Well known in the world for its tigers, Ranthambore National Park near Sawai Madhopur has, by one estimate, a tiger population of 22. In addition to tigers, the park is also home to panthers. You can view these animals in the Kachida Valley. Apart from these, the park has its share of Chital, Nilgai, hyenas, marsh crocodiles, jungle cats and sloth bears and Chinkara. A good number of birds can also be sighted here. These include quails, black storks, painted storks, spur fowls, Bonelli's eagles and crested serpent eagles. The Ranthambore National Park is the natural habitat of migratory birds during the winter season. The best time of visit Ranthambore National Park near Sawai Madhopur, is between October and April. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to view game. It is the ideal park for wildlife photography. Formerly the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Sawai Madhopur, the park has a good network of four tracks crisscrossing the park and safaris can be undertaken in open-sided jeeps driven by a ranger.

Jogi Mahal

Located at the foot of the Ranthambore Fort, the lovely forest rest house Jogi Mahal gives magnificent view of the Padam Talao. It boasts of the second largest Banyan tree in India. You can see tigers roaming around in daylight itself.

Lakes

The Raj Bagh Talab, the Padam Talab and the Milak Talab are some of the beautiful lakes in the area that attract tiger population. You can track the tigers at the edges of these lakes. Ruined ramparts, pavilions, crumbling walls, and wells bear testimony to the region's past glory. Tigers can be spotted roaming around in the sunny surroundings, or vigorously hunting down Sambar around the lakes. Even if you do not get an opportunity to see a tiger, it is worth visiting Sawai Madhopur for its scenic grandeur alone.

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