Nestling at the foot of the Aravalli Hills 10km from the town of Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambhore National Park is one of the prime examples of Project Tiger's conservation efforts.
Ranthambhore has been a witness to the rise and fall of many rulers
and a series of battle scenes. In the 13th century AD Govind, the
grandson of Prithviraj Chauhan took over the reign of the land. Later
his successor Vagabhatta, beautified the city and built a noteworthy
temple at Jhain. In the middle of the 15th century AD Rana Kumbha
captured the fort and gifted it to his son to be occupied later by the
Had Chauhan Rajputs of Bundi and Mughal Emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb.
Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gifted it to Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I of
Jaipur in 1754 and since then it was maintained as the hunting
preserve of the Maharaja. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh
were part of the royal hunting camp who stayed here.
The National Park - It was one of the first few areas to come under
Project Tiger and has continued to be the most successful. Sprawling
over an area of 1334 sq. km, the park with its system of lakes and
rivers is hemmed in by steep high crags and on top of one of these
stands the majestic fort. The park area alternates between bushland
and fairly dense forest and is peppered with ruined pavilions,
chhatris (cenotaphs) and 'hides'. It's the ideal place to spot the
tiger. The majestic predators, assured of protection, roam freely
during the day time and can be seen at close quarters. Other wildlife
to be seen include sambar, chital, nilgai (blue bull), chinkara,
langur, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, pythons and
leopards. Crocodiles abound in the lakes. The lakes also attract a
large number of migratory and local birds. The best time to visit is
between October and April. The park is closed during the monsoon from
July to September.
The Fort - Ranthambhore's royal past manifests itself in the
well-preserved imposing fort, built in during the 8th and 10th
centuries AD. Located atop a 200m steep high crag, there are ruined
pavilions, chhatris (cenotaphs), massive ramparts, mighty gates and
bastions all around the hill and an 8th century AD Ganesh temple that
attracts thousands of devotees. The temple is the venue for an annual
fair held on the occasion of the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. One
interesting aspect of the temple is that devotees send mail to Lord
Ganesh consisting mainly of wedding invitations, the letters are
brought up to the temple in large sacks every day. Said to be the
oldest fort in Rajasthan, it was the stronghold of the Yadav kings in
the 8th century and later of the Had Chauhans from 10th century
onwards. It faced several attacks valiantly and its history proves
that it was never taken in battle by fair means.
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