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GATEWAY TO THE TIGER'S DEN
Lying on the main Delhi - Mumbai railway line, Sawai Madhopur is the
gateway to the world renowned Ranthambhore National Park - the famous
Tiger Reserve, just 12 kms away from here. Ranthambhore has been a witness
to the rise and fall of many rulers and a series of battle scenes.
In the 13th century AD, Govinda, the grandson of Prithviraj Chauhan took
over the reign of the land. Later his successor Vagbhatta, beautified the
city and built a noteworthy temple at Jhain.
In the middle of the 15th century AD, Rana Kumbha captured the fort and
gifted it to his son to be occupied later by the Hada Rajputs of
Bundi and Mughal Emperors, Akbar and Aurangzeb.
Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gifted it to Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I of
Jaipur in 1740's and since then it was maintained as the hunting preserve
of the Maharaja. (Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were part
of the royal hunting parties who stayed here.
PALACE ON WHEELS
Ever wondered what luxury in the royal times was all about! Welcome to
Palace On Wheels, a luxury train that carries with it an ambience of the
Rajputana era and an exciting fairytale journey, which takes the visitor
to the imperial cities of Rajasthan every single day. The coaches also
carry out an image of the Rajput states with beautiful interiors. Last but
not the least the "Royal Treat" for the passengers on board
include saloons, bar lounges & libraries in every coach as well as
restaurant and organized shopping facilites. more...
FORTS
The Fort: Ranthambhore's royal past manifests itself in the
well-perceived imposing fort. built in 994 AD, atop a steep high creek 200
metres above sea level. Ruined pavilions, walls, 'chhatris' and splendid
monuments are interspersed within the majestic fort. An 8th century Ganesh
Temple on an open land attracts thousands of devotees and is the venue for
an annual fair held on Bhadrapad Sudi Chaturthi, fourth day of the bright
half, in the month of Bhadra.
Ranthambhore
National Park: The 392 sq. km. park comprises of dry deciduous
forests sprawling over an undulating terrain of the Aravalli and Vindhya
ranges. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country under
the Project Tiger. The majestic predators assured of protection, roam
freely during the day time and can be seen at close quarters. Ranthambhore
Sanctuary has a large number of Sambhars, Chitals, Nilgai, Chinkara,
Langur, Wild Boar and Peafowl.
A system of three pretty artificial lakes PadamTalab, Rajbagh and Milak
Talab, along with a number of anicuts are part of the biosphere. Besides
enhancing the scenic beauty of the park, they are important sources of
water for the inhabitants of the Park. While deer congregate here to drink
fresh water, crocodiles can be seen basking in the winter sun to regulate
their body temperature. The lake also attracts a large number of migratory
and local birds.
The
local fauna of the park includes Leopard, Hyena, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Sloth
Bear and a little population of pythons.
The lovely Jogi Mahal overlooking the pretty Padam Talab at the foot of
the fort has a Forest Rest House. Other accommodation outside the fort
also ensures a comfortable stay.
The best time to visit is between November and April . Jeeps are
available to take you around the park.
Air: Jaipur 165 kms is the nearest airport
Rail: Located on the Delhi - Mumbai main railway line, it is well
connected with Jaipur and other major tourist centres. Some important
train connections are : 4005 Express (Hazrat Nizamuddin-Sawai
Madhopur-Shamgarh); GoldenTemple Mail (Mumbai-Sawai Madhopur-Jammu); Avadh
Express (Mumbai-SawaiMadhopur-Gorakhpur); Dehradun Express (Mumbai-Sawai
Madhopur-Dehradun)
Road: A good network of bus services connects Sawai Madhopur with
many places.
Local Transport: Unmetered taxis and auto-rickshaws. Also
cycle-rickshaws and tongas.
RTDC Hotel Jhoomar Baori; RTDC Hotel Vinayak; SawaiMadhopur Lodge; PWD Rest House. Also a wide range of accommodation of different categories
The region is famous for 'Khus' perfumes and other objects made of 'Khus ' including fans, small boxes, caps, etc.
Jaipur- 145 km
Ranthambore- 12 km
Kota- 175 km
Bundi- 127 km
| Climate | Max | Min | |
| Summer | : | 37°C | 23° C |
| Winter | : | 29° C | 9.1° C |
| Rainfall | : | 68 cms. | |
| Best Season | : | September-March | |
| Clothing | |||
| Summer | : | light tropical | |
| Winter | : | light woollen | |
| Languages | : | English, Hindi, Rajasthani. | |