The erstwhile hunting ground of the Jaipur royals, Ranthambore is now a protected area and a safe haven for rapidly thinning population of Royal Bengal Tigers. Ranthambore National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary flagged off Project Tiger and was the first one to get the title of Tiger Reserve. The preferred spot for game shooting has now become a favored destination for game viewing and shooting with cameras for the tourists. The dignitaries who have visited the area include Queen Elizabeth II, Rajiv Gandhi, former US President Bill Clinton, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Ranthambore National Park is considered best for tiger sightings, as the ferocious beasts have become used to the company of humans. The unique ruins of the Ranthambore Fort, which are more than 1000 years old seem mysterious in their antiquity and wildlife cover. The Ganesh Temple here is still in use by the local villagers.

Places to See
Ranthambore National Park is the best destination for wildlife photography in the world. The tigers at Ranthambore are used to human forays into their areas and do not hide or run away at first sound of human step. At Ranthambore, you mist see:

• Ranthambore Fort
• Jogi Mahal or the Forest Guesthouse
• Bakaula
• Kachida Valley
• Lakarda and Anantpura
• Raj Bagh Ruins
• Padam Talao
• Rajbagh Talao
• Malik Talao

Shopping
Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary does have a small village inside but you hardly get anything worth spending there. Instead, you can shop at Jaipur for local handicrafts and souvenirs.

Where to Stay
From budget hotels at Sawai Madhopur to luxury forest lodges and camping sites inside the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, there are many stay options at Ranthambore. We recommend:

How to Reach Ranthambore
11 km from the Sawai Madhopur town, Ranthambore is easily accessible by road.

• Sanctuary Hotel
• Ankur Resort
• Anurag Resort
• Hotel Dev Vilas
• Khem Villas
• Raj Palace
• Ranthambore Regency
• The Jungle Niwas
• The Sawai Madhopur Lodge

By Road: Excellent road network and bus services ranging from regular buses to luxury coaches connect Ranthambore to all major cities of Rajasthan.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Ranthambore, basically a National Park in itself, is Sawai Madhopur, 11 km from the Wildlife Sanctuary. Sawai Madhopur stands on the direct line from Delhi to Mumbai and hence several important trains, connecting the town to cities across India, stop here.

By Air: The nearest airport to Ranthambore National Park is Jaipur, 140 km from here. Jaipur has regular flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Sharjah in UAE, and Muscat in Oman.