the park is named) dot the park, giving it a certain old world charm.

Besides tigers, there is a rich mix of fauna, including the spotted deer, sambhar, crocodiles, gazelle and the nilgai. Ranthambore is also rich in bird life with around 300 species of birds; including vultures, serpent eagles, cormorant, painted spur fowl, sarus crane, bronzed winged jacana, sandpiper, kingfisher, nightjar, and many other migrants who come from the north of Himalayas. The park remains open from October to Mid-June. Ranthambore has a plethora of accommodation options – from cheap hotels and budget resorts to luxurious tented accommodation and heritage properties.

If you are taking a wildlife holiday at Ranthambore, it makes good travel sense for wildlife enthusiasts to also visit the Keoladeo National Park, formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Located only 225kms from Ranthambore, on the way to Agra; most popular travel companies offer packages with all three destinations – Ranthambore-Keoladeo National Park and there are great facility to stay with Hotels In Ranthambore.