‘Why visit Ranthambhore?’ Has this question ever crossed your mind? If yes, read this blog as we try to answer your question by listing out our top reasons to visit Ranthambhore  and why we love it.

The Ranthambhore National Park is truly a unique destination as history and natural history blend in here harmoniously and romantically. Ranthambhore’s history revolved around its glorious fort which lies within the park’s premises today. Once ruled by some of the renowned kings and emperors of India, it is now ruled by one of the most iconic big cat species on this planet - tigers!

One of the top reasons to visit Ranthambhore  is to catch a glimpse of these charismatic felines against the backdrop of the Ranthambhore  fort or its pristine habitat consisting of immaculate lakes, dhok trees and open grasslands! People from all over the world throng Ranthambhore  for this prized sighting!

Apart from Tigers, Ranthambhore hosts a plethora of wildlife species such as Leopards, Sloth bears, Jungle cats, Caracals, Striped hyenas, Golden jackals, Mugger crocodiles, Chinkaras, Chousinghas, Sambar deer and many more.

To know more about these wild denizens, read our blog “Wildlife of Ranthambhore”.

Ranthambhore  is also home to over 300 species of birds making it a birder’s paradise and truly one of the most astounding places on this planet to witness wildlife thrive! Our blog “Magical birds of Ranthambhore” has more on these winged wonders.

Let us look at some of the top reasons to visit Ranthambhore.

1. Easily accessible

When considering a visit to any national parks in India, it is important to check its accessibility and find the most efficient way to reach the destination. Fortunately, the Ranthambhore National Park is one of the most easily accessible forest reserves of India and one can reach it comfortably. It is extremely well-connected by road, air and rail. The Jaipur airport has direct flights flying in daily from all the cities of India. Ranthambhore  is only 180 kms away and after landing, one can hire a private taxi or travel by bus to Ranthambhore.The Sawai Madhopur railway station is located a mere 15 kms from the Ranthambhore National Park and one can take a private cab or the local bus and reach the forest very easily! If one loves the roads and time is not a concern, one can drive to Ranthambhore from anywhere! To know more about the most efficient way to reach Ranthambhore, read our more detailed blog on “How to reach Ranthambhore?”.

2. Diverse habitats

One of the top reasons to visit Ranthambhore  is because of its diverse landscapes. The forests of Ranthambhore are populated by dhok trees, interspersed with open grasslands and its renowned crystal-clear lakes reflect the blue of the azure with the occasional fleeting nimbus-clouds. The Ranthambhore National Park is open to tourists from the 1st of October to the 30th of June every year. With every season, the decor and feel of the forest changes. Ranthambhore’s breathtaking landscapes undergo a metamorphosis after the monsoons. An arid and parched landscape turns into a luxuriant Eden! As the winter months pass and the warmth of the summer begins to dominate the Park, the cycle changes and once again the verdant forestscape and water holes dry up and the vegetation turns brown.Every season has its alluring charm and Ranthambhore  is frequented all year long, except (June to September because of the monsoon) by enthusiastic tourists and avid wildlife photographers. This diverse habitat offers a lot of opportunities to make some stunning images and witness awe-inspiring moments of natural history! If you are wondering when to visit Ranthambhore, read our blog “What is the best time to visit Ranthambhore?”.  

3. Historic Ranthambhore  fort

The illustrious history of Ranthambhore  has revolved around its iconic fort. The Ranthambhore  fort was an extremely coveted stronghold for the kings of the past as it connected major trade routes between the East and the West and vice versa. The fort has been ruled by the Chauhans, by the Sultans of Delhi, by Akbar the great and eventually by the Rajputs! Today, the fort is situated in the prime Rajbagh area of the Ranthambhore National Park. It is ruled by magnificent tigers and it continues to witness dynasties rise and fall!

4. Ranthambhore’s Lakes

Ranthambhore’s lakes are remarkably beautiful and play a vital role in supporting the ecosystem of the dry deciduous forest, especially in the arduous summer months. If you are a bird-lover, one of the best reasons to visit Ranthambhore  iis because its water bodies host a lot of migratory and residential birds! These water bodies are excellent places for bird photography! Rajbagh LakeThe Rajbagh Lake or RajbaghTalao is arguably the most picturesque spot in the Ranthambhore National Park. It is girdled by thick forests and its edges are dotted with ancient ruins. Among other animals and birds, one can most commonly spot the Sambar deer here, as they feed on the bountiful supply of plants the lake offers. One of the most iconic photographs of Ranthambhore  is of a majestic tiger against the backdrop of the Rajbagh Lake! Padam TalaoThe Padam Talao or Padam Lake is nestled deep inside the Ranthambhore  National Park and is the largest water body in the park. It is surrounded by dense jungles and undulating hills. The lake attracts several bird lovers every winter as it is home to some exquisite migratory birds. In the summer, the lake is frequented by several animals such as tigers, leopards, chinkaras and other animals seeking to quench their thirst. In whichever season you visit Ranthambhore, you will always witness some activity or other around the Padam Talao. Malik Lake The Malik Lake or Malik Talao is another pristine lake snuggled within the famed Ranthambhore  National Park. It is arguably the best place in Ranthambhore  for an avid birdwatcher as it is home to several migratory birds. One can also spot the marsh crocodile lazing on the banks of the lake. Surwal LakeThe Surwal lake exudes tranquility and serenity. Cradled by the Aravali and Vindhya mountain ranges, this place looks the most stunning at sunrise when the resplendent colours of the sky are reflected on the surface of this enchanting lake.

5. Frequent tiger sightings

Perhaps the top reason to visit Ranthambhore  is because it is one of the best places to spot and photograph tigers in the world. The sparse vegetation and open grasslands make it relatively easier to spot tigers. In the months of the summer, tigers frequent water bodies to cool off and it is the ideal time to visit the park if one is a big cat lover.The tiger population according to the census of 2020 was 71 individuals, up from 45 individuals in 2014! In Ranthambhore, tigresses have successfully raised multiple litters of cubs to adulthood who have gone on to have litters of their own. Thus, over the years, Ranthambhore  has been the birthplace of some bold and beautiful tigers and tigresses and their dynasties. Some lucky tourists have even had the privilege of seeing a tiger’s encounter with a sloth bear, a male tiger successfully nurturing his cubs and raising them to adulthood once his mate went missing, and territorial fights between rival individuals! Ranthambhore  is a land full of surprises. It is also the place where several people have spotted a big cat for the first time and have forever fallen in love with the wildlands of India!

6. Bird watching opportunities

On a Ranthambhore safari, sighting a tiger is an exhilarating experience, but a lot of the time, while chasing tigers, one misses out on the other stunning wildlife species, especially birds, that also call the park home.The Ranthambhore National Park hosts 320 species of birds, including resident birds as well as exotic migratory ones. The pristine lakes across the park are prime locations to spot some of these astounding birds! Because these large water bodies contain water all year round, Ranthambhore never runs dry on bird watching opportunities!Some of the main bird species frequently found and sighted here are greylag goose, woodpeckers, common kingfishers, Indian grey hornbills, bee eaters, cuckoos, Asian palm swift, parakeets, owl, nightjars, pigeon, crakes, snipes, dove, sandpipers, great crested grebe, eagles, gulls, terns, darters, herons, bitterns, cormorants, egrets, pelicans, storks, pittas, flamingos, ibis, shrikes, orioles, cuckoo-shrikes, treepies, crows, flycatchers, Ioras, minivets, drongos, sparrows, finches, wood shrikes, pipits, bayas, wagtails, munias, mynas, falcons, bulbul, and the list goes on. To know more about these avian wonders, read our blog “Magical birds of Ranthambhore”.

7. Ambience

Another top reason to visit Ranthambhore  is to experience living life king size and cherishing the comfort and hospitality of heritage hotels! Some of these heritage hotels are properties such as palaces or havelis, as they call it in Rajasthan, which have been renovated to suit modern amenities.

There are several other luxury and family hotels and resorts around the Ranthambhore National Park to accommodate tourists based on their budget and their needs.

To know more about the different available accommodations, read our blog “Where to stay in Ranthambhore?”.

Summarising why we love Ranthambhore

For the past decade or more, one of our top reasons to visit Ranthambhore  has been for big cat sightings and photography. Although the captivating tigers are the main attractions, Ranthambhore  is also home to some elusive species such as jungle cats and caracals and the agile antelopes such as chinkaras and chousinghas and hundreds of birds, putting it right at the top of our favourite wildlife destinations list!

These beatific forests never fail to surprise or inspire us. Our skippers have led many successful expeditions and hundreds if not thousands of people have had amazing sightings, captured some incredible photographs and bagged unforgettable memories!

These woods, consisting of breathtaking lakes, an iconic fort and ancient ruins, charm not just avid wildlife photographers or big cat lovers, but also are a great escape for anyone needing a break from the hustle-bustle of city life.

A few days spent immersed in nature with the comfort and hospitality of the surrounding resorts and hotels and the potential sightings of some of the most magnificent wildlife species are sure to help refresh you and make you fall in love with the experience of visiting the wild!

The perennial beauty of the Ranthambhore National Park continues to lure us as we never miss an opportunity to dig deeper into its treasure trove of opportunities!