Vaishno Devi
                      More Pilgrims >>

Delhi Tourism

      more Wildlife in India >>

Surrounded by the Vindhyas and Aravalli Hill Ranges and located very near to the outer fringes of the Thar Desert, Ranthambore is one of the many famous destinations in the Western State of India, Rajasthan. Ranthambore is known all over for it's Ranthambore National Park that offers a unique house for tigers and other fast depleting animals. Earlier used as the hunting ground by the Maharaja of Jaipur, it was later declared as a game sanctuary in 1955 and later National Park in 1980.

Sprawled over an area of 392 sq. kms, the Park has six man made Lakes and various other streams meandering through it. Listed amongst one of the reserves under Project Tiger, Ranthambore National Park is home to all kinds of tigers and is considered to be an ideal place for observing as well as photographing the Tiger in its natural habitat. You can also click some lifetime remarkable pictures on Tour Packages for Ranthambore.

Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary today offers a powerful assortment of flora and fauna. Tigers, the park's pride rule the place and co-exist along with a large numbers of Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Gazelle, Boars, Mongoose, Indian Hare and Monitor Lizards. Besides this the Park also includes 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, 272 birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile & amphibians and 30 mammals.

Ranthambhor National Park, before a princely game conserve is the scene where the celebrated Indian Tiger is best seen. Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve lies on the junction of Aravali and Vindhyas just 14 Kms from Sawai Madhopur in Eastern Rajasthan. It sprawls over a varying and undulating landscape.
 

The scenery changes dramatically from gentle and steep slopes of the Vindhyas and sharp and conical hills of the Aravali. A tenth century fort also blends amicably with the background.

Pure sands of Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) interspersed with grasslands at the plateaus, meadows in valleys and luxuriant foliage around the canals make the jungle. Three big lakes – Padam Talab (meaning Lake), Malik Talab and Raj Bagh – are similar turquoises studded in the vast forest that abounds with aquatic vegetation including duckweeds, lilies and lotus.

A significant geological feature within the park is the 'Great Boundary Fault' where the Vindhaya plateau meets the Aravali range. The Rivers Chambal in the South and the Banas in the North bound the National Park.

The park is dotted with steep rocky hills and the dominating architecture of Ranthambhor Fort (built in the 10th century), adds to its landscape. The rugged park terrain alternates between dry deciduous forest, open grassy meadow, dotted by several lakes and rivers that are only made passable by rough roads built and maintained by the Forest Service.
The tiger is not the only attraction at Ranthambhor; although it is the one park resident that people come to see. A variety of birds including Owlets, the ubiquitous Langur (monkey), Leopard, Caracal, Hyena, Jackal, Jungle Cat, marsh Crocodiles, Wild Boar, Bears and various species of Deer are the other attractions.

Ranthambhor is plagued by the typical problems encountered by all game reserves in India - people living in and around the parks and grazing by livestock! Between 1976-1979, 12 villages within Ranthambhor National Park were resettled outside the designated park area with only a few people now residing in scattered hamlets within the park.

The park is well staffed and the folk who man the centres and the mandatory guides - one for every vehicle, are knowledgeable of the terrain and some even know the Latin names of most species.

The tiger is not the only attraction at Ranthambhor; although it is the one park resident people come to see. We were lucky to see several varieties of birds including these owlets peering through their burrow pictured here on the right and of course the ubiquitous langur monkey. Other animals in the reserve include leopard, caracal, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, marsh crocodiles, wild boar, bears and various species of deer.

The main food source for the tiger is the swamp deer like Barasinsga and on occasion the wild buffalo and also wild boar etc. If you wish to stay near the park, the facilities on offer are superb. The park gates open a half hour before sunrise and close half hour after sunset. The timings are vigorously imposed and no exceptions are made to this rule.

Like oil lamps flickering in the wind, the world's tiger population is unhurriedly being snuffed out. Several books and literature have been produced to describe the most intriguing, the most powerful and the most majestic of all animals. The Hindu tradition and culture have a place of honor and worship for tiger.

In India people had added Singh, Sher and Nahar on their names to upgrade their class. Yet people have been incredibly scant to the cause of the tiger. This web site aims in graphics, pictures and prose to advance the level of wakefulness and concern for this mythical and secretive striped beauty that placidly roams the jungles.

There is enormous pressure on the habitat of the tigers, the Ranthambhore Foundations hopes to strike an ecological balance and complete harmony between man and the beast.

Tiger Burning Bright in rare and relaxed moments exhibits it lovable beauty. It is in these moments that the sheer beauty and power of this animal comes out so mesmerizing. It is an experience that no one should fail to spot. If your grand mother has told you that cat the maternal aunt of the tiger did not teach a tiger to climb trees so he can’t climb trees then she was probably not wholly right. A commendable photographs shows that tigers can scale trees like other cats but only upto 16 months of age of after which they too heavy to do so.

These pictures depict the world around the tiger and are expected to arouse passion for the tiger. The tiger is waging a lonely battle for survival – you must stand for restoring the eco-balance.