Ranthambore

Ranthambore National Park covers an area of some 1,400 sq km, comprising scrub, jungle, watering holes, rocky escarpments and vine-covered temples, and is Rajasthan’s premier wildlife attraction. The key draw here are of course the tigers, but there is a vast array of wildlife to be seen including boars, jackals, hyenas, deer, buck, a variety of jungle cats, and over 300 species of bird. Chances of a spotting a tiger are very reasonable (there were 48 when last surveyed) at any time of year, especially for those who have the time to take two or three drives in the park. The park is located on the outskirts of Sawai Madhopur, around 2-3 hours’ drive from Jaipur or 4-5 from Agra. A medley of budget accommodation choices are found on the untidy road leading from the town down to the park, with upmarket choices found in the secluded countryside a few km west of the main park entrance.