National park · India

Ranthambhore National Park

Go only with a booked safari: online booking opens 90 days ahead, zones 1–5 hold most tigers, and the park shuts entirely in July–September. Two safaris (dawn plus afternoon) in one day beat two days of one each.

Not field-verifiedSpecial national siteSome areas permit-onlyChecked Sep 2026

Map to the park

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Directions

From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Area

275 km²106 sq mi

approximate

Established

1955

Best months

Feb–Apr, Nov–Dec

UNESCO

None

Rules in force · 6

South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

At a glance

Country: India
Area: 275 km²106 sq mi; Core reserve about 275 km²; the wider tiger reserve including buffer areas is larger (check).
Established: 1955
Best months: Feb–Apr, Nov–Dec
Permits: For some areas

Ranthambhore is a 275 km² tiger reserve in Sawai Madhopur district, Rajasthan, wrapped around a hilltop fort. You cannot walk in: every visitor enters in a forest-department vehicle with an allotted guide, on a fixed morning or afternoon slot, into one of ten zones. Tigers concentrate in zones 1–5, so the booking, not the walking, decides your day. The park closes for the monsoon from July to September.

Decide

Why go, which months, and what lives here when

At a glance

Status

Special national siteDeclared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955; brought into Project Tiger in 1973.

Size and age

275 km²106 sq mi · national park since 1955

Core reserve about 275 km²; the wider tiger reserve including buffer areas is larger (check).

Why go

One of the most reliable places in India to see a wild tiger, because the reserve is small and the waterholes concentrate animals in the dry months.
The tenth-century Ranthambhore Fort sits inside the reserve and is a UNESCO World Heritage site in its own right.
Leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, sambar, chital, nilgai and marsh crocodile all live here, plus over 270 bird species.
Safari slots are short and fixed, so a single well-booked morning can be enough.

When to go

12-month verdict

JanGo
FebBest
MarBest
AprBest
MayCaution
JunCaution
JulAvoid
AugAvoid
SepAvoid
OctGo
NovBest
DecBest

JanCold dawns, clear light, good sightings
FebDry, mild, waterholes shrinking
MarHot by noon, best tiger odds
AprVery hot, animals at water
May40°C+; afternoon slots brutal104°F+; afternoon slots brutal
JunPre-monsoon heat; park closes end of month
JulClosed for monsoon
AugClosed for monsoon
SepClosed; reopens around 1 October (check)
OctReopens; green, thick cover
NovCool, dry, cover thinning
DecCold mornings, strong sightings

Wildlife and nature calendar

Seasons shift by weeks each year

Wildlife and nature calendar for Ranthambhore National Park
What	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bengal tigerOct–Jun · Numbers have risen from about 25 to around 60 since the 1970s, but poaching keeps the population fragile.	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no	no	yes	yes	yes
Leopard and sloth bearOct–Jun · Mostly in the rocky fringe zones such as Kachida and Lakarda.	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no	no	yes	yes	yes
Marsh crocodileOct–Apr · Basking at the lakes in the core zones.	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no	no	no	no	yes	yes	yes
Winter migrants and resident birdsNov–Mar · Over 270 species recorded; the lakes are the best place to look.	yes	yes	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	yes	yes

Arrive & move

Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are

How to get there

From Sawai Madhopur

The town sits at the reserve gate; hotels are 5–15 min from the entry points by car.

10–20 min

From Jaipur

Train or road to Sawai Madhopur, then a hotel transfer.

2.5–4 h

Open the page →

From Delhi

Overnight or daytime train to Sawai Madhopur; driving takes most of a day.

4–6 h by train

Open the page →

From Agra

Train via Sawai Madhopur, or road through Bharatpur and Dausa.

4–6 h

Open the page →

From Bharatpur Division

Region guide for Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur and eastern Rajasthan.

Zones and sectors

Zones of Ranthambhore National Park
Zone	What is there	Access
Zones 1–5 (core)	Lakes, the fort plateau and most of the resident tigers.	Safari only; the most requested zones and the first to sell out.
Zone 6	A few tigers, thinner wildlife, quieter drives.	Safari only; easier to book late.
Zones 7–10 (buffer and Balas)	Buffer forest, temples at Balas, fewer sightings.	Safari only; sometimes open when the core is full.

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation

Coordinates are approximate, taken from the reserve centre and the fort, for orientation only.

1Sawai Madhopur · Town≈26.023, 76.345Railhead and main base, about 13 km from the fort.Railhead and main base, about 8.1 mi from the fort.Map ↗
2Ranthambhore Fort · Viewpoint≈26.017, 76.503Hilltop fort inside the reserve; approximate.Map ↗
3Padam Talao / Jogi Mahal · Viewpoint≈26.010, 76.490Core lake area, approximate.Map ↗
4Zone 1–5 entry gate · Gate≈26.030, 76.470Approximate; exact gate depends on the zone allotted.Map ↗
5Kachida Valley · Trail≈26.050, 76.430Fringe valley for leopard and bear, approximate.Map ↗
6Lakarda Anantpura · Trail≈26.070, 76.400North-west sector, approximate.Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

WildlifeEasy3–4 hDawn safari (Gypsy)Six seats, open top, cold before sunrise in winter; the best light and the best odds.Booking: Online, 90 days ahead

WildlifeEasy3–4 hAfternoon safari (Canter)Twenty seats and cheaper per person; slower to stop and manoeuvre than a Gypsy.Booking: Online, 90 days ahead

CultureModerate1–2 hRanthambhore Fort walkSteep path up to the tenth-century fort, temples and stepwells inside the reserve; a UNESCO World Heritage site.

ViewpointsEasyPart of a safariPadam Talao and Jogi Mahal areaThe big lake and the old hunting lodge are the classic zone 3 stop; tigers are often found near the water.

WildlifeEasyPart of a safariKachida ValleyRocky low hills on the edge of the reserve, known for leopard and sloth bear rather than tigers.

WildlifeEasyPart of a safariLakarda AnantpuraNorth-west sector with termite mounds that draw sloth bears; hyena tracks are common.

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

INR ranges · check

Fees for Ranthambhore National Park
Item	Range	Per	Note
Safari seat, Indian national rate (Gypsy or Canter)	INR 500–600	person	2026 estimate; forest-department fixed rate, varies by vehicle and slot (check).
Safari seat, foreign visitor rate	INR 1,500–2,500 (≈ US$18–30)	person	2026 estimate; foreign rates are set higher and change by season (check).
Whole Gypsy charter (up to 6 seats)	INR 6,000–12,000 (≈ US$70–140)	vehicle	2026 estimate; what most hotels quote when they book for you (check).
Video camera charge	INR 200–600	camera	2026 estimate; still cameras are not charged (check).
Ranthambhore Fort entry	INR 0–200	person	2026 estimate; the fort is inside the reserve and reached on a safari or by road (check).

Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.

Safari permit (all visitors) permit or guide

Book online through the Rajasthan forest department portal, 90 days ahead; bring the passport used at booking. Hotel and agent bookings cost more and give no zone advantage.

Zone allotment permit or guide

Allotted by the forest department on the day, by rota. You can request zones 1–5 but cannot buy them.

Guide and vehicle permit or guide

Assigned with the permit; no private vehicle or unaccompanied walking inside the reserve.

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more

No walking in the reserve: Entry is by safari vehicle with an allotted guide only; the fort road is the one exception.
Passport at booking and on the day: Foreign visitors must show the passport used for the permit; Indian nationals show a government photo ID.
Stay in the vehicle: No getting out except at designated stops; keep voices low near sightings.
No plastic or litter: Carry everything out; the reserve is a plastic-free zone (check).
Drones: Not permitted without forest-department permission (check).check

Where to stay

Near the park

Sawai Madhopur town

Guesthouses and budget hotels close to the railway station and the gates.

Near the park

Resorts on the park road

Mid-range and premium wildlife lodges 5–15 min from the entry points; many arrange safari bookings at a markup.

Safety

Cold dawn drives in winter medium

Open vehicles at 6:00 in December and January are near freezing; bring gloves, a hat and a blanket.

Heat in April–June high

Take the dawn slot, carry two litres of water per person and a hat; afternoons exceed 40°C.

Touts selling 'guaranteed' zones or sightings medium

Zones are allotted by rota and nobody can promise a tiger; book on the government portal and ignore lookalike sites.

Dust and rough tracks low

Bring a scarf or mask and secure cameras; the buffer tracks are bumpy.

Accessibility

Safari vehicles are open-top 4x4s with a high step up; travellers with limited mobility should ask the lodge to request a front seat and assistance.
The fort path is steep and uneven; the lower viewpoints near the road are easier.
No wheelchair-accessible trails exist inside the reserve.

Visiting lightly

Book the shared Canter rather than a private Gypsy when you can: fewer vehicles per tiger sighting.
Never pressure a guide to off-road or block an animal for a photo; it is a fineable offence.
Stay outside the reserve and buy locally in Sawai Madhopur so the town keeps the tourism income.
Carry a refillable bottle; single-use plastic is discouraged across the reserve.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Ranthambhore National Park?

You do not buy a park entry ticket; you buy a safari seat. Forest-department rates are around ₹500–600 per person for Indian nationals and roughly ₹1,500–2,500 for foreign visitors, with a whole Gypsy charter at about ₹6,000–12,000. Rates are fixed by the department and change by season, so treat these as 2026 estimates and confirm on the official portal.

What are the best hikes in Ranthambhore National Park?

There are no hiking trails: walking inside the reserve is not allowed, and all wildlife viewing is by safari vehicle. The only real walk is the steep path up to Ranthambhore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which takes one to two hours and can be done around a safari or by road.

When is the best time to visit Ranthambhore National Park?

November to April. February to April is the strongest window because the forest thins and animals gather at the remaining water. The park is closed to visitors from July to September for the monsoon and reopens around 1 October.

How do I book a safari?

Online booking opens 90 days in advance on the Rajasthan forest department portal. Bring the passport you booked with. Hotels and agents can book for you but charge more and cannot influence which zone you get — zones are allotted by rota on the day.

Which zones are best for tigers?

Zones 1–5 hold most of the resident tigers and the main lakes, and they sell out first. Zone 6 has a few tigers and thinner wildlife; zones 7–10 are buffer forest with fewer sightings but are easier to book late.

Can I see a tiger without a safari?

No. The reserve is fenced to vehicles and every visitor enters with an allotted guide. Sightings are never guaranteed, even in the core zones.

Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go