Rajasthan is famous for its splendid forts and palaces. The Ranthambore Fort is historically and architecturally one of the oldest and strongest forts constructed mainly for defense. The fort proudly sits at the edge of a hill within the Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur district. The whole area is surrounded by the Aravallis and Vindhyan and the vast expanse of the Park.
The beautiful Ranthambore Fort gets its name from the two hills on which it sits; Rann and Thambor hills. The Fort was constructed on the Thambor hill which is around 1580 ft above sea level with the Rann hill lying adjacent. From the top of the fort, one can get a panoramic view of the whole park.
The walk up to the fort is invigorating and exciting at the same time. The refreshing mountain air combines with the possibilities of sighting a wild cat or two en route and keeps the adrenaline pumping. The tabletop of the Rann hill lends a magnificent view of the entire park. It was given the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and as a Hill Forest Series by Rajasthan tourism.
Stretching out over an area of 4 sq km, the fort has a Western front and an Eastern Phase. Temples and stambhas like the Trinetra Ganesha temple, Badal Mahal, Phansi Ghar, Dhula Mahal, and Hameer’s Court populate the Western section while the ruins of the Eastern side attract wild animals which can be spotted prowling among the ruins. Huge birds like Eagles and vultures circle the area.
History of Ranthambore Fort:
The fort is documented to have been built in the 8th Century by an unknown ruler belonging to the Chauhan clan. It is also reported to have been built by Sapaldaksha in the 10th Century. However, the fort attained significance when it was taken over by the then Delhi Maharaja, Prithviraj Chauhan and later when his descendants made it their capital.
It was under Raja Hammir Dev Chauhan that the Ranthambore Fort became famous after his coronation in the late 12th Century. The Ranthambore National Park houses plenty of diverse flora and fauna and was a famous hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur.
The architecture, construction, and location of the fort make it highly invincible. The fort has withstood many an attack and deflected foreign capture. Foreign invaders set their sights on this fort as it had been a major stepping stone to reach Central India for invaders approaching from the West and North.
Qutub-Ud-din Aibak, Allauddin Khilji and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat were among those who repeatedly attempted to capture the fort. It was finally seized by the Mughals who used it as a stopover residence initially and later converted it into a prison fortress. Later in the 19th Century, it came back into the hands of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
The Ranthambore Fort attracts both tourists as well as historians. Well prepared tourists with powerful binoculars and cameras get a wonderful view of the surrounding park. Water bodies are well visited by wild animals which can be spotted coming for a drink during the hot day time. The architecture and history of the Ranthambore Fort itself are well worth exploring and form a wonderful backdrop for photography.
The fort is approached only during the park timings. It is open to visitors in the months between October and June as the rest of the year sees plenty of rain. Choose one of our Ranthambore Tour Packages include trips to Ranthambore National Park, the Ranthambore Fort, and surrounding areas. Choose a package that suits your requirement and we will give you an experience you will never forget.
The Ranthambore National Park has two safari timings – one in the morning from 7:00 A.M to 10.30 A.M and from 6:30 A.M to 10:00 A.M depending on the month and one in the afternoon from 2:00 P.M to 6.30 P.M which includes a trip to the Fort.
Want to know more about Ranthambore read our Ranthambore Travel Guide.
Ranthambore Fort Timings:
6:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M
Ranthambore Fort Entry Fees:
INR 15 for adults and INR 10 for children for Indian Tourist.
