Visit the famous Historical Ranthambore Fort located in Ranthambore National Park.

Ranthambore is famous for its wildlife sanctuaries in all over world .There are many reasons for wildlife lover to visit Ranthambore again and again. It has many attractions like history, geography, rich flora and fauna which draw attention thousands of people during travel to Ranthambhore. Actually the name of Ranthambhore gets from its historical fort, placed within the edge of the park. There are two hills Rann and Thambhore which are in close approximately of each other. Ranthambhore Fort located on an isolated hill , that is known as Thambhore hill, Thambhore name come from Hindi word " Istambh" which means pillar , that is why this Fort known as also Pillars of war in history. Other hill is Rann which is adjoining of the Thambhore hill. The Fort covers breathtaking view of the Ranthambore wildlife park. Now Ranthambore Fort is a part of the UNESCO's World heritage Site under hill forest series of Rajasthan that is why I decided to visit Ranthambore Fort during our Ranthambore Tour…… let's start a historical journey of Ranthambore Fort.

The History of the Ranthambore surrounding terrain is connected to the Fort, the area of the Ranthambore surrounded by famous mountain chain Vindhyas and Aravallis which is amidst huge and dry denuded regions of Rajasthan. Ranthambore Fort placed at southeastern part of Rajasthan and around fourteen kilo meters away from sawai Madhopur Junction. One can hire a private jeep or cab for fort visit and if you required a guide the can find at the entrance of the fort or you can ask at Rajasthan Tourism Office at railway station. If you have your own vehicle, you can take it up to fort parking.

I started my trip to Ranthambore fort with our guide Naresh by open top roof four wheel drive Maruti gypsy. We reached at main gate of the Ranthambore National Park. Our guide told us that same road lead to Ranthambore Fort. The main gate of the park is located at Sherpur Tiraha , it is a Tri-junction and known as also Ganesh Dhaam , a little further our jeep passed another gate , which is known as Mishardarah gate. It is believed that this is first gate of the park it seems very attractive due to its scenic view, on our left hand there were spring water canal and some water filler with gargoyle. 

We reached at the first ascent of the area, our guide show us outline of the Ranthambore Fort with heavy boundary wall and turret. In the meantime we spotted many wild animals such as Sambhar Deer, spotted deer, mangoes, black faced langur and many beautiful birds. The fort area surrounded by Aravali mountain cliff so if anyone has good luck during fort drive, can have a chance to see leopard and Tiger on the way.

Ranthambore is also known for its Ganesh Temple in all over India, Ganesh Temple is located inside the fort. It believed that it is very old temple which attracts a lot of pilgrims and tourists. A large number of people come here from the different part of the country for seek blessings from the Lord Ganesha for their happiness and prosperity. I saw many devotees on the path during our fort drive, many of them were on foot and some of them by their own vehicles. As per our guide Tiger might be sighted several times on the way to Ranthambore Fort, Whereas other herbivores animals are common sight on the way. A good worship day for lord Ganesha is Wednesday. On this day a much volume of devotee visit Ganesh temple. It is an interesting aspect, the first wedding invitation is sent to Lord Ganesha by mail and all letters are delivered everyday by the local postman.

We just passed Atal sagar and crossing the first climb we reached at a proper park entrance gate that is known as Singhdwar or Portal, there is a beautifully decorated forest check post on the right side at Singhdwar , there are few safari zones which starts from the singhdwar and allocated safari vehicles from the Forest department goes on their respective areas and other Ranthambore National Park safari zone start from Jogi Mahal gate. Now there was another and last third ascent and then we reached at Ranthambore Fort.

I got down from jeep and saw a very huge and old Banyan tree opposite the park and fort gate. It seems that huge tree stands for greets of every devotees and traveler at the main gate. It is believed that Banyan tree is around five hundred year old. There is a big gate in front of the Fort, which is for jungle safari purpose and leads also Jogi Mahal. This gate is also known by the name of Jogi Mahal gate. Jogi Mahal comes in the list of tourist attraction of Ranthambore. It was the very first tourist lodge in Ranthambore National Park but now a days it is use for only forest department and favorite haunt for VIPs/Ministers to organize evening parties (preferably to celebrate whenever a Tigress gives birth to Cubs) and tourist or visitors not allow but you can have chance to visit after special permission from the Department of Forest. The adjoining Padam Lake of the Jogi Mahal pulls attention to all sightseers. There is another banyan tree near the Jogi Mahal and it is said that is second largest banyan tree in India. After parking our jeep under the banyan tree we start our tour to 5th century fort visit with our guide Naresh , who belonged nearby village name sherpur. The ranthambore Fort lies on aloof Thmabhore hill and 700 feet above the surrounding plain and 1578 feet from sea level. It is believed also second largest hill fort in Rajasthan. The fort is extending over an area about seven kilo meters in length and includes an area of nearly four square kilometers. I saw scenic and breathtaking view of the Ranthambore National park from the fort really it was the worth visit. There are approx 200 steps climb.

The Ranthambore fort is bounded by enormous stonewall which become strong by bastions and turret. The entire stone for masonry work has been mined from fort area itself and later mining sector were changed into water tank or pond for storage of spring water. There are many ruins inside the fort and relics of the walls are silent evidence of the past. Inside the ruins of the fort such as Dullah Mahal , Badhal Mahal ,Rani water pond , some graveyard , mausoleum , phansi ghar , hammir court etc, there are also several sanctum inside the fort which belong to many community like Hindu , Muslims , Jain etc. During our visit to Ranthambore Fort we observed many big gate with splendid example of architecture, cenotaphs, peep hole and 32 pillars cenotaph which is major attraction of the Ranthambhore Fort. There are proper path to Ganesha temple and generally guests see the western part of the fort, very few visitors goes to eastern part of the fort because there is nothing any other interesting site. Over all I enjoyed much in our Ranthambhore fort trip and I recommend this place to all visitors.