Ranthambore Fort is a historical fort located at Sawai Madhopur. The latter is in Rajasthan. The fort is located inside the Ranthambore National Park and is one of the biggest attractions inside the park. The fort was built in the 10th century by the Chauhan royal family of Rajasthan. 

The fort is a very big structure and was mainly built for warding off people who tried to conquer it. The fort changed hands many times and was maintained at all times. The park around the fort used to be the hunting ground for royal families of Rajasthan. Now the grounds are one of the biggest attractions in the park. 

Ranthambore Fort is easily accessible as it is connected to big cities like Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai. 

Did you know?

The fort is a symbol of communal harmony as it houses both a mosque and a temple. Top attractions inside the fort include the Toran Dwar, the Mahadeo Chhatri and the Sametonki Haveli. The Toran Dwar is one of the gates to enter the fort. The ganesh temple inside is another big attraction. An annual fair to celebrate Bhadrapad Sudi Chaturthi is held every year at the fort. 

Along with all of the above, the fort also contains big walls, huge gates, temples and tanks. As mentioned before, the fort has seen many people who tried to conquer it. The most famous conquest attempt was made in 1301 by Alauddin Khilji. 

He apparently fell in love with Rani Padmavati and tried to conquer the fort. When he defeated Ratan Singh, (her husband) and reached the gates of the fort, she chose to immolate herself instead of surrendering to Khilji. 

How big is it?

The fort covers seven square kilometers and this includes an area of approx four kilometers. There were many buildings inside and very few have survived the damages of war and time. The Badal Mahal and the Dullah Mahal give an idea of the grandiosity of the old days. There is also the Hammirs court to see. Other than these, the fort also consists of cenotaphs, step-wells, gates and barracks. 

The fort also contains two big water reservoirs. They depend on rainwater for water supply. The fort is protected by very high walls which are made of stone. These walls are further supported by towers and bastions. All the stones used for making the wall were mined from inside the fort. After the mining was over, the mines were converted into ponds for storage of water. 

Are you a bird watcher? Then the Ranthambore Fort is a very good place for bird watching. Along with various types of birds, there are also small cats, the elusive fishing cat and langurs. 

How to get there?

If you want to visit the fort, you have to reach Ranthambore National Park. It remains open from the month of October to the month of June every year. The park remains closed from July to September. This is due to the monsoon season. 

What is the best time to visit?

The month of November is the best time to visit the fort. The weather is pleasant during this time and everything can be seen comfortably. 

Ways to explore

There are safari tours available for exploring the park and the fort. There are two safaris in a day. One takes place in the morning and another in the afternoon. This schedule is maintained throughout October to June. 

The morning safari starts half an hour after sunrise. The evening safari ends half an hour before sunset. Due to this reason, the timings of safari vary every month.