Places to Visit in Ranthambore

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Ranthambore, a nature lover’s delight and home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, is one of the few places in the world where one can witness these wild cats in their full glory. Located at a distance of 180 km from the capital city of Jaipur, the Ranthambore National Park is a must-visit place. The park witnesses tourists coming in from all corners of the world, especially to experience the thrill of a jungle safari, and to explore the variety of flora and fauna that this destination has to offer. Although it is famous mostly because of the National Park, Ranthambore has many other options in terms of places to visit and things to do for tourists of all age groups. Here’s a list of places tourists can visit when in Ranthambore.

List of tourist places in Ranthambore

1. Ranthambore National Park
2. Ranthambore Fort
3. Padam Lake
4. Jogi Mahal
5. Dastkar Ranthambore
6. Rajiv Gandhi Regional Museum of Natural History
7. Ranthambore School of Art
8. National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary
9. Kachida Valley
10. Wild Dragon Adventure Park

1. Ranthambore National Park

The Ranthambore National Park is an eco-sensitive area and a natural habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger. The Ranthambore National Park boasts more than 70 tigers alongside a range of different creatures like panthers, bears, deer, monkeys, barasinghas, and so on.

2. Ranthambore Fort

The National Park, as we know it today, was once the private hunting ground of the erstwhile Royal family. The crumbling Ranthambore Fort in the centre of the National Park is an attraction of its own. It extends to 6.5 km and encloses an area of nearly 1 sq km. Inside, the complex is filled with many ruins and architectural marvels. Today, the site is open to park visitors on wildlife safaris or those who come to see the fort alone. It’s possible to drive a private car to the fort and walk about 200 steps up to the top of the hill, from where the expansive views of the park are magnificent.

3. Padam Lake

Padam lake or Padam Talao, as it is locally known, is the largest lake in Ranthambore National Park. It is, therefore, a watering hole for the majority of the animals that call this national park home. The Padam Lake is famous for the water lilies that bloom during the months of June to September, making the surface of the lake look like a blanket of flowers. The most ideal time to witness the animals that come here to quench their thirst is during the early mornings and evenings.

4. Jogi Mahal

Jogi Mahal is a brilliant piece of architecture found in the Ranthambore National Park, situated on the banks of Padam Lake. In the olden days, the Royal family of Jaipur used the Jogi Mahal as a lodge during their hunting activities. After the formation of the National Park, it was converted to a guest house for tourists. This iconic structure is now closed to the public, but one can catch a glimpse from outside.

5. Dastkar Ranthambore

Visiting a tourist destination and not having a place to shop for souvenirs and memorabilia can be quite disappointing. But fret not, for this is where Dastkar Ranthambore comes in. The Dastkar Ranthambore team uses their skills at patchwork, block-printing, and black pottery to create quilts, bags, toys, and other souvenirs for the locals as well as the tourists visiting Ranthambore. Time to put those haggling skills to test!

6. Rajiv Gandhi Regional Museum of Natural History

The building of the Rajiv Gandhi Regional Museum of Natural History is a wonderful example of local architecture. It has a splendid exhibition of pictures of various animals, beautiful sculptures, and paintings depicting the different colours of nature. Spread over 7.2 acres, this museum has many objects to better understand biodiversity. This museum also has a library that has more than 10 thousand books on animals and plants. Twice a day, films on wildlife are screened at the museum.

7. Ranthambore School of Art

A sure-shot way of sighting tigers in Ranthambore – not in the jungle, but on canvas. The artworks are dexterously hand-painted by the students of the Ranthambore School of Art. The Ranthambore School of Art can be found in a small single-story house that is located in Sawai Madhopur, on the Ranthambore Road. When visitors walk in, they can see painters sitting in front of large canvases with menacing big cats looking straight back at them. These big cats are brought to life by the local artists, who seem to be blessed with photographic memories. Tourists can buy souvenirs that range from paintings on huge canvases to small, painted postcards.

8. National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary

The Chambal, an approximately 1000 km long river, sees its origins in western Madhya Pradesh and meanders through the states of UP and Rajasthan before becoming one with the Yamuna in Jalaun, a district in southern Uttar Pradesh. The Chambal passes through forests, ravines, and scrublands, away from human settlement. Hence, wildlife had always flourished around the river and its banks. Gharials were plentiful, but their numbers started dropping alarmingly in 1975. It was then, towards the end of the decade, that an area of land along the course of the river was declared as the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary. Gharials, mugger crocodiles, as many as nine species of turtles and over 200 species of birds can be spotted in the sanctuary.

9. Kachida Valley

This tourist destination is located on the outskirts of Ranthambore National Park, 19.2 km away from The Ranthambhore Bagh. The valley is home to diverse flora and fauna and is surrounded by hills on all sides. The bee-hives, the large ant-hills, sloths, and a large population of panthers make the Kachida Valley a must-visit for all photography enthusiasts.

10. Wild Dragon Adventure Park

An adventure park? Smack dab in the middle of a National Park? Yes, this can happen only in India. The adventure park is a refreshing break from the natural sightseeing, which is a primary tourist activity if you’re visiting Ranthambore. Enjoy cool water rides or ride a mechanical bull, prance in a bouncing trampoline cage or go bungee-jumping, anything you do here is bound to give you an adrenaline rush. If you plan on spending a couple of days or more in Ranthambore, make room for this destination in your itinerary.

FAQs

What kind of activities can tourists undertake in Ranthambore?

Ranthambore, although primarily famous for its jungle safari and other wilderness activities, has many other places like an adventure park, an art school, a museum, a handicraft village, and many other tourist attractions that one can visit during their stay there.

How can I reach Ranthambore?

• By air: The nearest airport is in Jaipur. The distance between Jaipur and Ranthambore is approximately 180 km. Jaipur airport is connected to all major airports in India. Tourists, once they land at the airport, can take a cab or bus to reach Ranthambore.

• By train: Sawai Madhopur is the nearest railway station to the National Park. It is at a distance of 10 km from the park. Tourists can hail a taxi from the railway station to the National Park. Sawai Madhopur is connected to all major Indian cities via the rail network.

• By road: Ranthambore is connected to all major cities in India via a good network of state and national highways.

What are the lodging options available in Ranthambore?

Ranthambore and Sawai Madhopur have a plethora of lodging options to fit every need and budget.

Which are the must-see places in Ranthambore?

The Ranthambore National Park, Ranthambore Fort, Padam Talao, Rajiv Gandhi Regional Museum, Kachida Valley, Dastkar Ranthambore, Ranthambore School of Art, and the Wild Dragon Adventure Park are a few must-see places in Ranthambore.