India: Tigers of Kanha: Jan 17—23, 2010

Ranthambore National Park is one of the finest reserves in India. The park covers an area of nearly 400 square kilometers and is set between the Aravali and Vindhya ranges and the outer fringes of the Thar Desert in eastern Rajasthan. Ranthambore offers the best of the desert land, as well as the plains and hills. It is justifiably most famous for its tigers, and is certainly one of the best places in the world to see these magnificent predators. Its dry, deciduous forests were once a part of the extensive and magnificent jungles of Central India, and tigers can be relatively easily spotted in these open forests during the day; this remarkable park offers perfect conditions for tigers and their prey.

The undulating and rugged terrain with numerous rocky ridges, hills, and open valleys scattered with lakes and pools is home to a host of other mammals including leopard, chital, sambar, blackbuck, chinkara, sloth bear, hyena, golden-backed jackal, wild boar, nilgai, and Indian hare. The whole area was once the favorite hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur. There are over 300 bird species, and we have a good chance of finding Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon, the scarce Painted Spurfowl, Indian Courser, Painted Sandgrouse, Sirkeer Malkoha, and White-naped Woodpecker.

Ranthambore National Park is also a heritage site, and some important and beautiful ruins are dotted all around the park. The 10th century Ranthambore Fort, from which the park derives its name, is probably the oldest existing fort in Rajasthan. There are many lake palaces and "chhatris" overlooking the park. Two rivers, the Chambal and the Banas flowing in the south and the north of the park respectively, and six artificial lakes add to the beauty of the park.