Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park is a national park in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It covers a total area of. It is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. It is named after the historic Ranthambore Fort, which lies within its boundaries in Sawai Madhopur district.
History
Ranthambore National Park was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955, initially covering an area of. It was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1974. It was declared a national park in 1980.Geography
Ranthambore National Park covers a total area of including the Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary and Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary. The core area spans approximately. It harbours dry deciduous forests and open grassy meadows at an elevation range of about.Ranthambore Fort was built in the 10th century by Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura at above the surrounding plain. Inside the fort are three red-stone temples devoted to Ganesh, Shiva and Ramlalaji. There is a Digamber Jain temple of Sumatinatha and Sambhavanatha. The temples were constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries. Padam Talao is the largest of the many lakes in the park. A red sandstone Jogi Mahal is on the edge of the lake.
Flora
Ranthambore National Park harbours over 300 tree species, including more than 100 of medicinal importance.The land features dense tropical dry forest, open bushland, and rocky terrain, interspersed with lakes and streams. The ecoregion includes the Khathiar-Gir dry [deciduous forests].