Vacation Tour to Sawai Madhopur

Lying on the main Delhi-Mumbai railway line, Sawai Madhopur is the entry point to the world renowned Ranthambore National Park- the famous Tiger Reserve, just 12 km away from here. The Sawai Madhopur forms an important travel destination in Rajasthan, known especially for its rich wildlife and most of the people visiting Rajasthan opts for a vacation tour to Sawai Madhopur. 180 kms from Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur lies midway between Bharatpur and Kota and is a significant district city with rich history and legends.

Ranthambore has been a witness to the rise and fall of many rulers and a series of battle scenes. In the 13th century A.D. Govinda, the grandson of legendary Prithviraj Chauhan, took over the reign of the land. The city was later beautified with temples and buildings by Vagabhatta, the successor of Govinda. A beautiful temple at Jhain was built by Vagabhatta.

The Ranthambore fort was occupied by Rana Kumbha in the middle of the 15th century A.D. It later passed on to his son. The fort came under the control of Hada Rajputs of Bundi and Mughal Emperors Akbar and Aurangazeb. Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gifted it to Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I of Jaipur in 1754 and since then it was maintained as the hunting preserve of the Maharaja.

The fort played host to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh who were part of the royal hunting. Walls, wells, temples and hunting lodges adorn the verdant rolling hills of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas. On your vacation tour to Sawai Madhopur you can take a look at the rare species that inhabit the wildlife reserve at Ranthambore and the other nearby attractions.

Vacation Tour to Sawai Madhopur and Places to See

Ranthambore National Park
One of the finest examples of Project Tiger’s conservation efforts in India, Ranthambore National Park occupies an area of over 400 sq km. Replete with many steep crags the park is dotted with lakes and rivers. Adding to the beauty and grandeur of the Park is the 10th century Fort parched on one of the hills. The topography is a blend of impenetrable forests and open bush land. The forest is the typically dry deciduous type with dhok being the most well known tree.

Well known in the world for its tigers, Ranthambore has, by one estimate, has a tiger population of 22. In addition to tigers, the park is also home to panthers. You can view these animals in the Kachida Valley. Apart from these, the park has its share of Chital, Nilgai, hyenas, marsh crocodiles, jungle cats and sloth bears and Chinkara. A good number of birds can also be sighted here. These include quails, black storks, painted storks, spur fowls, Bonelli’s eagles and crested serpent eagles.

The park is the natural habitat of migratory birds during the winter season. The best time of visit the park is between October and April. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to view game. It is the ideal park for wildlife photography. Formerly the hunting preserve of the Maharajas, the park has a good network of four tracks crisscrossing the park and safaris can be undertaken in open-sided jeeps driven by a ranger.

Ranthambore Fort
The fort is a must visit attraction which on your vacation tour to Sawai Madhopur. You can have a panoramic view of the park from its ramparts. From the fort, one can have a glimpse of open bush land and fairly dense forest, replete with ruined pavilions/ chatris and hideouts.

Jogi Mahal
Located at the foot of the Ranthambore Fort, the lovely forest rest house Jogi Mahal gives magnificent view of the Padam Talao. It boasts of the second largest Banyan tree in India. You can see tigers roaming around in daylight itself.

Lakes
The Raj Bagh Talab, the Padam Talab and the Milak Talab are some of the beautiful lakes in the area that attract tiger population. You can track the tigers at the edges of these lakes. Ruined ramparts, pavilions, crumbling walls, and wells bear testimony to the region’s past glory. Tigers can be spotted roaming around in the sunny surroundings, or feverishly hunting down Sambar around the lakes. Even if you do not get an opportunity to see a tiger, it is worth visiting for its scenic grandeur alone.