To hear the tiger roar, come to Ranthambhor National Park. Sawai Madhopur is the gateway to this tiger territory just 12 kms away on the Delhi-Mumbai railway line. But before the tigers made it their natural habitat, Ranthambhor was a part of Rajasthan's history. It was a witness to raging battles, the rise and fall of many a ruler.

In the 13th century A.D., Govinda, the grandson of Prithviraj Chauhan took over the reign of the land. Later his son, Vagbhatta beautified the city and the Ganesha temple.

In the middle of the 15th century A.D. Rana Kumbha captured the fort and gifted it to his son. , Still later, the fort was occupied by the Hada Rajputs of Bundi and the Mughal Emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb. The Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gifted Ranthambhor to Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I of Jaipur in 1754. And since then, it was maintained as a hunting reserve. Two of the most famous dignitaries were part of hunting parties who stayed here were none other than Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. Today, the Ranthambhor fort is under the mantle of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Places of interest:-

The Fort: Ranthambhor's royal past manifests itself in the well-preserved imposing fort, built in 994 A.D., atop a steep high creek 200 metres above sea level. Ruined pavilions, walls, chhatris and splendid monuments are interspersed within the majestic fort. An 8th century A.D. Ganesh temple on an open land attracts thousands of devotees and is the venue for an annual fair held on Bhadrapad Sudi Chaturthi, fourth day of the bright half, in the month of July-August.

Ranthambhor National Park: The 392 sq km park comprises of dry deciduous forests sprawling over an undulating terrain of the Aravali and Vindhyan ranges. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country under the Project Tiger. The majestic predators, assured of protection, roam freely during the day time and can be seen at close quarters.

Ranthambhor sanctuary has a large number of sambhar, cheetal, nilgai, chinkara, langur, wild boar and peafowl. A system of three pretty artificial lakes-Padam Talab, Rajbagh and Milak Talab, along with a number of anicuts are part of the biosphere. Besides enhancing the scenic beauty of the park, they are an important source of water for the inhabitants of the park. While deer congregate here to drink water, fresh water crocodiles can be seen basking in the winter sun to regulate their body temperature. The lake also attracts a large number of migratory and local birds. The local fauna of the park includes leopard, hyena, jackal, Jungle cat, Sloth bear and a little population of pythons. The lovely Jogi Mahal overlooking the pretty Padam Talab at the foot of the fort has a Forest Rest House. Accommodation outside the fort also ensures a comfortable stay. Among which the most attractive is Hotel Jhoomar Baori, once it has been the Hunting Resort, now a hotel. The best time to visit is between October and April. Jeeps and Canters (open bus) are available to take you around the park daily in morning and afternoon. Other Excursion Spots: Khandar Fort, Mansarovar Lake, Bhoori Pahaari Sand dunes, Soorwal Lake, Chauth Mata Mandir (Chauth Ka Barwara), Shree Mahavirji & Kaila Devi temple (Karauli), Sunehri Kothi-Jama Masjid at Tonk, etc.

Shopping: The region is famous for 'Khas' perfumes and other objects made of 'khas' including fans, small boxes, caps, etc.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

HOW TO REACH SAWAI MADHOPUR

Air: Jaipur 165 kms is the nearest airport.

Rail: Located on the Delhi-Mumbai main railway line, it is well connected with Jaipur and other major tourist centres. Some important rail connections are: Golden Temple Mail (Mumbai-Sawai Madhopur-Jammu); Avadh Express (Mumbai-Sawai Madhopur-Gorakhpur); Dehradun Express (Mumbai-Sawai Madhopur-Dehradun); Jaipur-Chennai Express; Jaipur-Bangalore superfast; Howrah-Jodhpur Superfast; Jammu Tawi-Mumbai Exp.; Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast; Jodhpur-Bhopal Fast Passenger; Jaipur-Indore Express; Firozpur-Mumbai Express; Amritsar-Mumbai Express; Jodhpur-Sawai Madhopur –Jodhpur Super fast, Nizamuddin-Kota Janshatabdi Express. Mewar Express. (H Nizamuddin-Udaipur city)

Road: A good network of bus services connects Sawai Madhopur with many places like Bundi, Tonk, Jaipur, and Bharatpur via Dausa.

Distance: Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur via Tonk 180 kms; Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur via Dausa 160 km; Bharatpur-Sawai Madhopur via Dausa 225 km; Sawai Madhopur- Bundi via Indragarh 150 km.

Local Transport: un-metered taxis, auto rickshaws and tongas available.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Climate: Mean Max. Mean Min.
Summer: 37.0 °C 23.0°C
Winter: 29.0 °C 9.1 °C
Rainfall: 68 cms.
Best Season: October-March
Clothing: Summer: Light Tropical
Winter: Light Woollen
Languages: Hindi, English & Rajasthani