Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is one of the popular Project Tiger Reserves. It is situated at Sawai Madhopur District in the state of Rajasthan. Through out the world Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is acknowledged as the finest tiger reserves. Conservation efforts are being initiated for the protection of this animal from the hands of hunters. Thus, the sight of this shy animal roaming about peacefully around the park premises is not something unusual. Sometimes they just walk leisurely round the dense forest tracts. The dry deciduous habitat of the reserve makes it much easier to find and observe tigers in their natural wild habitat.

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 National Park is a part of the much larger Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. This Project tiger reserve spans over an area of around 1334 sq kms. To its extreme north-east lies the Kela Devi Sanctuary, south-west of which lies the Ranthambore National Park. It stretches to the eastern borders of the Aravalli Mountain Range and it ends where the Vindhya Range starts. 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. Also semi evergreen vegetation can be found in quite 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, Ranthambore 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, flocks of Nilgai or Blue Bull, Chinkara or Indian Gazelle, Sambar, Spotted Deer and troops of langur monkeys are not something unusual to be seen. Leopard and Sloth Bear are also found. 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), Langur, Wild Boar, Pangolin, Mongoose, etc.

Apart from animals Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is also an ideal home to various species of birds. Crowds of treepies, babblers, woodpeckers, parakeets, lapwings, partridges and Peafowl are some of the species found here. Along the side of water bodies, one can hear the tweeting of birds like Painted Stork, Asian Openhill, Darter, Black-headed Ibis, Stork, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, White-browed Wagtail, Great Thick-knee, etc. In Ranthambore Tiger Reserve some species belonging to the group of hunting birds can also be found. These are mainly 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.

Ranthambore Tiger Reserve offers much more to the tourists. Within the reserve several places like Bakaula, Lakarda, Nal Ghati, Senili, Anantpura and Kachidaare attract tourists. 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 favourite tourist spots. At the edge of Padam Talao stands the charming red sandstone Jogi Mahal.

All the tiger safaris in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve are conducted inside the Ranthambore National Park. The park is open to tourists during the months of October till June, and it receives more than 100,000 wildlife enthusiasts every year from far and wide.