Major Attractions

Tigers : The Park is one of the best national parks in the country to spot a tiger. This majestic predator can be spotted ambling or basking under the sun here.

Safari Rides : Rides are carried out at two times : 0630 and 1430. Each ride lasts for about 3 hours. There are two options of vehicles for the safari : 20 seater open top canter or 6 seater open top gypsy. The core park area has been divided into several zones and the safari vehicles go on one of those zones. Since there is a good chance of not sighting a tiger in one outing, people usually take more than one ride. There are a lot of quality resorts on the way from Sawai Madhopur to the national park.

Ranthambore Fort : The majestic fort, built in 10th-century, towers over the entire park area. It stands at a height of 700 feet above the surrounding plain. Inside the fort, there are three red Karauli stone temples devoted to Ganesh,Shiva and Ramlalaji. The temples were constructed in 12th and 13th centuries.

Padam Talao : This is the largest of the all the lakes located inside the park, and the beautiful red sandstone Jogi Mahal is located at the very edge of this lake. A gigantic banyan tree, considered to be India's second largest, is near the lake.

Save Tigers Saving the tiger means saving mankind..

Not only is tiger a beautiful animal but it is also the indicator of the forest's health. Saving the tiger means we save the forest since tiger cannot live in places where trees have vanished and in turn secure food and water for all.If we make sure tigers live, we have to make sure that deer, antelope and all other animals that the tiger eats (its prey base) live. To make sure that these herbivores live, we must make sure that all the trees, grass and other plants that these prey animals need for food are protected. In this way, the whole forest gets saved! Saving the tiger means saving its entire forest kingdom with all the other animals in it.

Also forests catch and help store rainwater and protect soils. In this way we protect our rivers and recharge groundwater sources. Areas with less trees lead to floods, killing people and destroying homes. It takes away the precious soil, leaving behind a wasteland. The soil jams up our lakes and dams, reducing their ability to store water. By destroying the tiger's home, we not only harm tigers, but also ourselves.

The tiger thus becomes the symbol for the protection of all species on our earth since it is at the top of the foodchain. This is why we sometimes call the tiger, an apex predator, an indicator of our ecosystem's health

Flora & Fauna

THE REAL VALUE OF A TREE
The commercial value of a tree depends on its weight, the quality of timber and the biomass of fruit it produces. All these, however, only add up to 0.3% of its real value. The other benefits derived for a medium sized tree of about 50 tonnes could be computed as follows ::
1. Production of Oxygen Rs. 2,50,000
2. Humidity control and recycling of water Rs. 3,00,000
3. Air pollution control Rs. 5,00,000
4. Controlling of Soil erosion and fertility Rs. 2,50,000
5. Sheltering of Birds, squirrels, insects and plants Rs. 2,50,000
Total Rs. 15,50,000
This value of Rupees Fifteen and a half lakhs for a medium sized tree does not include the value of its timber, its fruits and flowers.

Tree of Ranthambhore

Here are ten trees you can see in Ranthambore National Park along with details of identifications.
Wild Date Plam or Khajur / Phoenix Sylvestris
[wild Date palm tree] Leaves : Its leaves are stiff, feather-like and spinous.
Flowers : They are numerous, cream and fragrant.
Fruits : The fruit is orange in colour and much smaller than that of the true date.
Uses : Palm sugar is made from the juice and jellies and jams from fruit. Mats are woven out of the leaves and baskets are made out of the leaf stalks.
Peepal Tree / Ficus religiosa

[Ficus religiosa] Leaves : the long stalked and heart shaped leaves terminate in a long tapering point. They are alternatively arranged. When well-pressed and dried the leaves can be painted on rather nicely. Goats, buffaloes and camels also feed on them.
Bark : The Bark is smooth and pale grey.
Flowers : Borne inside the tender figs.
Fruits : The Figs arise in pairs in the angles of the lower leaves on the twigs or above the scar of the fallen leaves.
Uses : It is worshipped and also has medicinal uses. Some beautiful peepal trees are found in Ranthambore.

Dhak, Chila or The Flame of The Forest / Butea Monosperma
Leaves : The leaves are compound, with three large, feathery leaflets.
Bark : The bark is brown in colour. It usually has a crooked trunk and twisted irregular branches.
Flowers : From February to April the tree looks most sensational, with a riot of orange and vermillion-red blossoms covering the entire crown and looking truly like a tree aflame.
[Butea Monosperma] Uses : A yellow not-permanent dye is made from the infusion of the flowers that is used as gulal during the festival of holi. The gum from the trunk, lacquer, has medicinal properties, is used in tanning leather and more commonly for making laquer bangles etc. The large leaflets are used for making round plates bys stitching together the stems of the broomstick grass. This tree is sacred to Hindus. The three leaves are symbolic of the Trimurti-the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Large valleys of Ranthambore are clothed with this tree.

Banyan Tree / BANYAN TREE::(Ficus benghalensis)
Leaves: The large, leatherly leaves are mostly ellipticalin shape and a dark glossy green in colour. They are conspicuously pale-veined.
Trunk: [Banyan Tree in Ranthambore] The trunk is not quite cylindrical because it is composed of several amalgamated aerial roots. From the speading side branches hang clumps of brown aerial roots that eventually unite. On reaching the griound they take root and glow into separate pillars,suppoting the crown. Inthe very old trees, the original trunk slowly disintegrates, leaving behind the crown entirely supported by the trunk-like root pillars.Right at the main entrance to the Ranthambore National Park stands a majestic Banyan Tree.
Flowers: Like the Peepal tree, the Banyan tree appears to bear no flowers, only fruits.
Fruits: Fig of the Banyan don't have stalks and grow in the pairs in the leaf angle. The fig become bright red on ripening and are much sought by birds and bats, who cause seed dispersal. Monkeys are also fond of them.
USES: The banyan is considered sacred by the Hindus. The tree s widely planted for shade and its leaves are used for fodder. Coarse fibre can be made out of the bark and the hanging roots. The leaves are stiched into plates.
[ Ancient Banyan Tree in Ranthambore] RANTHAMBOR IS FAMOUS FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST BANYAN TREES IN INDIA AT JOGI MAHAL.

Indian Jujube or Ber / (Zizyphus Muritiana)
[Indian Jujube or Ber] Leaves: The simple leaves re small, elliptical, a smooth green above and velvety white or green below.
Bark:: The tree never attains much height. Frequently it is only a stranling bush with Zigzagging branches.
Flowers:: The flowers are tiny, greenish and have a thick disc filling their centres.
Friut: The fruit varies in shape and size.It is fleshy with alarge bony stone in the centre that contains the seed.
Uses: The fruit is eaten or made into juice. The tree makes excellent fuel, as well as fodder fo camels and goats. Its prickly branches are used for making fences. Many parts of the plants have medicinal uses. Large amount of ber tress are found in Ranthambore and their fruit is a favourite of sloth bears.

Dhok / Anogeissus pendula
A small to large tree, often with dropping branches, carpets nearly all of Ranthambore.
Leaves: They are alternate and broadly elliptic. Leaves turn red before falling.The species may be distinguished at once by oits small leaves.
Flowers: They are found in dense clusters.