Central India is adapted to the growth of various wild life sanctuaries, reserves and national parks over the years. Among quite a few of these, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is worth to note. It is situated near the crowded city of Sawai Madhopur in the state of Rajasthan. Through out the world Rathambore Tiger Reserve is acknowledged as the finest and also the registered one for watching multitudes of tigers. Conservation efforts are being initiated for the protection of this specie from the hands of hunters. Thus, the sight of this shy specie roaming about peacefully around the park premises is not something unusual. The `great cat` can sometimes be found in a lake to cooling down the sultry heat of summer. Sometimes they just walk leisurely round the dense forest tracts. Now and then, the tigers are found hunting in open daylight hunting deer and other small animals.

Ranthambore, once, was a hub of Maharajas, the imprints of which are scattered in every hook and nook of the Ranthambore Tiger reserve. In fact the forests around were once the private hunting grounds of the Jaipur maharajas. It is sometimes possible to see the tiger strolling up the stairs of the regal ruin of the tenth century Ranthambore Fort, located with in this tiger reserve.

Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is an integral part of Ranthambore National Park, covering 392 sq km of the total area of the park. Also the Kaila Devi Wildlife Sanctuary and other small pockets of forest are incorporated. Thus the total area of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is 1,334.64 sq km. It stretches to the eastern borders of the Aravali Range and it ends where the Vindhya Range starts out. Lakes interconnect arid rocky cliffs and narrow streams, much of which is devoid of water almost through out the year laces the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. There are also tracts of numerous parched tracts of deciduous forests namely dhok, her and ronj. Also semi evergreen vegetation can be found in quite a few valleys and also along the streams with in the park.

To those who want to take a close look to the wilderness of Indian sanctuaries, Rathambore Tiger Reserve is the ideal one to visit. Multitudes of wild animals thrive here. Scenes of Mugger, better known as Marsh Crocodiles, basking in the sun light Also flocks of Nilgai or Blue Bull, Chinkara or Indian Gazelle, Sambar, Spotted Deer and troops of langur monkeys in scatters of the park are not something unusual to be seen. Leopard and Sloth Bear are also found, and also jackals loiter by the side of water bodies. In Ranthambore National Park, other mammals that are commonly seen include Jungle Cat, Striped Hyena, Jackal, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope), Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), Common Langur, Wild Boar, Indian Pangolin, Small Indian Mongoose etc.

Not only animals, Rathambore Tiger Reserve are an ideal place to behold various species of birds. Crowds of treepies, babblers, woodpeckers, parakeets, lapwings, partridges and the Indian Peafowl represent some of them. On the open areas the swarms of birds flying high in the sky mesmerize one. These are namely Indian Peafowl, Grey Francolin and Painted Spurfowl. Lesser Flameback, Rufous Treepie, Asian Paradise-flycatcher, White-bellied Minivet, Marshall`s lora, Indian Pitta, Common Wood shrike, White-bellied Drongo, Barred Buttonquail, Eurasian Thick-knee etc. Along the side of water bodies, one can hear the tweeting of birds like Painted Stork, Asian Openhill, Darter, Black-headed Ibis, Stork-billed Kingfisher and River Tern Ruddy Shelduck, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, White-browed Wagtail, Great Thick-knee etc.

In Rathambore Tiger Reserve there are also some species belonging to the group of hunting birds. These are namely Crested Serpent Eagle, Bonelli`s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Pallas`s Fish Eagle, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Brown Fish Owl and Collared Scops Owl etc.

There is so much to offer to the tourists. Within the reserve several places like Bakaula, Lakarda, Nal Ghati, Senili, Anantpura and Kachidaare always mob with people. They visit there mainly to watch the tigers in the midst of wild retreat. Padam Talao, Raj Bagh and Milak Talao, the beautiful lakes within the reserve, are also favorite tourist spots. At the edge of Padam Talao stands the charming red sandstone Jogi Mahal, and near it is a giant banyan tree, which is proclaimed to be India`s second largest.