Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve India

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve India
Sherbagh Ranthambhore tiger reserve India

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve India | When it comes to the conservation of wildlife, one does not instantly think of India. This country indeed got other problems to resolve. The Indian population is still growing uncontrolled, and clashes between wild elephants or tigers and humans are rising. But there are exceptions. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve India leads the way in preserving the last remaining wild living tigers. The National Park of Ranthambhore covers almost 400 sq km. Nearest airport is the one in Jaipur, approx. 160 km northwest of Ranthambhore. From New Delhi in the north it’s a 7-hour-drive to reach this unique wildlife sanctuary. Some years ago Nat Geo Wild produced a touching documentary about a Tiger Dynasty within the borders of this NP. It’s called “Tiger Queen” and it was available on YouTube until recently. But most likely for legal reasons YouTube took down 3 of the 4 video clips. Just Part 1 of 4 is still up.

The NatGeoWild documentary is mostly about Machali (1996 – 2016), a Bengal tigress who lived in Ranthambore National Park. She played a key role in the regeneration of the tiger population in that park in the early 2000s, and was celebrated with titles such as Queen Mother of Tigers, Tigress Queen of Ranthambore, Lady of the Lakes, and Crocodile Killer. She was India’s most famous tigress. By the time she died, Machali was considered the world’s oldest tigress living in the wild.

India reportedly earned about US$10 million per year due to tourists attracted by this tigress alone. Machali won the “Lifetime Achievement Award” of Travel Operators For Tigers due to her contribution to conservation and as a tourist attraction that earned significant income for India.

In 2013, the Indian government issued a commemorative postal cover and stamp to honor tigress Machali for her ecological and economical contributions. Tigress Queen Machali died on August 18, 2016 – aged almost 20 years.

We also found this similar awesome HD video from John Uscian, taken in the Ranthambore NP in 2015:

Worldwide the tiger population has dropped by 96.8% in the last 20 Years. According to the latest estimates, there are about 3,200 tigers left in the wild on our planet. That’s a brutally sharp decline from 100,000 tigers that were estimated to be in the wild in 1990. WWF experts warn that the tiger, which is native to southern and eastern Asia, could soon become extinct soon unless urgent action is taken to prevent hunting and loss of habitat.

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve India
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve India

Where to stay in Ranthambhore

If you wallet allows some bold moves, check in at the SherBagh Hotel. A room for two will be approx. US$1,400 per night. But it’s worth it. How to get to SherBagh?

By plane: Fly to Jaipur from New Delhi or Mumbai and then drive to SherBagh, approx. a 4 h drive. There is also an airfield in Sawai Madhopur at a distance of 14 kilometres and a Helipad 4 kilometres away from SherBagh Resort.

By train: There are regular trains from New Delhi and Mumbai to Sawai Madhopur Railway Station which is just 20 minutes to SherBagh.

By car: you would face these distances from Jaipur: 180 km, Agra: 350 km, New Delhi: 420 km, Jodhpur: 476 km.

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve India Sher Bagh
The 5-star Hotel Sher Bagh in Ranthambhore is by far your best option near the Tiger Reserve.

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve India. By Chili & Chirp | © International Destinations | Read more about travel destinations in Asia here -> ASIA.