Ranthambore National Park

“… convoy of open jeeps & canters, guides and tourists with alert & roving binoculars, cameras and eyes…an early morning sortie amidst a background cacophony of vehicles and noisy tourists, langurs and peafowl…sighting begins…a view of the ruins of 10th century ranthambore fort atop the rugged junction of the aravallis & vindhyas …jungle safari on the un-tarred tiger trails cut across the dense undergrowth & rugged terrain …brought to a halt …a big feline pugmarks!! cheers & insights follow… ‘the day looks promising’…past flying-over Indian roller and some least bothered alligators basking nearby the water hole…zoomed 15X to get near the crested hawk eagle far atop a tall leafless tree…no zoom required for the herd of the spotted deer… greeted by the sambhar emerging out of the Padam Talao (lake)…its antlers adorned with water lilies … next is rugged Jogi Mahal, a former rest house …and o wow! A sprawling banyan tree…it’s the 2nd largest in India…but one thing still lingering in all minds… ‘striped beauty’ … “here, there, where?”… “You may have missed the sight but the tiger hasn’t”, guide soothes…ok but not enough…luck under scanner…meanwhile, to lighten the moods a green praying mentis and an impressive cobweb with the owner at the centre… and a beautiful thin 2-3 ft. emerald green snake bypassed some branches… ‘better but a little more’…sorry time over…no more pushing luck…backtracking starts…prayers begin, too, for that one prized view…and know what… though late prayer worked… towards the exit a tiger family takes over the scene …cat-walking on the soft sandy route, unperturbed by the lining convoy behind…engine or breath – all stopped…memories being clicked…and..!!

“…just realized …nature has its way and it unfolds at its own pace especially within its territory!”

This was once upon a time during sightseeing in Ranthambore.

Thankfully, this former hunting ground for the maharajas of Jaipur is a favorite haunt for the wildlife enthusiasts in India today. Ranthambore National Park is a well spread 1334 sq kms of wildlife habitat guarded by the worn down ranges of the Aravalli and the Vindhya hills. The park is majorly a rugged terrain with thick undergrowth disturbed by rocky outcrops and covers a core area of 275 sq. kms. The river Banas on the north and river Chambal on the south and their off shoots drain the park’s ecosystem and make it an ideal habitat for leopard, jackal, hyena, sloth bear, deer, sambar, nilgai and a variety of resident and migratory birds. However, the endangered Tiger eats the maximum footage in any sighting, travelogue, photo-album, souvenir, and brochure and of course, a travel agent’s itinerary. And this Project Tiger Reserve since 1973 hardly disappoints anyone.

Within the parks precincts lie a 1000 years old Ranthambore fort, after which the park was named, an old yet living temple dedicated to lord Ganesha which are worth a trek in case of ample time. On the road towards the park, beautiful wildlife paintings made by the local artists are displayed in the Ranthambore School of Arts.