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When the several dynasties ruled India during the medieval ages, hunting was one of the most favorite and celebrated sports practiced by the kings and princes. Of the several royal families, the Rajputs were one of the most renowned dynasties in India who ruled mainly in the western part of India. The present day state of Rajasthan was under the rule of these famous warrior-kings who had a penchant for hunting. Hence, they made exclusive hunting grounds to practice their sport of hunting. One such erstwhile hunting ground, which has now become a famous National Park in India, is the Ranthambore National Park. Ranthambore - the Royal Fortress The Ranthambore National Park, India is one of the prime tiger habitats in India and is located in the Eastern part of Rajasthan. The park is strategically situated at the confluence of two major hill ranges, namely the Vindhyas and the Aravallis. Since the park provides a great opportunity to see the tiger and is close to the 'Golden Triangle' (New Delhi-Agra-Jaipur), the park attracts several international tourists each year. The nearest railhead for Ranthambore is Sawai Madhopur while the nearest airport is Jaipur. The Ranthambore National Park is one of the most picturesque parks in India. This is because the forest is interspersed with ruins of historic monuments that add a royal flavor to the forest and remind the visitor of the bygone era. The park is dominated with thorny or scrub forest with a few patches of thick deciduous forests. Another major feature of the park is the presence of the Ranthambore fort, which is located at the fringes of the park and provides an excellent bird's eye view of the entire forest below. Spread over an area of 1,334 sq.km, Ranthambore became a National Park in 1980 and was a part of the Project Tiger in India. The majority of the wildlife in Ranthambore is concentrated around three major lakes, namely, Rajbagh, Padam Talao and Malik Talao. The Jogi Mahal, a historic monument on the edge of the park also adds a majestic touch to the park. These are man-made lakes, which carry water even during the blistering Indian summer. Ranthambore National Park, India is mainly famous for the most mysterious and charismatic of the big cats, the tiger. Watching the king in the ruins is an experience in itself, which people cherish of the rest of their lives. Apart from the tiger, the other major wildlife in Ranthambore includes leopards, sloth bear, jackals and the jungle cat. Special specie of cat found in Ranthambore is the 'Caracal', a shy and elusive animal. The striped monarchs, the tigers, now rightly rule Ranthambore National Park, India, which was once dominated by the Rajput Maharajas.
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