The #XploreBharat Blog Train halts at Ranthambore today, arriving from Kanyakumari on Jai’s blog. The next stop of this Blog Train will be at Mahesh’s Blog.
Ranthambore? Where is that?
This query always makes me smile, as in 2012 when my husband first told me we were travelling to Ranthambore this is what I remember asking him.
Ranthambore is an expansive wildlife reserve near the Sawai Madhopur district, in Rajashthan. This National Park is spread over 400 kms and known as a Tiger Reserve, apart from which it houses a Fort, a Temple, ancient Trees, Birds and other animals.
Ranthambore National Park also has the distinction of housing the most famous and most photographed Bengal Tigress in the world, Machali, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 20. In fact Machali, who was named thus as she had a fish shaped mark on her forehead, had a major role to play in putting Ranthambore on the world map.
How to get to Ranthambore?
Kota and Jaipur are the nearest cities, and airports.
Situated on the Delhi-Mumbai Railway lines and also linked to Jaipur and Agra by Rail. Trains come as far as Sawai Madhopur, after that you drive to Ranthambore.
The drive from Delhi is 362 kms.
What do you do in Ranthambore?
Going on a Jungle Safari, with the hope of spotting a Tiger, is one of the main reasons people come here.
You could also visit the Museum, test your fitness levels as you trek up to the Ganesh Temple or shop at Dastakar, a store that stocks clothes and accessories made by the locals.
Best Time to visit
The Park is shut for three months in a year, July to September, for the monsoons. Open all the remaining months.
Sightings are pure luck, so I wouldn’t recommend a particular time or season.
What exactly happens on a Jungle Safari?
You will need to book your Safari at least 3 months in advance. Your choice of vehicles are sharing a private jeep with others or choose a seat in a Canter (a large bus)
The Canter works out to be economical but the advantage of a jeep is you can get a better and closer view as the Jeep is completely open on all sides.
The first Safari starts at 6 am and ends at 10 am. The second one starts at 3pm and ends at 6pm.
Ranthambore National Park is divided into different zones, and each vehicle is allotted a fixed zone.
You drive through zones in the hope of spotting a Tiger, even as you spot Deer, Sambal, Neel Gai, Peacocks, Monkeys, varied species of Birds. If you’re lucky, you could spot a Sloth Bear and/or a Leopard too.
Why I find Ranthambore rejuvenating ?
Visiting Ranthambore is rejuvenating because there is a discipline, a routine and a single point agenda.
For all the days we are here we wake up at 4 am every day, are seated in our Jeep at 5:30 and drive towards the park.
The excitement in the air at the park gates is palpable. Guides and drivers shouting out to each other asking ‘Sighting hua kya?’ (Has a Tiger been sighted?)
As soon as the Park gates are thrown open the Jeeps roar in. This is also the point where you lose mobile network, and are thus without distractions.
Throughout the 3+ hours of the bone jarring Safari it is just you and nature, one to one.
Talk is discouraged, and stepping out of the vehicle is not allowed, so you communicate in whispers, only of you have to.
Without you realising it, your mind is devoid of all the day to day thoughts and focused on a single point agenda, spotting a tiger.
For all the days we are there we go for 2 Safari’s daily. Doing so refreshes us and ‘resets our minds’.
It took us 4 years of annual visits and many Safari’s before we could finally spot a Tiger.
Though we will always regret that we never got to see Machali, we’ve had the distinction of watching T28 Star Male at close quarters, as he not only walked towards our jeep but circled it leisurely before he walked away.
We have been following T84 Arrowhead (Machali’s grand -daughter known as Machali Junior) since she was a baby.
Arrowhead is currently the ruling Queen, and has given birth to a new litter, the future generation of Ranthambore.
This post is a part of the #XploreBharat Blog Train hosted by
Aditi, Esha, Maheshwaran , Preeti, Saba, Pragun, Sanjota, Sonia, Sudip, Suhasini, and Supriya
A huge shout out to our sponsors Fabzania
and Kaiv
We had visisted this place with my husbands office friends. Jungle safari here is better than jim corbett. Only slack side it these open jeeps mess up the hair badly with all dust.
I learnt that the hard way after my first safari. After getting filthy with all the dust flying and getting sunburnt. Now I wrap up like a Mummy:)))
I have some beautiful memories related to Ranthambore. Early morning safari, dense forest, anxiety to spot the tiger and clicking moments to save for a lifetime:)
Nice post!
I am yet to visit Ranthambore, though visited Corbett last December. The anxiety and tension to see a Tiger is what keeps us going there.
As I am an adventure lover, this place is in my bucket list for quite some time and your post has really enticed me to visit it soon. Great pics and looks like you had a whale of a time there.
I guess because of the limelight that Machali brought, plus the stream of Hollywood celebrities who visited the reserve for one thing or the other, Ranthambhore is now one of the highlights of a Rajasthan tour.
Reading your description took me into the state of mind of being in a jungle, away from the clutter of urban life. And the tiger pics were just wow! Thanks for the trip. 🙂
Open jeep in the Tiger turf! Cool adventures, I would say.
Thank you, MJ.
Oh ..it’s was such an adventurous experience with my two kids…..and luckily we spotted a tigress -LAILA……she was on hunting….but crowd gathered on that sight make so much noises that she losses her target…..
Spotting a Tiger is such an awesome moment, isn’t it, Kavita.
Wow! The thought of sitting in a car with a majestic tiger coming towards me and then casually walking around my car makes my hair stand on end. Must have been really exciting Mayuri. I will definitely visit Ranthambore some time.
Yes, Jai. It was very exciting! Hope you get to visit soon!
Nice detailed post with good pics. I have visited many national parks and done jungle safaris…I am definitely visiting it the next time in Rajasthan.
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Thanks for reading, Manas. Hope you visit Ranthambore soon.
I find jungle safaris in jeep as very thrilling experience. I have been lucky to spot few animals every time I go on a safari. But never been able to visit Ranthambore, it was quite a tour with this post.
Thanks, Pragnya.
Wow what a post and the pics!!!
You were so close to a tiger… I mean thats crazy awesome
It was, Esha:)) Thanks:)
Hi Mayuri, loved the post, especially the tips you have given and I am sure the pics must be lovely too. I don’t know why but the pics are not visible despite trying to reopen the blog at least ten times.
Thanks, Seema. I have no idea why you can’t see the pics or what to do about it, as this is the first time someone has shared this issue.
Wow! What an amazing post! I really do hope to visit Ranthambore some day!
Thank you, Vijayalakshmi. I hope you get to visit soon.
I visited Ranthambore few years bavk and was not that lucky to spot any tiger. This trip reminds me the evening spent in the resort when we actually heard the roars of the tiger that was near the resort itself.
We went there for 4 years before we could spot a tiger.
This post brought back my Bandipur National Park Safari memories. Sadly that day no animals were out except Elephant, Peacock & Deer. Looks like you had a great time Ranthambore & also spotted Tiger 🙂
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Ranthambore is on my bucket list. With your post, it has now moved to the top of the list of places to visit.
Thanks for sharing
That’s a great narrative, Mayuri, and those tigers look so majestic. I am not a wildlife enthusiast, on the other hand, my husband is a big one. And so when he planned a wildlife trip in the middle of May to Tadoba, I was not very happy. He just told me – come once and try. So half heartedly, I went. It was an inferno raging in Nagpur. However, the sanctuary experience was a beautiful one. We sighted tigers every time we drove inside the jungle. Once we even saw a tigress with her 4 cubs, that was some sight. Even babies would hush when the tigers were around, such was their aura. I wouldn’t mind going again now! 🙂 Maybe Ranthambore or Jim Corbett. 🙂
I have been there!! it’s a beautiful place!!! must visit in winters! it’s a real fun!
Ranthambore looks so nice. and those tigers and beautiful birds are lovely. It seems that you must have a great time enjoying the jungle drive.
Mayuri I have never seen a tiger out of the cage. Been promised many times in safaris all across the country but always been disappointed. This one looks promising and I’m going to add it in my list. Thanks for sharing the details!
Totally a mesmerizing blog, This is giving me vibes to Visit Ranthambore Very soon and experience it right from my eyes
Omg! This looks an exciting adventure! I wouldn’t have survived seeing a tiger and not screaming. You’re pretty brave to have it clicked. Kudos for all the efforts in the safari
Hey, Thanks for writing this…
We are planning to visit Ranthambore next month and I just got some great information about the place. Sharing this article with my friends they gonna love the pictures you clicked. I hope we will lucky enough to spot some animals there.
I am not a travel freak however after reading this blog of yours given a chance would surely visit the place one day. As I stay in Delhi so I guess a weekend would be enough to explore the wildlife.