Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park lies in Sawai Madhopur district of eastern Rajasthan, about 13 kilometres from Sawai Madhopur town and around 180 kilometres south east of Jaipur. It sits where the Aravalli hills meet the Vindhya range, and it forms the core of the larger Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

The forest was once the hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur. It was declared the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955, became one of the first reserves under Project Tiger in 1973 and was made a national park in 1980. The park takes its name from Ranthambore Fort, a tenth century hill fort inside the reserve that is part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The landscape is dry deciduous forest with dhok trees, grassland, rocky ridges and several lakes, including Padam Talao, Rajbagh Talao and Malik Talao. Ruined pavilions and chhatris stand along the shores, and tigers are often seen near the water. Other wildlife includes leopards, sloth bears, striped hyenas, sambar and chital deer, nilgai, mugger crocodiles and more than 300 bird species. The Jogi Mahal, an old hunting lodge beside Padam Talao, sits under one of the largest banyan trees in India.

Visits are only allowed on guided safaris in open jeeps, called gypsies, or larger open buses, called canters, with morning and afternoon slots in fixed zones. Seats are booked through the Rajasthan Forest Department, and the core zones close during the monsoon, usually from July to September.

The fort can be visited separately by road. October to June is the main season, and the hot months of April to June often give the best tiger sightings as animals gather at water.

Core or buffer zone, and how slots are allocated

The park is divided into ten zones. Zones 1 to 5 cover the core around the lakes and the fort and have the best reputation for tiger sightings, while zones 6 to 10 lie in the buffer, with fewer vehicles and good leopard and bird country. Zones are allocated at booking, and you cannot switch once inside.

Each safari lasts about three to three and a half hours. Morning drives start around sunrise, when the air is cool and animals are active, and afternoon drives end at sunset. In winter, mornings in an open vehicle are cold, so bring a warm jacket, a hat and gloves.