Ranthambore
falls under the eastern districts of Rajasthan, namely Sawai Madhopur
and Karauli. Once the hunting ground for the royal house of Jaipur,
Ranthambhore was declared a game sanctuary in 1955. In 1973, it came
under the Project Tiger of India. Ranthambore earned its present
'National Park' status in 1980. Located at the junction of the hill
ranges of the Vindhyas and the Aravalis in Rajasthan, the national park
sprawls over an area of 1,334 sq km and is a haven for the ferocious and
endangered tiger. The town of Ranthambore is perhaps the only place in Rajasthan which gives the visitor diverse shades during its different seasons. During summers, Ranthambhore is completely scorched and during monsoons and winters, the forest of Ranthambhore is vibrant and luscious green. The topography of the park is diverse and boasts of dry deciduous forests, open grassy meadows and several rivers and lakes. The Great Boundary Fault, caused by the meeting of the Vindhya Plateau and the Aravali Range, is also located here.
The three big lakes - Padam Talab (meaning Lake), Malik Talab and Raj Bagh are the water bodies providing life to the fauna of the park and to the aquatic vegetation like lotus, lilies and duckweeds. Chambal River in the north, Banas River in the south and around six artificial lakes are some of the other water bodies in the Ranthambore. The national park remains open for tourists, between the months of October and June. Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger, the park is a haven for large number of other animals and birds, which also fall a prey to Tiger.
Sambar Deer, Chital, Nilgai, Hyenas, Jackals, Boars, Desert Cats, Chinkara, Small Indian Mongoose, Indian Porcupines, etc are some of the animals spotted in the park. Marsh Crocodile, Great Indian Python, Desert Monitor Lizard, Rat Snakes, Cobras, Turtles etc are some of the reptiles inhabiting the Ranthambhore National Park. Owing to the presence of abundant water bodies in this wildlife park, nearly 272 bird species have been found here, including migratory species as well as native species.
Giving support to all the life-forms in the wildlife sanctuary is more than 300 types of vegetation and plants. Dhok (Anogeossis pendula) dominates the vegetation of the region. Tamarind, Babul, Banyan, Mango, Ber, Dhak Or Chila, Neem Tree, etc are some of the other vegetation types which add to the green cover of the area. Apart from housing a wildlife sanctuary, Ranthambore town also has a 10th century fort, known as the Ranthambhore Fort. The fort, now in ruins, is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India.