Ranthambore

Once the hunting ground of the maharajas of Jaipur, today one of the best places in the world to photograph wild tigers

Area

392 km²

Protection category

UICN II

Parque nacional — what the IUCN categories mean

Declared in

1980

Region

South Asia (Rajasthan)

Climate

Tropical, Árido / desértico, Polar / frío, Montañoso

Best time

November to March

Length of its routes

2–3 days

Difficulty of its routes

Media

Plan your visit

Best time: November to March
Length of its routes: 2–3 days
Difficulty of its routes: Media
Area: 392 km²

Highlight

Once the hunting ground of the maharajas of Jaipur, today one of the best places in the world to photograph wild tigers

It was the private hunting ground of the maharajas of Jaipur well into the 20th century, and the ruins of a 10th-century fort crowning the park — Ranthambore Fort — recall that feudal past at every turn. Declared a sanctuary in 1955, it joined Project Tiger in 1973 and became a national park in 1980. Its relatively open landscape, dotted with lakes and ruins wrapped in strangler figs, has made it one of the most reliable places in the world to watch and photograph wild tigers in broad daylight, which is exceptional given how shy the species usually is.