Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park is a national park in Rajasthan, India, with an area of 1,334 km2 (515 sq mi). It is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. It is named after the historic Ranthambore Fort, which lies within the park.
History
Ranthambore National Park was established as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955, initially covering an area of 282 km2 (109 sq mi). It was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973 and became a national park on 1 November 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary. In 1992, the Tiger Reserve was expanded to include the adjoining Keladevi Sanctuary in the north and Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary to the south along with other forests.[citation needed]
Features
A panoramic view of Ranthambore National Park from Ranthambhore Fort
Padam Talao
Ranthambore Fort
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Ranthambore National Park harbours dry deciduous forests and open grassy meadow. The flora of the park includes 539 species of flowering plants.
Ranthambore Fort was built in the 10th century at 210 m (700 ft) above the surrounding plain. Inside the fort are three red Karauli stone temples devoted to Ganesh, Shiva and Ramlalaji. There is a Digamber Jain temple of Lord Sumatinath and Lord Sambhavanath. The temples were constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Padam Talao is the largest of the many lakes in the park. A red sandstone Jogi Mahal is at the edge of the lake. A gigantic Banyan tree, considered to be India’s second largest, is also near the lake.
Aravali Range inside Ranthambore National Park
The national park covers a total area of 392 km2, including buffer zone. The core area is about 275 km2. The tiger reserve area was about 334 km2. Today, it covers an area of 1334 km2. The elevation is about 215 to 505 meters above mean sea level. The land features dense tropical dry forest, open bushland and rocky terrain interspersed with lakes and streams. Ecoregion includes Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests.[1]
Wildlife
Ranthambore National Park hosts deciduous forests and wildlife such as Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian elephant, Wild water buffalo, Gaur, nilgai, Barasingha, Black buck, Chinkara, Chousingha, wild boar, sambar, Indian muntjac, Indian hog deer, Spotted deer, striped hyena, Dhole, Indian wolf, Bengal fox, Desert fox, Golden Jackal, Caracal, Jungle cat, Rusty spotted cat, Leopard cat, Asian palm civet, Indian grey mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Long-eared hedgehog, Northern palm squirrel, Indian Porcupine, Indian Hare, Lesser bandicoot rat, Honey badger, Indian Flying Fox, Greater false vampire bat, Indian gerbil, Indian pangolin, sloth bear, southern plains gray langur, rhesus macaque, mugger crocodile.[2][3] The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles, as well as one of the largest banyan trees in India.