Things to do inside the Park
There are many interesting spots for you to see in Ranthambore National Park. The Ranthambore National Park is regarded as the most suitable place for wildlife photography in the world. Here you can capture the tiger in its various moods and moments. Besides the Ranthambore Park, there are places like the Ranthambore Fort (one of its kind in the entire state of Rajasthan), Jogi Mahal (the wonderful forest guesthouse) and the various species of flora and fauna, which are also worth a look.
We have given a list below, of some of the important places at and around Ranthambore National Park.
Bakuala: National Park Ranthambore is covered with thick forest over a large part of its area. One of the thickly forested regions is called the Bakaula region. Bakaula consists of dense forest, with many small pools and water holes in clearings in the vegetation. Because of the excellent forest cover and availability of water, the Bakaula region in National Park Ranthambore has an abundance of wildlife. Tigresses with young cubs are often seen near the water holes in Bakaula, since the dense forest provides cool hides for a tigress and her young.
The thick vegetation also retains moisture in the air and lowers the temperature of this area. Bakaula is one of the coolest regions of National Park Ranthambore, where many birds can be seen in the trees and small animals like squirrels and monkeys scamper through the forest.
Bakaula is one of the many interesting places to see in National Park Ranthambore. National Park Ranthambore offers nature safari tours to Ranthambore National Park.
Kachida Valley: This valley, which consists of many rocky outcrops and low hills, is located close to the outskirts of the park. A jeep would be the ideal mode of transport when trying to visit this area. This area contains a majority of the Panther population of the park. The panthers avoid venturing into the main jungle to avoid conflicts with tigers, who are known to kill them. This area also has a good population of Sloth bears.
Lakarda Anantpura: These areas located in the North-Western and Northern regions of the park are ideal locations to visit if looking for Sloth Bears. These areas have a lot of ant hills, which are a favourite of the beers. Although very rarely seen themselves, the pugmarks of the Indian striped Hyenas are often seen here. Their numbers are not very large in the park.
Raj Bagh Ruins: These ruins are located between the Padam Talao (lake) and the Raj Bagh Talao. These ancient stone structures like arches, palace outhouses, domes and steps give the area an aura that is not possible to find anywhere else in the world. Especially if you include the jungle surroundings and are one of the lucky few who come across one of the resident tigers. These ruins are what give the Ranthambore National Park such a unique mixture of a wildlife reserve and a reminder of the past, which together make it one of the most picturesque parks in the entire world.
Padam Talao: This is the largest of the lakes present in the park. The famous and beautiful Jogi Mahal is located at the very edge of this lake. When in season, the water lilies that give the lake it's name, can be seen in plenty. In the early hours of the morning and just before sunset, animals can be seen in large numbers on the lake side. It is in the shallow waters of this lake that the famous "lake hunters" of Ranthambore operate, the most legendary of which was the tiger, Genghis. It is also along this lake's edges that the rare sighting of the chinkara is most probable.
Ranthambore Fort: This fort stands majestically atop a hill overlooking the entire park. The walk up, one of the only places this mode of transport is possible, is a very refreshing and exciting one as even the big cats have been spotted up there! The view of the surrounding keeps getting better and better as you go up but the view from the fort itself can only be described as breathtaking. It is advisable to take along a good pair of binoculars and if possible a camera with a very powerful lens when visiting the fort.
The soaring Serpent eagles, vultures and other birds can be seen at eye level. Many animals can also be seen along the edges of all the water bodies, which are all visible from here. The fort itself also offers many interesting architectural and historical sights worth viewing and photography. A trip to the fort is a must if you are a first time visitor to the park. A guide with a good knowledge of the fort's history would always be a good idea.
Rajabagh Talao: This is probably the most picturesque of the three lakes. This mostly due to the ruins that can be seen along it's edges. Yet, it owes some of it's beauty to the animals that seem to always flock to it's waters. It always has a large population of animals and birds feeding in it. The sambhar deer at Ranthambore have adapted to eating plants from the lake floor and nowhere is it more evident than at the Rajbagh Talao. Many birds, like egrets, can be seen riding on these deer while they feed. The areas around the Rajbagh Talao are also prime tiger spotting areas due to the kind of forest and it's accessibility to water sources.
Malik Talao: This is the smallest of the three lakes in Ranthambore National Park. But, as they say, all the best things come in small packages. This definitely holds true for Malik Talao. It is an area full of concentrated action all the time. It always seems to have a healthy population of birds of all kinds. Also seen at the lake very clearly and from a reasonably close distance and handsome specimens of the Indian Marsh Crocodiles. It is quite common here to be able to watch a kingfisher on a hunt for small fish.
Things to do around the Park
The Ranthambore Fort: 1000-year-old Ranthambhore Fort, one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan, atop a high hill, stands tall at the heart of the Park. Remains of historical past - cenotaphs, tombs, stepped wells, summer palaces etc, have all merged harmoniously into the sprawling forest.
Ganesh Temple: Trinetra means three eyes, the temple was named by this reason. Legend about the Deity.Legend has it that Parvati created Ganesh out of the sandalwood dough that she used for her bath and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath. When her husband, Shiva returned, the child who had never seen him stopped him. Shiva severed the head of the child and entered his house. Parvati, learning that her son was dead, was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him. Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and fixed it on the body of Ganesh.
Another tale tells of how one day the Gods decided to choose their leader and a race was to be held between the brothers- Kartikeya and Ganesh. Whoever took three rounds of the earth first would be made the Ganaadhipati or the leader. Kartikeya seated on a peacock as his vehicle, started off for the test. Ganesh was given a rat, which moved swiftly. Ganesh realised that the test was not easy, but he would not disobey his father. He reverently paid obeisance to his parents and went around them three times and thus completed the test before Kartikeya. He said, " my parents pervade the whole universe and going around them, is more than going round the earth." Everybody was pleasantly surprised to hear Ganesh's logic and intelligence and hence he came to be known as the Ganaadhipati or leader, now referred to as Ganpati.
Amreshvar Mahadev Temple: Revered ShivTemple, The waterfall and the Verdant grove make this spot ideal for picnics.
Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary Eco Tourism sites "Balas": Balas is situated 9 km away from Sawaimadhopur on Sawaimadhopur-Kalibhat road. It is a part of Sawai mansingh sanctuary. The area includes the confluence of the ancient Aravalli hill, system with the Vindhyan hill system due to which the area is a very rich in bio-diversity. The Vindhyan system is characterized by flat table tops (plateaus) locally known as "Dang' and Aravallis are characterized by sharp ridges & conical hill tops.
The camping site is surrounded by bold vertical cliffs of Neemli 'Dang'. Eco trails and motorable paths have been developed to visit the 'Dang'. Know is another beautiful feature of the Dang. It is a very deep, wide and long rocky Nallah cutup in the Dang which is characterised by steep rocky slopes and cliffs, flat bottoms with deep and fertile soil Mahakho and Didikho are two khos which are very cool mist and alive throughout the year.
Flora in Balas :The main vegetation is dhok associated with beautiful trees of cheela, Raunj, Tendu, Gurjan, Kadaya, Khaair, Kadamb, Goya khair, Siras, Jamun, Khirni, Saintha, Salar, Kathphadi, Amaltas etc. Undergrowth is mostly jarked, jal, Gangerun, jhadberi . Ground cover is mostly grasses of species Chinkali, Bhanjura, Lampla, Sheen, Sedvs, Loth, Jhonudali, Dada Musi Pharda.
Fauna in Balas:The Main animals of the area are Chinkaras, Nilgai, Chital, Sambhar, Hare, Fox, Jackal, Hyena, Jingle Cat, Wild Boar, Sloth beer and Panther. Avifauna is represented by Peacock, Partridges, Quails, Sand grouse, Stone curlews, Minivets, Flycatchers, Tits, Orioles, Parakeets, Sparrow, and Vultures. Nesting of vultures can also be seen in the area.
Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary Eco Tourism sites "Kundal": Is situated 15 km away from Sawaimadhopur on Sawaimadhopur-Kalibhat road. It is a part of Sawai mansingh sanctuary. The area includes the confluence of the ancient Aravalli hill, system with the Vindhyan hill system due to which the area is a very rich in bio-diversity. The Vindhyan system is characterized by flat table tops (plateaus) locally known as "Dang' and Aravallis are characterized by sharp ridges & conical hill tops.
Amli River Safari : This is the new picnic spot for sighting of Brid watching, Traditional Games, Candle Night Dinner, Boating, Village Tour & Camel Cart Riding.
Mansarovar lake (26 Kms): Best Scenic Vistas, Camping, Paradise for Bird watchers.
Surwal lake (20 Kms): A scenic and mesmeric location filled with natural beauty where the migratory birds flock
Pali Ghat (40 Kms) : A preferred camping & boating spot at the banks of River Chambal
Rameshwaram Ghat (70 Kms): Picnic Spot on the confluence of Rivers Chambal & Banas, crocodiles, dolphins and migratory birds
Kandhar Fort (50Kms): A Historic & Majestic fort on the outskirts of Ranthambhore National Park.
