Named after the once imposing 10th century Fort whose ruins preside over the Park from a nearby hilltop, National Park offers the best statistical chance of seeing a tiger in the wild. The Park is one of the finest Tiger Reserves of India and to date the villagers recount numerous stories of exciting encounters with tigers in the days of yore. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the jungles here were the royal hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Jaipur. However, towards the middle of the nineteenth century, the British officer in charge of the area wisely initiated a program of conservation for the fast dwindling wildlife. It became a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1955 and a National Park (as part of Project Tiger) in 1973.

National Park
Ranthambore National park is famous for its tigers and is one of the best places in the country to see these majestic predators in the wild. The tigers can be easily spotted even during the day. A good time to visit between November and May when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes sightings common. The Park which covers an area of nearly 400 sq. km. and is set between the Aravali and Vindhya ranges. Its deciduous forests were once a part of the magnificent jungles of Central India

The varied topography of the national park is home to animals like the jackal,mongoose, sloth bear, leopard, and of course, the tiger. Ranthambore has much more to offer you in sightseeing and excursions. Surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravali hill ranges and located very near to the outer fringes of the Thar Desert, this place offers you the best of the desert land as well as plain area near the hills.

Fort
Ranthambore National Park gets its name from the fort that stands in the middle of the park. The fort is called Ranthambore and it gets its name from two hills - Thanbhor which is the hill on which the fort is located, and Ran which is a hill close by. While not much is known about the founding of the fort, what is known is that there was a settlement here as far back as the 8th century.

The fort was a vital citadel for the control of central India, with the result that many wars were fought for its possession. Due to its location and structure, it was one of the most difficult forts to overthrow. Records show that the fort with stood the assaults of people life Kutub-ud-din (1209), Allaudin Khilji (1301), Feroz Tughlaq (1325) and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat (1530). The most successful ruler of this fort was Rao Hammir in the 11th century.It is said that in 1381 ten thousand women committed johar or mass suicide rather than fall in the hands of the ruler of an opposing and victorious army. In 1528, the control of the fort went into the hands of the Mughals.


Rajbagh Lake
Between the Aravali and the Vindhya mountain ranges in South-Eastern Rajasthan lies the Oberoi Vanyavilas. Set in 20 acres of landscaped gardens, lakes and fountains, the resort borders on one of the most extraordinary wildlife reserves in the world, the Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve - home of the magnificent Indian tiger, deer, leopard, and crocodile.

The main building recreates the glory of a Royal hunting palace with hand painted gilded frescoes, murals of elephants and peacocks, marble and chandeliers. When Indian princes went hunting, they did it in style.