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Whenever it comes to India’s most famous, historical and exciting wildlife sanctuaries, the name of ‘Ranthambore National Park’ located in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan first comes to mind. This huge forest spread between Vindhyachal and Aravalli hills was once the hunting ground of royal kings and emperors, but today it is considered to be the safest and natural home of Bengal Tigers for the wildlife lovers and wildlife photographers of the country and the world. If you are also planning to visit Ranthambore with your family or partner and wish to see a life-size tiger in the open forest with your own eyes, then just packing your bag and leaving is not enough. It requires precise, disciplined and timely planning, from choosing the right season to online safari booking, choosing a canter or jeep vehicle and calculating your budget. Let us know in depth in this detailed and useful travel guide what things you should keep in mind before traveling to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and how you can make your trip completely successful.
Before going to any national park, choosing the right season is the first and most important step. Ranthambore National Park is generally open to tourists from the month of October to the end of June, as the forest routes are closed due to heavy rains during the monsoon season of July to September. If you want to be able to easily see tigers inside the forest in the shortest possible time, then the winter months i.e. between October to March are considered to be the most pleasant and ideal time. During this time the weather is very pleasant, in the cool of the morning tigers are often seen sunbathing on the safari paths. On the other hand, during the summer months of April to June, due to scorching sun and rising temperatures, tigers are more visible around water sources, which increases the sighting opportunities for wildlife photographers during this time too. Therefore, before planning your vacation, definitely understand the weather patterns.
To enter Ranthambore National Park and roam inside the forest, the Forest Department provides two types of vehicles – 6 seater open Gypsy and 20 seater Canter. If you want a private, exciting and relaxing experience with your family, Gypsum is the best option as it can easily navigate through the narrow forest paths due to less people and is also perfect for photography. At the same time, Canter is an economical mode for large groups or budget travelers. The most important thing is that the demand for safari in Ranthambore remains very high throughout the year, hence its booking (Online Safari Booking) starts at least 90 days before the date of travel through the official forest department website. There is very little chance of getting tickets from the counter on the spot, so confirm your booking as soon as the online quota opens.
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is divided into a total of 10 different zones (Zones 1 to 10), and each vehicle is allotted a specific zone at the time of booking. There is always a question in the minds of tourists that which zone is the best where the tiger can be seen easily. According to the rules of the Forest Department, the territory of tigers is divided among all the zones, and the movement in each zone keeps changing from time to time. The areas from Zone 1 to Zone 6 are most popular among tourists due to their proximity to the ruins of old and historical forts and lakes, where seeing tigers drinking water on the banks of Malik Lake and Padam Pond is a wonderful sight. However, in recent years, the scope of safari has also been expanded to new zones where there is a different pleasure in watching wildlife amidst greenery and peace.
Ranthambore National Park is located very close to Sawai Madhopur railway station in Rajasthan, which is very well connected by rail to major cities of the country like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Kota. If you want to come by air, the nearest airport is Jaipur from where one can easily reach Sawai Madhopur via cab or train. There are many options for accommodation here, ranging from budget-friendly homestays to the world’s most luxurious heritage resorts, which can easily be found as per your pocket and choice. For a typical 2 to 3 day trip which includes train fare, hotel stay, safari booking and food expenses, the per person budget works out to be around Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. If you want a little luxury the cost may increase, but the natural beauty and a glimpse of the tiger makes the entire expense worth it.