Tiger travel in Ranthambore National Park is often offered as an extension on tours to other parks and reserves, to give wildlife enthusiasts even more opportunities to see the majestic creature in the wild. It is an excellent destination to consider adding to the itinerary when planning a visit in search of the majestic creature, as it has a large population, as well as being a home to many other incredible animal species. It is a striking setting with forts scattered across the landscape of dry deciduous forests and grassy meadows.
History of Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore Fort, sitting 700 feet above the surrounding plain and low hills, dominates the National Park. It was founded in the year 944 AD by the Nagil Jats and remained a focal point for events in Rajasthan over the following centuries. In the 17th century it fell to the ownership of the Maharajas of Jaipur, who held it until India's independence from the British when Jaipur became part of Rajasthan. During the period of Jaipur's control, the Maharajas used the surrounding area as hunting grounds. After independence, it became a game sanctuary (in 1955) and then a dedicated reserve (in 1973) as part of Project Tiger. Travel to the park today and you'll see some of this history of the fort on display, including its red Karauli stone Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva, Ganesh and Ramlalaji, and the Digamber Jain temple of Lord Sumatinath and Lord Sambhavanath.
Exploring the Park
This National Park is considered a top location in India for seeing the Tiger in the wild. Its numbers have remained high despite difficult periods of relations with humans in the region, thanks to the efforts of conservation workers and government incentives. The population of the creature in Ranthambore National Park has seen it participate in a scheme to relocate some to other areas of India with lower populations. This alone makes it well worth a visit on Tiger travel tours.
It is an incredibly beautiful park, with its landscape dominated by Ranthambore Fort as well as other structures, including the red sandstone Jogi Mahal at the edge of the lake Padam Talao. This atmospheric setting is a truly memorable place to search for the Tiger. Travelling through the park on morning and evening game drives makes sightings highly likely - alongside many other species that reside in the lakes, meadows and forested hills. These include langurs, deer, Sloth Bear, Brown Fish Owl and minivets. The diversity of wildlife is spectacular and visiting Ranthambore National Park can be added to the itinerary along with Kanha National Park, another of India's top national parks in the heart of rural India.
Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you're looking for Tiger travel, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to to wildlife tours to some of the most spectacular regions on Earth.
