Famous for its national park, Ranthambore is a small town situated in Sawai Madhopur District of the state of Rajasthan, India. Ranthambore National Park is a primarily tiger reserve. The park is spread over an area of 392 sq km. Earlier it was a hunting place for kings of Jaipur. It is an ideal place for wildlife lovers and is abundant with beautiful ponds, rocky hills, fascinating ravines etc. it was earlier wildlife sanctuary. Then in 1980 it was declared as a National Park. Other than tiger, its main habitat, the park also houses other species of animals.
The Ranthambore fort situated in the National Park is one of the remnants of rich heritage of history of the region. The fort was built in 994 AD and has a massive gate, high walls, temples and water tanks. It was built in such a way that enemies could not make an easy entry in the fort. The temple situated in the fort is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Temple of Lord Ganesha is another temple situated in the fort. The fort is visited by many touristsJogi Mahal is another place of interest in Ranthambore. It was built as rest house for the members of Jaipur royals who came there for hunting. It is now a guest house and offers tourists modern amenities. The structure of the Mahal is beautiful one. The place also offers fascinating views of it surrounding natural sites. Padam Talab located there adds to the beauty of the Mahal. Surwal Lake is another place of tourist attraction you can visit near Ranthambore. It is situated about 25 km away from Ranthambore. The lake mesmerizes the onlookers with its stunning views. You can also have the fun of jungle safaris in Ranthambore National Park.
Many state run buses connect Ranthambore to Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar and other parts of the state and the country. Sawai Madhopur serves as the nearest railhead to Ranthambore. The railway station is just 10 km from Ranthambore and is well linked by many trains to other parts of the country. Sanganer Airport is closest airport to Ranthambore and is well connected to other major cities of the country.October to February is the best time to visit Ranthambore.
