Ranthambore National Park, National park in Sawai Madhopur district, India
Ranthambore National Park covers 1,334 km2 in Sawai Madhopur district, Rajasthan, including the Kailadevi and Sawai Man Singh sanctuaries. Its core area of about 275 km2 holds dry deciduous forest, open grassy meadows and lakes such as Padam Talao, with the 10th-century Ranthambore Fort rising 210 m above the plain.
Ranthambore was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955, covering 282 km2. It was declared a Project Tiger reserve in 1974 and became a national park on 1 November 1980. In 1992 the tiger reserve was enlarged to take in the Keladevi Sanctuary to the north and the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary to the south, bringing it to 1,334 km2.
The name comes from Ranthambhore Fort, which rises on a hill inside the protected area and once served as a stronghold for Chauhan rulers. Today visitors explore the ruins between safaris and see temple complexes and old gates emerging from the trees.
Safaris run from October through April when temperatures are tolerable and animals appear more often at water sources. Sawai Madhopur railway station lies around eleven kilometers from the entrance and offers connections to larger cities across Rajasthan.
More than 270 bird species live in the park, including vultures, eagles and rare waterbirds that gather at the lakes. The Bengal tigers often show themselves during the day near the ruins and drink from the shallow waters, making sightings easier.
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