Ranthambore National Park is a Project Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. The landscape is a dry-deciduous forest system at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya hill ranges, broken by lakes, ravines, and the ruins of Ranthambore Fort — a 10th-century fort within the core zone. The park is named after this fort.
• Open Season: October 1 to June 30 — all 10 zones operational
• Monsoon Season: July 1 to September 30 — Zones 1–5 (core) closed. Zones 6–10 (Kundal, Chidikho, Balas, Kuwalji, Aantri) remain open for safari.
• Weekly Closures: Zones 1–5 closed every Wednesday. Zones 6–10 closed every Tuesday.
Wildlife
Ranthambore is primarily a Bengal tiger reserve — the tiger population is estimated at 70–80 individuals across the reserve. Beyond tigers, the park supports a significant leopard population, sloth bears, striped hyenas, jackals, caracals, and Indian wolves. Ungulates — spotted deer (chital), sambar, nilgai, and wild boar — are present in large numbers throughout the park. The Ranthambore Fort ruins within Zone 3 are one of the few places in India where you can observe tigers moving through historic structures.
Safari Zones
Ranthambore is divided into 10 safari zones. Zones 1–5 form the core zone — original protected forest with denser vegetation and historically higher tiger density. Zones 6–10 are buffer zones — added later, less crowded, with open grassland terrain. You can select a preferred zone at the time of booking.
Zone 1: Core
Entry via Singh Dwar gate. Mix of dense forest and open areas. Tigers move between Zone 1 and Zone 6.
Zone 2: Core
Multiple water holes including Nal Ghati and Phuta Kot. Consistent leopard and tiger activity around the lakes. One of the most active zones in the park.
Zone 3: Core
Contains Padam Talao, Raj Bagh, and Jogi Mahal — the most photographed locations in the park. Ranthambore Fort ruins are in this zone and historically the highest tiger sighting zone in the park.
Zone 4: Core
Hilly terrain and dense forest. Known for tiger cubs and dominant male sightings.
Zone 5: Core
Shares movement corridors with Zone 4 and Zone 6. Mix of open and forested terrain.
Zone 6 — Kundal: Buffer
Open grasslands with Aravalli hills backdrop. Shares boundary with Zone 1 — tigers cross between both. Known for Red Headed Vulture sightings and Indian gazelle.
Zone 7 — Chidikho: Buffer
Jeep-only zone — canters not permitted. Rugged terrain. Leopard and sloth bear sightings alongside tigers.
Zone 8 — Balas: Buffer
Jeep-only zone. Scenic hilly topography. Tiger and large mammal sightings.
Zone 9 — Kuwalji: Buffer
Located on Chakal Riverbank. Known for sloth bears, caracals, and aquatic birds.
Zone 10 — Aantri: Buffer
Hilly tracks, deciduous forest, scenic water bodies with growing tiger sighting.
Safari and Permits
Safari Timings
The park opens 30 minutes after sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset. Each safari session is approximately 3–3.5 hours. Arrive at the gate at least 45 minutes before your scheduled entry time.
Oct 1–31
6:30 AM – 10:00 AM
2:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Nov 1–Jan 31
7:00 AM – 10:30 AM
2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Feb 1–Mar 31
6:30 AM – 10:00 AM
2:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Apr 1–May 15
6:00 AM – 9:30 AM
3:00 PM – 6:30 PM
May 15–Jun 30
6:00 AM – 9:30 AM
3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Safari Types
Two vehicle types operate in Ranthambore: Gypsies (jeeps) and Canters. Both are government-managed and the only vehicles permitted inside the park on safari.
Gypsy (Jeep): A 6-seat vehicle (including guide and driver) with private and shared booking available. It is more maneuverable in narrow tracks and permitted in all 10 zones.
Canter: A 20-seat open vehicle with shared booking only. It is not permitted in Zones 7 and 8 and more economical per seat.
A trained naturalist guide accompanies every safari — mandatory and is already included in the permit fee.
Permit Booking
All safari permits are booked through the official Rajasthan Forest Department booking portal. There is no official alternative — all other websites are private agents or unauthorized.
• Official Booking Portal: booking.forestrajasthan.com
• Portal Hours: 1:30 AM to 11:30 PM IST daily
• Advance Booking: Up to 90 days in advance
• Tatkal (Emergency) Booking: Opens 7 days before visit date at 11:00 AM IST. Full gypsy reservations only and comes with premium rates.
• Premium Tatkal (Extra Emergency) Booking: Opens 3 days before at 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM IST. For shared reservations and with premium rates.
• Current Day (Morning): Book at least one day prior.
• Current Day (Afternoon): Same-day booking allowed after 10:00 AM IST.
OTP Delivery: OTPs sent via WhatsApp through the official Ranthambore Tiger Conservation Foundation account. Confirmed tickets delivered via WhatsApp.
OTPs are currently limited to Indian mobile numbers (+91) via SMS. International travelers may face OTP delivery issues — contact the reserve at +91 9461412641 or booking@forestrajasthan.com if this occurs.
Foreign National ID: Passport only — no alternative ID accepted for foreign nationals. You need to upload a clear scanned copy at booking and carry the original at the gate.
You also need to collect your boarding pass at the safari booking counter at least 45 minutes before scheduled entry time.
Entry Fees
Fees below are per person per safari as of current season (vehicle and guide fee included)
• Gypsy Safari: ₹3,050 per person per safari
• Canter Safari: ₹2,422 per person per safari
Cancellation Policy
• 75% refund, if you cancel 30+ days before visit
• 50% refund, if you cancel 3–30 days before visit
• No refund, if you cancel within 3 days of visit
• Tatkal bookings are Non-refundable and non-transferable
There is no refund if park access affected by rain, weather, or natural events. Monsoon season bookings are provisional.
Getting There
Sawai Madhopur is the access town for Ranthambore — the park gate is approximately 10 km from the railway station. Whether arriving or departing, use the station codes and transport info below.
Ranthambore Access Town — Sawai Madhopur
Rail Stations: Sawai Madhopur Junction (SWM)
Airport: No airport in Sawai Madhopur. Nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport (JAI)
Bus Terminals: Sawai Madhopur Bus Stand
Travel to Sawai Madhopur (SWM) by train and hire a taxi to the park gate. If flying, Jaipur International Airport (JAI) at approximately 160 km — travel onward to Sawai Madhopur by train or taxi. Buses from other cities also connect to Sawai Madhopur.
India Manual is produced by Intodia. All content follows a continuous review cycle and is free from commercial influence, ads, or any affiliate arrangements. All fees and charges listed on this page are applicable to foreign nationals only.
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