Best time to visit : October to April
Ornamented with rich flora and fauna, magnificent hills, beautiful gushing streams and ponds, wonderful climate and scenic environment, Ranthambore infers its identity from two hills – Ran and Thambor. A heaven for wildlife enthusiasts, the place is a refuge for imperilled wild species. Ranthambore presents an astounding amalgamation of heritage sites and natural locations. The tiny village Ranthambore is the perfect place to spot the undying culture and glorious past of India. Jungle safari tours are the biggest attraction of the place.
Facts
A relatively tiny yet colourful village, Ranthambore in Rajasthan experiences moderate climatic conditions round the year. Famed for its zealous wildlife, Ranthambore is renowned for its wildlife sanctuary of the same name – Ranthambore National Park. It is one of the biggest and most popular parks in Northern India where tiger spotting is guaranteed. In the 8th century, the land was under the stronghold of the Yadavas, later took over by the powerful Chauhans followed by the Mughals. Women’s handicraft shops and wildlife painting schools are quite famous. Kali Devi Fair (April) and performances by Meena Tribes are popular among tourists.
Since you are in Rajasthan, the best food to eat is the typical Rajasthani Thali that serves variety of food items including sweet dishes. It promises a perfect blend of spicy and sweet tastes. The spicy garlic chutney and bajre-ki-roti, gate-ki-sabzi and sangria-ka-saag must be tried. Daal-bati-churma is another speciality of Rajasthan. For drinks, you must try salty-sweet Chhach. Restaurant at Nahar Haveli Hotel, Oberoi Vanyavilas and Chokhi Dhani restaurant are good places to eat in Ranthambore.
You can buy handicraft items including bags, bedspreads and wall hangings from the women’s handicraft shops in Ranthambore. Also, 3 km. away from Ranthambore is Dastkar Craft Centre where you can shop for uniquely crafted items. Hire a tourist guide to help you locate these shopping destinations in the village.
Nearby Places:
· Sawai Madhopur (about 20 km.) – A small city popular for religious places, historical wonders and archaeological sites.
· Tonk (about 96 km.) – The place is known as ‘Lucknow of Rajasthan’. Sunheri Kothi (Mansion of Gold), Sheesh Mahal, Jama Masjid, Shivaji Garden and Ghanta Ghar are the famous places of Tonk.
· Chittorgarh (about 286 km.) – Famous for palaces, forts and temples. The well-known Jauhar Festival is celebrated here.
· Bharatpur (about 206 km.) – Known as ‘Eastern Gateway of Rajasthan,’ Bharatpur houses the notable Keoladeo National Park.
· Jaipur (about 154 km.) – Dubbed as Pink City, Jaipur is home to the spectacular Hawa Mahal. Palaces, forts and fortresses are other places of interest in Jaipur.
Other popular nearby locations are Agra (265 km.), Udaipur (400 km.) and Ajmer (270 km.). For interesting tourist information about the nearby attractions, look for a friendly guide.