The name Ranthambore is an amalgamation of the names of two hills- Ran and Thanbor. As the fort is located within these two hills this massive structure is called Ranthambore Fort. Though the exact origin of the fort is unknown the settlement around it dates back to the 8th century. In the geography of ancient India Ranthambore Fort was strategically located. As a result a lot of wars were fought to conquer the fort. From Ala ud din Khilji to Akbar-the emperors had always strove for capturing the fort. Amidst this the only ruler who had ruled comfortably for a long time was Rao Hammir. He descended the throne in the 11th century.

In the later half of the 19th century the fort was handed over to the ruler of Jaipur, Sawai Madho Singh by the Mughals. It was he who built the city of Sawai Madhopur around the fort. From then on the fort remained with the Rajputs and the adjacent forest area became their favorite hunting ground. This area was later given the status of a national park. Today the Ranthambore National Park is one of the important tourist destinations in Jodhpur.

Ranthambore Fort stands tall on an area of 4.5 sq2. The walls of the fort stretches till 4 kilometers. Within the fort a number of interesting buildings are located. Temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Goddess Chamunda and other gods are to be found. Besides such buildings the fort offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area.