Located about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Sawai Madhopur, the Ranthambhore National Park was once the private hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur. At present, the national park is a part of Project Tiger and is one of the few places in the world, where over 300 species of birds and wildlife such as tigers, leopards, nilgai, black buck and Indian black boar graze with gay abandon.

History

The history of the national park has three distinct parts: the rule of the Chauhans, Mughal rule and the establishment of the National Park in by the independent government of India.

The oldest settlement of Ranthambhore dates back to the 10th century, when the Chuhan kings are believed to have started the construction of the Ranthambhore fort. Lying at the convergence of the Aravalli and Vindhya hills, Ranthambhore is ideally placed on the old trade routes between Delhi, Rajasthan, and the Deccan region further south, because of which it was also a target of frequent attacks. However, the fortification and the bravery of the Chauhans was able to repel most attacks. It was only in the last 13th century that Ala-ud-din Khilji managed to defeat Rao Hammir and capture the fort.

Local history says Rao Hammir’s generals betrayed their king but the army fought to the last man. The women of the household then committed ‘jauhar’ rather than face abuse at the hands of Khilji’s army.

Since the 13th century, many different rulers controlled the fort. The fort changed hands after numerous attacks. In the mid-16th century the greatest Mughal emperor, Akbar captured the fort and it remained under Mughal control till 1765.

The Rajput king of Amer at the time Sawai Madho Singh I was a trusted ally of the Mughals. He requested the Mughals for control of the Ranthambhore Fort in 1763 as protection for his capital Amer and Jaipur against the Marathas. However, his request was declined.

Sawai Madho Singh I then proceeded to fortify the neighboring village of Sherpur and named it Sawai Madhopur. In 1765, the Mughals handed over the control of Ranthambhore to him. Over the years, the kings of Jaipur used the fort as a private hunting ground, with uncharacteristic disregard for the forest or its animals.

The railhead at Sawai Madhopur was built by the British, thus improving the town’s connectivity. The resulting population increase had an adverse affect on the forest. Combined with the king’s indiscriminate use of royal permits, it led to rampant deforestation.

Measures to protect the forest were not initiated till a few years after India’s independence. The Rajasthan Forest Act of 1953 extended some protection, in 1955 the area was declared a sanctuary, and the practice of royal permits abolished. Then the Archeological Survey of India took control of historic Ranthambhore Fort. When Project Tiger was launched in1973, the park was included in its initial plans.

In 1980, Ranthambhore was declared a National Park. Since then several nature enthusiasts, local residents, and hospitality groups have helped in the park’s conservation and development.

Getting Around

Within Sawai Madhopur, commuting is easy and is mainly through auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws. Bicycles can also be hired for a nominal cost of 30 INR. Taxis are few and generally un-metered. Hotels generally provide transfers to and from the airport, bus stop, railway station and the Ranthambhore National Park. Within the National Park, the only means of transport are jeeps and canters, which can be hired at the Forest Department office.

Tourist Traps in the City

You will find lots of un-metered taxis in Sawai Madhopur. If you intend taking one to the National Park, it is advisable to negotiate the fare beforehand. Instead you could avail a rental car provided by your hotel of stay.

Tourists can do better by avoiding moving around after dark.

Local Custom

As in other Indian destinations, tourists visiting Sawai Madhopur are expected to respect the local customs, which include dress restrictions. While visiting the National Park, visitors are strongly recommended to wear clothing of neutral or earthen colors, which will blend with the park's foilage. In summer, the weather is dry and rather dusty, so wear clothing that will cover you fully and protect you from the flying dust and mosquitoes.

The park is also dotted with religious shrines, which are still visited by local villagers; visitors planning to visit these shrines are expected to wear clothing that cover their upper arms and legs – this is especially applicable for women. Footwear is to be taken off outside before entering places of worship. Do not try to feed the animals in the park. Do not get down from your vehicle during the safari.

Shopping

You can shop for local products and handicrafts; some of the most popular souvenirs are the Lahariya, Bandhini and block-printed textiles, silver jewelry and metal handicrafts. You can also stop by at the Ranthambhore School of Art and pick up a tiger painting or two portraying the Great Indian Tiger against the backdrop of the dense foliage of the National Park.

Communications

Inspite of being a rather small town, Sawai Madhopur is well connected with the rest of India and the world through a comprehensive network of GSM cell phones and fixed phone lines. Apart from being well covered by the fixed-line phones and cell phone (CellOne) services of BSNL, the city is serviced by cell phone service providers such as Vodafone and Reliance.

Internet Access: Internet can be accessed at most hotels (with the exception of budget hotels). Visitors can also opt to surf the net and stay connected with the outside world by visiting the cybercafés dotting the town’s market. Although speed is not great at the cybercafés (most have dial up connections), but the rates are nominal.