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Ranthambhore
Ranthambore - Land of Tigers
A small village near the township of Sawai Madhopur, in the state of
Rajasthan, Ranthambhore gets its name from the two hills, Ran and Thambor,
which are in close proximity. The Ranthambhore Park is set between the
Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Its deciduous forests were once a part of the
magnificent jungles of Central India. The terrain is rugged and there are
rocky ridges, hills and open valleys with lakes and pools.
Ranthambhore is a heritage site because of the picturesque ruins that dot
the park. There are lake palaces, 'chhatris', old fortifications and a
majestic 1,000-year-old fort overlooking the park. The lovely Jogi Mahal is
located at the foot of the fort and gives magnificent view of the Padam
Talao, painted white with water lilies.
It has a chequered history and was the stronghold of the Yadavas in the 8th
century. It came under Chauhans, and was ruled by them 10th century onwards.
The Mughal emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb also occupied the magnificent fort.
The park is famous for tigers and due to conservation efforts, the tiger
population has stabilized if not increased here. The tigers can be spotted
quite often even during the day, at their normal pursuits-- hunting and
taking care of their young ones.
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Ranthambhore is one of the best places to see these majestic predators. Old
crumbling walls, ruined pavilions, wells, and other ancient structures stand
witness to the region's glorious past. The entire forest is peppered with
the battlements and spillovers of the Ranthambhore fort - tigers are said to
frequent these ruins, too.
SIGHTSEEING Ranthambhore:
Ranthambore National Park :
The Ranthambore National Park was the hunting ground
of Maharaja of Jaipur. In 1955, it was declared a game
sanctuary; in 1980, it became a national park. But
with the commissioning of Project Tiger in 1972, it
was included in the project.
more..
Ganesh Chaturthi :
In Sawai Madhopur, the festival is rather special. The
temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha is located in the
fort of Ranthambore, about 12 kms from Sawai Madhopur
and it is one of the most important Ganesha temples in
the State. more..
Ranthambhor Fort :
Steep crags embrace a network of lakes and rivers, and
atop one of these hills, is the impressive
Ranthambhore Fort. Built in the 10th century, the fort
is considered to be one of the oldest forts in the
state. Strategically built on the border of Rajasthan
and Malwa, the fort houses some splendid monuments,
within its precincts. The terrain fluctuates between
impregnable forests and open bush land. The forest is
the typically dry deciduous type, with Dhok, being the
most prominent tree.
The Badal Mahal :
The ¿palace of the clouds¿, situated in the fort has a
very interesting location and seems as if hanging out
in space. The famous 84-column 'chhatri' of King
Hammir stands out magnificently where he used to hold
an audience. The Padam Talab, the Raj Bagh Talab and
the Milak Talab are some of the lakes in the area
worth seeing.
The Jogi Mahal :
The entry point to the park, goes straight to the foot
of the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The
latter boasts of the second-largest Banyan tree in
India. |
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