When the mundane makes you crave for colour, when you must foray into where your sense of adventure takes you, here are the top four reasons why that place should be Ranthambhore.

1. Tiger Density

In this protected area of wilderness covered by dry deciduous forests, particularly the core tourism zones, the density of tigers is relatively high, which means that the possibility of your seeing a tiger is high as compared to other tiger reserves, especially in the peak summer months. Ranthambhore is, in fact, one of the best places to see these feline wonders not only in India but the world.

That apart, Ranthambhore is also home to leopard, striped hyena, sloth bear, nilgai, langur, wild boar, chital, sambar and rhesus macaque among other mammals. The sanctuary is also home to a vast range of trees and plants, and birds and reptiles. This biodiversity is a great incentive, especially if you are a wildlife photographer and storyteller.

2. Visibility

In summer, when the deciduous forest is at its driest, this isolated ecological island that also comprises fields and plains enhances the visibility of the wild beings manifold.  You can watch out for your favourite animal or bird far into the horizon, until where your vision can possibly reach.

3. Habitat

The very habitat of Ranthambhore National Park is diverse, which means, even to go on a safari deep into the wild itself can be an unequalled joy. Cradled by the hill systems of the Vindhya and the Aravalis, this place is also home of vast fields, ravines, small plateaus and valleys, and several streams, lakes (including the largest, Padam Talao, near which stands the country’s second largest Banyan tree) and the popular Chambal River, and its tributary, Banas. The Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is the largest spread of dry deciduous forest conserved intact in India.

While the Vindhyan system mainly consists of flat surfaces referred to as ‘dang’ locally, the Aravalis system comprises conical hilltops and rugged, jagged ridges. At the confluence of these two system is the Great Boundary Fault, which is a significant geological fault line that through the Ranthambhore National Park.

4. Archaeological Relics

This is perhaps a unique feature of the Ranthambhore National Park. On its premises stands many an archaeological remnant that contains in its space decades of history. Ranthambhore was, at one time, the hunting grounds of the Jaipur Maharajas, and the Ranthambhore Fort has been associated with the courage and splendour of the popular Chauhan dynasty king, Hammir Dev. This huge, magnificent fort has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stands 700 feet above the ground. The view of the whole National Park from the top of the fort can be quite literally breathtaking. On the boundary of the Ranthambhore National Park is the Khandar Fort, whose three big dilapidated entrances stand as a testimony to the glory of a bygone era.

There are places on the face of this planet that fill you with an obsessive love for life and being. There are places on this only life-giving planet we know that etch out maps on your mind for an internalised journey as you pass through them. There are places on Earth that keep intact the vivaciousness of one’s existence by giving a sense of purpose especially when you are travelling. And Ranthambhore is one such place.

So, sign up to our Tiger fortress Photography Tour to Ranthambhore, and have a happy summer!

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