Ranthambore is one among the many famous destinations of Rajasthan. A visit to Ranthambore usually takes one to the tiger reserve here. However, the place has much more to offer besides this by way of sightseeing and excursions. Surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravali hill ranges and very near to the outer reaches of the Thar Desert, Ranthambore offers the best of desert land and the plains near the hills. Before it was declared as a game sanctuary in 1955, Ranthambore was the hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur. In 1980, it became a national park and was listed among the reserves include under Project Tiger. Ranthambore is considered to be one of the best places in the world to photograph tigers in their natural habitat.

There are many interesting sites in Ranthambore. The park is regarded to be the most suitable place in the world for wildlife photography, especially of tigers. Besides the Ranthambore Park, there is the Ranthambore Fort which is one of its kind in Rajasthan; the Jogi Mahal which is a wonderful forest guesthouse; and various species of flora and fauna which are worth a look. In Ranthambore one also get the taste of local customs and traditions of this region. A Jeep safari followed by dinner consisting of traditional local delicacies is an experience which should not be missed.

An excursion to nearby places of historical importance gives a fairly good idea of the place and its past. Sawai Madhopur village is the entry point for many nearby important destinations. It is known for its historical monuments and related legends. Karauli is famous for temples and architecture. Again, Bundi, Kota and Tonk are three other important places that may be visited. The places have historical significance, many beautiful gardens, and temples and reflect the cross-cultural influence here owing settling of different communities here.

PARK - One of the finest tiger reserves in the country it is the main attraction of Ranthambore. It is spread over an area of 392 sq. km and full of dry deciduous forests sprawed over the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Occasionally one may chance upon a tiger strolling near the Padam Talab, Raj Bagh Talab and Milak Talab. The park also houses some rare species of desert creatures like the sambhar, chital, chinkara, nilgai, langur, wild boar and peafowl. The park was visited by the Bill Clinton during his visit to India.

RANTHAMBORE FORT - This fort built by the Chauhans in the 10th century is one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan. Its strategic location was ideal for keeping enemies at bay. The fort is associated with the historical tragedy of royal women performing jauhar (self immolation) when Ala-ud-din Khilji sieged this fort in 1303. The fort has many temples, tanks, massive gates and walls.

JOGI MAHAL - This is the forest rest house overlooking the pretty Padam Talab. What attracts a large number of tourists every year to the Jogi Mahal is the ancient banyan tree, the second largest banyan tree in India.

NATURAL WEALTH - Ranthambore is characterized by the typical desert landscape of Rajasthan. The park is the natural haunt of a significant number of panthers. Due to the sizeable population of tigers in the Ranthambore national park, this site has been taken under Project Tiger. The flora consists of dry deciduous shrubs and not very high trees. The topography varies from secure forests to open scrubland. Dhok is the most common tree to be found. The aquatic flora of this place includes lovely lotuses and water lilies. The fauna includes mammalian species like antelopes, nilgai, sambhar, chital, sloth bear, wild boar, chinkara, porcupines, jackals, leopards, jungle cats, fox, caracals, hyena, gazelle, Indian hare and mongoose. There are also about 264 species of birds to be found here.