Ranthambore National Park

Stretching almost 400 square kilometres, Rajasthan’s beautiful Ranthambore National Park was once the hunting ground of the Maharajah of Jaipur.  The park was declared a sanctuary in 1955 and became a fully fledged national park in 1972. 

Renowned for its tigers, the park is reputedly home to between 30-40 tigers and chances of spotting these mystical animals are good, hence the park’s popularity as a tourist destination.  Tourists are allowed to explore the park in open-sided trucks called canter vehicles.

Whilst the park is also home to a number of other animals, the focus on jungle safaris is very much the search for a tiger.  Nonetheless, you may be lucky enough to spot jackals, panthers, eagles and peacocks.

Even without the wildlife, the scenery of the park is worth a visit alone.  Great swathes of jungle cover this lush area of Rajasthan and a series of rivers converge to form several picturesque lakes.  For those interested in Rajasthan’s forts, the Chauhan Fort is well worth a visit.  Perched on a hilltop overlooking the forest canopy, the fort dates back to the tenth century.