31/08/2010
Thing to do in RANTHAMBHORE NATIONAL PARK
Jungle Safari: The 3 hr or so jungle safari is the high point of Ranthambhore experience. No private vehicles are permitted into the park. It is wise to book a tourist jeep/ Open safari bus well in advance, especially in high season, with the Ranthambhore Safari & Tours at Ranthambhore. Two jungle safaris a day, following pre- defined tourist trails, are on offer currently. Movement of vehicles is well organised and ensures that the least interference to animal movement.
Ranthambhore Fort : Ranthambhore Fort is a formidable fort and has been a focal point of historical developments of Rajasthan. It is situated near Sawai Madhopur town in Rajasthan. It is surrounded today and lies within the famous Ranthambhore National Park which was formerly the hunting grounds for the Maharajahs of Jaipur before Indian independence.
History of Ranthambhore fort : The fortress of Ranthambhore was founded in 944 by the Chauhan Rajputs. The fortress commanded a strategic location, 700 feet above the surrounding plain. After the defeat of the Chauhan king Prithviraj III by Muhammad of Ghor in 1192, Ranthambhore, led by Govinda Raja, grandson of Pritviraj, became the center of Chauhan resistance to the expanding Sultanate of Delhi. Govinda Raja was succeeded by his son Balhana.
The Delhi Sultan Iltutmish captured Ranthambhore in 1226, but the Chauhans recaptured it after his death in 1236. The armies of Sultan Nasir ud din Mahmud, led by the future Sultan Balban, unsuccessfully besieged the fortress in 1248 and 1253, but captured from Jaitrasingh Chauhan in 1259. Hamir Dev succeeded Jaitrasingh in 1283, and recaptured Ranthambhore and enlarged the kingdom. Sultan Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji briefly besieged the fort in 1290-91. In 1299, Hamir Dev sheltered Muhammad Shah, a rebel general of Sultan Ala ud din Khilji, and refused to turn him over to the Sultan. The sultan unsuccessfully besieged the fortress in 1299, but returned in 1301 to personally oversee a long siege, and succeeded in capturing the fort.
The fortress was captured by the kingdom of Mewar under Rana Hamir Singh (1326–1364) and Rana Kumbha (1433–1468). After the reign of Rana Kumbha's successor Rana Udai Singh I (1468–1473) the fortress passed to the Hada Rajputs of Bundi. Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat captured the fortress from 1532 to 1535. The Mughal Emperor Akbar captured the fortress in 1559.
The fortress passed to the Kachwaha Maharajas of Jaipur in the 17th century, and it remained part of Jaipur state until Indian Independence. The area surrounding the fortress became a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur. Jaipur state acceded to India in 1949, becoming part of the state of Rajasthan in 1950.
Inside Ranthambhore fort there are three Hindu temples dedicated to Ganesh,Shiva and Ramlalaji constructed in 12th and 13th centuries from red Karauli stone.
Ganesh Temple : The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is located inside the Ranthambhore Fort, within the precincts of the park, about 15 km from Sawai Madhopur. The temple is centre of activity during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, when tourists and locals flock at the temple.
Jogi Mahal : Jogi Mahal is located at the foot of the fort and is home to the country’s second largest banyan tree. The Forest Rest House (stay not permitted) at Jogi Mahal offers stunning views of the Padam Talao, which is awash with water lilies.
Soorwal Lake : Located 14km from Sawai Madhopur is a shallow seasonal lake, situated between acres of agricultural fields, which usually dries out by April/May is home to a large number of different kinds of migratory birds during the winter. Painted storks, flamingoes, spoonbills, sarus cranes, greylag geese amongst others can be seen in large numbers in between the months of November and March. During this season, the best time to see birds is very early in the morning and serious bird watchers should be at the lake before sunrise.
Mansaraoval Lake : This water bodies on the age of the park attract thousand of migrating bird during winter and are specially exiting for bird watching some time in this area we can find some wild animals also, there is fisher men with the boats also we can hire those boats for boating in this lake.
Rameshwaram : 50km from Sawai Madhopur lies at the confluence of the Chambal and Banas rivers and is home for large number of migratory birds, crocodiles, alligators, the endangered river dolphins and many other animal species. A group of ancient temples are also located at the ghat worth seeing. Since the ghat is beyond the Mansarovar Lake and Khandar fort one can visit both these places in the same trip.
Devpura : 14 km from Sawai Madhopur Where black buck abound, is not far from Surwal villages. Interestingly, black buck are almost never seen inside the RANTHAMBHORE Tiger reserve due to their preference for open spaces to jungles along with this trip you can get closer meet with the villages cultural.
Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary : Eco Tourism site "BALAS": Is situated 9 km away from Sawaimadhopur on Sawaimadhopur-Kalibhat road. It is a part of Sawai mansingh sanctuary. The area includes the confluence of the ancient Aravalli hill, system with the Vindhyan hill system due to which the area is a very rich in bio-diversity. The Vindhyan system is characterized by flat table tops (plateaus) locally known as "Dang' and Aravallis are characterized by sharp ridges & conical hill tops. The camping site is surrounded by bold vertical cliffs of Neemli 'Dang'. Eco trails and motorable paths have been developed to visit the 'Dang'. Know is another beautiful feature of the Dang. It is a very deep, wide and long rocky Nallah cutup in the Dang which is characterised by steep rocky slopes and cliffs, flat bottoms with deep and fertile soil Mahakho and Didikho are two khos which are very cool mist and alive throughout the year. Flora in Balas : The main vegetation is dhok associated with beautiful trees of cheela, Raunj, Tendu, Gurjan, Kadaya, Khaair, Kadamb, Goya khair, Siras, Jamun, Khirni, Saintha, Salar, Kathphadi, Amaltas etc. Undergrowth is mostly jarked, jal, Gangerun, jhadberi . Ground cover is mostly grasses of species Chinkali, Bhanjura, Lampla, Sheen, Sedvs, Loth, Jhonudali, Dada Musi Pharda. Fauna in Balas : The Main animals of the area are Chinkaras, Nilgai, Chital, Sambhar, Hare, Fox, Jackal, Hyena, Jingle Cat, Wild Boar, Sloth beer and Panther. Avifauna is represented by Peacock, Partridges, Quails, Sand grouse, Stone curlews, Minivets, Flycatchers, T**s, Orioles, Parakeets, Sparrow, and Vultures. Nesting of vultures can also be seen in the area.
The Ranthambhore School of Art : Situated on the road that leads up to the park, the Ranthambhore School of Art consists of painters from local villages. The main subjects of their paintings of course are the majestic tigers of Ranthambhore. The paintings depict the king of the jungle in its full glory. Stalking their prey, emerging from the undergrowth, playing with their cubs and resting on the ruins in the park - the tigers of Ranthambore can be seen in different moods and backgrounds here.
