Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan

Breaking away from the royal and desert sights of Rajasthan, Ranthambore is the pride of the Indian wildlife and nature scene. A vast array of wildlife, flora and fauna, makes for an impressive lush topography, just 180 kms away from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Previously a hunting ground for the Maharajas, the national park is now rich in wildlife and is located in the Sawai Madhopur district.

Aravali_range_inside_Ranthambhore_Rajasthan

About the Park

The National Park is spread over more than 1300 sq kms, and is flanked by sanctuaries like the Mansingh Sanctuary and the Kaila Devi Sanctuary. Though the endangered tigers have been most talked about, Ranthambore also harbours a large variety of other animals, avian species, flora and fauna.

Ranthambore_Tiger

The 1970s turned around everything for the national park when it was declared one of the Project Tiger Reserves. The Banas and Chambal Rivers add to the lush topography of the region.

How to get there

Jaipur is the closest airport from Ranthambore National park. Plenty of cabs are available from the airport. The national park is also connected by rail to the closest station at Sawai Madhopur, only 11 kms away. The road to Ranthambore is also in a good condition and makes access easy from other parts of Rajasthan.

Best Time to Go

The Park is open from beginning October to June, which is a great time to spot tigers.

Ranthambore_National_Park

Things to Do

1. Safari Rides: The safari rides are planned two times in the day: early morning and afternoon. Please check the exact timings at the time of booking. The rides are for 3 hours and are guided by experts. There are options between smaller open vehicles and 20 seater small buses. The fees vary each year. It can range from Rs 500 onwards and you may be charged separately for cameras.
2. History: Ranthambore also has a lot of history embedded in the region. The Ranthambore Fort was built in the 10th century and overlooks the park area. The majestic fort stands at a height of 700 feet. There are 3 famous temples inside the fort.
3. Padam Talao: This is one of the biggest lakes in the region, which also has the magnificent Jog Mahal at the edge of the water.
4. Hiking- There are some simple hiking trails which can be traversed only with experts. This is a great one for bird watching enthusiasts.

Ranthambore_fort

What to take and wear

1. Dull coloured clothes. Abstain from wearing bright colours in the jungle.
2. Plenty of sunscreen and a hat if you are going for the afternoon safaris.
3. Comfortable walking closed shoes.
4. Binoculars are a good investment. Even though the guards and forest experts have a pair in the car, it’s good to carry your own and not miss a sighting opportunity.
5. Your camera and plenty of space on your memory card!

Sightseeing in Jaipur

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan captivates visitors. This beautiful pink city springing from the desert offers a wealth of sightseeing opportunities from hilltop forts, regal palaces, well organised museums and colourful bazaars.

Our sightseeing in Japiur guide will help you plan your itinerary.

Jantar Mantar

A key attraction of Jaipur is the Jantar Mantar. Between 1727 and 1734 Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed five astronomical observatories in west central India. The observatories, or “Jantar Mantars” as they are commonly known, incorporate multiple buildings of unique form, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. These structures with their striking combinations of geometric forms at large scale have captivated the attention of architects, artists, and art historians world wide. Jantar Mantar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jantar_Mantar_at_Jaipur

Timings 9.00 A.M. – 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 20 / Foreigner Rs. 100 / Child Rs. 20

Amber Fort

Amber Fort located in Amber, 11kms away from Jaipur, used to be the capital of the Kachhwaha clan, untill Jaipur was made the official capital in 1727. The Amber Fort looks stunning, built in white marble and red sandstone. To add to its charm, Maotha Lake makes a beautiful foreground. This beautiful fort is one of the very few well preserved military structures of medieval India.

Amer-Fort-Jaipur

Timings 7.00 A.M.- 6.30 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 25 / Foreigner Rs. 150 / Child Rs. 25

City Palace

The City Palace forms one of the most famous tourist attractions and a major landmark in Jaipur. The beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during his reign. Among the various forts and palaces of Jaipur, City Palace stands apart, with its outstanding art and architecture. The beautifully carved marble interiors, magnificent pillars, jali or lattice work and inlaid ornamentations are exceptional and a highlight for visitors. Jaleb Chowk and Tripolia Gate are the two main entrances to the City Palace Jaipur. The City Palace is actually a palace complex comprising of “Chandra mahal” and “Mubarak Mahal” amongst other palaces and buildings.

Jaipur_City_Palace

Timings 9.30 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 35 / Foreigner Rs. 150 / Child Rs. 25

Gaitore

Another interesting visit would be to Gaitore, situated about 15kms from Jaipur on the Jaipur – Amber Road. Gaitore is a royal cremation site of the majestic rulers of Jaipur. There is a cenotaph for each Maharaja, built in his honour. These royal cenotaphs of the Maharajas are commonly known as ‘Chhatris’.

Timings 9.00 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 20 / Foreigner Rs. 30

Hawa Mahal

One of the most popular attractions of Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal, it stands upright as the entrance to the City Palace. Hawa Mahal is an epitome of the Rajputana architecture. Its unique five-storey exterior is also akin to the honeycomb of the beehive with its 953 small windows called jharokhas that are decorated with intricate latticework. The original intention of the lattice was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen, since they had to observe strict “purdah” (face cover) It is particularly striking when viewed early in the morning, lit with the golden light of sunrise.

Jaipur-Hawa-Mahal

Timings 9.00 A.M.- 4.30 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 10 / Foreigner Rs. 50

Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort which is located immediately above the Amber Fort on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles). It provides an excellent view of Aravalli hills and the Amber Fort sitting 400m below. Similar in design to the Amber Fort the fort features a cannon named “Jaivana”, which at the time of manufacture was the world’s largest cannon on wheels.

Rajasthan-Jaipur-Jaigarh-Fort-compound

Timings 9.00 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 25 / Foreigner Rs. 75

Nahargarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort is situated atop a picturesque hill. It is the first of the three forts built by Maharaja Jai Sawai Singh of Jaipur. The Fort stands at the top of rugged point of the Aravalis and offers a spectacular view of the City. The fort has nine absolutely identical suites each delightfully decorated with motifs.

Timings 9.30 A.M.- 4.30 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 10 / Foreigner Rs. 50

Composite Ticket

The Rajasthan Tourism Office has introduced the tourist friendly concept of a “Composite Ticket” This ticket costs Rs.50 for an Indian and Rs.300 for a foreigner and allows the ticket holder to visit five tourist spots namely Hawa mahal, Jantar Mantar, Albert hall, Amber Fort and Nahargarh Fort.

It is recommended to check timings and entry fees for all attractions before setting out as these are subject to change. The entry fee for foreigners in many places is different from that for India nationals.

Swaad with Sharmaji

The Living Root Bridges of Cherrapunjee, India

The lower reaches of the southern slopes of Khasi and Jaintia hills, in Northeastern India, are humid, warm and streaked by many swift flowing rivers and mountain streams. On the slopes of this hill, among the dense undergrowth, a species of Indian Rubber tree – (Ficus Elastica) -  thrives and flourishes. These trees shoot out many secondary roots from their trunks. The trees, supported by these secondary roots, can comfortably perch itself on huge boulders along side the riverbanks or in the middle of rivers and send its roots down to the riverbed.

Root Bridges

The ancient War-Khasi people, a tribe in Meghalaya, had noticed these qualities of this tree and had adapted it to serve their need for building bridges across rivers and streams. In order to direct the roots in the desired direction, the Khasis sliced betel nut tree trunks half in the middle for their entire length, hollowed them out and passed the thin and long tender roots through them. The roots start growing towards other end of the stream and when they are reached they are allowed to take root in the soil. Given enough time, a sturdy, living bridge is produced.

Root-bridges in day

Some of these root bridges can carry fifty or more people at a time and can be over 100 feet long. These bridges take 10 to 15 years to become fully functional, and they keep growing in strength by the day. Some of these bridges are well over 500 years old.

Woman washing cloth under root bridge

These bridges are unique to Meghalaya only and are being used daily even today by people living in many villages around Cherrapunjee. One special bridge has two bridges stacked one over the other. The villagers of Nongriat where this bridge is located at the bottom of the valley call it 'Umshiang Double Decker Root Bridge’.

Side look root bridge