India for long now has been known for its immense beauty, historical and cultural heritage, and is already a much sought after destination in the international and domestic tourism market. However, till recently, it had not figured on the wildlife maps of the world. What is less known is that India boasts of the widest variety in flora and fauna world over with more than 13,000 species of flowering plants, 1,200 species of birds, and 310 species of mammals and species of reptiles. It is the only country which boasts of both the lion and the tiger.
A total area of 35,000 square miles fall under the protection of Wildlife Act 1972 in the form of 55 national parks and 247 sanctuaries. It is in these protected havens that India's natural heritage flourishes.
Ranthambhore National Park
One of the most popular parks with tiger sightings at its best, Ranthambhore is a photographer's dream come true, dotted with lakes and ponds around which the wildlife abounds, and predators and prey enact their day to day drama.
The 410 square kilometers park is covered with belts of dry deciduous forests with ancient banyans and pipal trees which open into large areas of grassy meadows. The three major lakes, Rajbaugh, Milak talao, and Padam talao attract a variety of migratory birds. The lakes are covered with pink lotuses on which the sambar deer often feed. The grassy edges are frequented by chitals, wild boars, and other ongulates.
The marsh crocodiles bask on the shores, while the tigers are often on the prowl at the peripheries. The variety of birds is vast and have their own say, with screeching parakeets, whistling magpies, and dancing peacocks abound in the park.
The park is studded with small covered pavilions, ancient summer palaces, and crumbling guard posts that bear mute testimony of Rajput Kingdoms and battles long forgotten. Imposingly looming above the national park is the Ranthambhore Fort, which in itself is a major tourist attraction.
Wlidlife species here include tigers, leopards, sloth bears, marsh crocodiles, sambars, chitals, nilgais (blue bulls), wild boars, chinkaras, jackals, hyenas, peafowls, tree pies, parakeets, robins, painted storks, sandpipers, and plovers (total 300 species of birds).
Nearby places
- Jaipur (closest airport and rail-head), 175 kilometers
- Ranthambhore National Park, 2 kilometers
- Sawai Madhopur (closest rail-head), 12 kilometers
