Ranthambore National Park is a wildlife spot in Rajasthan that is famous among people for the wildlife sightings. This park is one of the most visited wildlife parks in India. It is home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, sambar deer, chital, and many more. This park offers people an amazing chance to go for a thrilling gypsy safari and enjoy the sightings of these wild animals along with the natural beauty. Ranthambore is a tiger reserve – a protected area where both flora and fauna are carefully conserved.
But before it became a national park, Ranthambore was a royal hunting ground for kings and rulers. This park has an exciting history, and it is filled with stories of bravery, battles, and royal adventures. Even today, people can see the ruins, forts, and temples inside it, which show the history of Ranthambore. Let’s know about the royal past that Ranthambore once lived.
The Chauhan Era of Ranthambore
Ranthambore National Park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. Before it became a wildlife reserve, this area was part of the royal kingdom of the Chauhans. The fort, which is located inside the park ( Ranthambore Fort), was built around the 10th century by the Chauhan rulers. During that period, Ranthambore was a symbol of Rajput pride and independence.
Many battles were fought in this area, especially against the Delhi Sultans. Around the fort, the dense forest area acted as a natural protection and made it difficult for enemies to attack. Over time, Ranthambore became a powerful kingdom where the rulers protected their land and people and governed the place with strength, honor, and courage.
The Great Ranthambore Fort
The Ranthambore Fort is located inside the boundaries of the park, and even the name of the park is taken from the fort. It is one of the oldest and strongest forts in India. This fort is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built back in the 10th century by King Sapaldaksha of the Chauhan dynasty and has seen a lot of battles. Many rulers have ruled the area – starting with the Chauhans, then Mughals, and later the Rajputs of Jaipur.
The Ranthambore Fort is on top of a hill inside the park – about 700 feet above the ground. Inside the fort, there are old temples, stepwells, gates, and walls that show the historical past. There is also a Trinetra Ganesh Temple inside the fort, and it is one of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha. From the top of the fort, one can see a nice, beautiful green forest – which is the Ranthambore National Park.
During the Royal days in the past, this fort was the Royal residence of the Kings. They arranged court here, made important decisions, and even planned the battles. The queens also watched sunsets from the palace balconies. This Ranthambore Fort clearly shows the Royal side and courageous spirit of Rajasthan.
From Royal Hunting Grounds to National Park
Before the independence of India, this area was the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur and the Britishers. Kings and British officers would come here for hunting as it was considered a royal sport. They used to come here a lot and hunt tigers, leopards, and other wild animals. At that time, hunting was seen as a show of bravery and status.
In fact, the royal families of Jaipur often organized hunting parties for their guests in Ranthambore. These hunting trips were called Shikars. The British Viceroys and high officials also joined these hunts. The kings would go hunting either from the Ranthambore fort or they would camp in luxury tents near the lakes and enjoy the sport.
Then India got Independence in 1947 and from that time, the Royal hunting traditions started to fade. People began to notice that the wildlife population is decreasing. Because of hunting, the number of tigers started going down. Then the government took control of the area and decided to take steps to protect the animals and their natural homes.
In 1955, the Indian government declared the area as the Sawai Madhopur Wildlife Sanctuary, and in 1973, it finally came under the Project Tiger. This area became a safe space for the tigers and other wild animals. Under this, activities like poaching and hunting of tigers were not allowed. And then finally in 1980, it officially became a National Park.
Ranthambore as World-Famous Tiger Reserve
Now, the Ranthambore National Park is famous all over the World because of its tigers and other wildlife that call it home. This park has a healthy population of tigers and even some of them are popular like Machli, Riddhi, Krishna, Ustad, and T-34. The stories of these tigers, the pictures of the park, and the number of sightings have attracted a lot of wildlife lovers to the spot.
Many people come from long distances to this park just to get a chance to watch a tiger roaming freely in its natural home. The tigers of this park are not shy, and they are mostly seen walking near the lakes or relaxing in the open areas. This park is even known as the dream destination among wildlife lovers for tiger sightings.
The Thrilling Safari Experience
Ranthambore offers tourist to explore the area of the park through thrilling safari rides. You can enjoy a safari in Ranthambore National Park and see the animals roaming freely without any problem. You can choose any one from the gypsy or canter safari and enjoy an adventurous time. The safari ride happens in the morning and evening and takes people to different zones of the park. Every zone of this wild park offers a different safari experience and sightings of animals like tigers, leopards, sambar deer, langurs, and colorful birds.
The thrill of seeing a tiger walking inside the forest is something you’ll never forget. You can even visit the Ranthambore Fort in the park and visit the attractions inside it like the ancient temple, large gates and also see the beautiful lakes during your ride. Also, do enjoy the scenic views of green surroundings from the top of the fort. One should visit the park at least once so that they can see the real beauty of the jungle and connect with the Royal History of Ranthambore National Park.