Ranthambore Fort & National Park

Ranthambore Fort sits on a 210-metre hill in the Vindhyan-Aravalli junction of southeast Rajasthan. The fort dates to the 10th century (Chauhan rule) and was the site of two famous sieges: Alauddin Khalji's 1301 conquest after the death of Hammir Dev Chauhan, and Akbar's 1569 capture from the Hada Rajputs. Ganesh Trinetra Temple inside the fort is a major Ganesh shrine — devotees mail wedding invitations addressed to the deity from across India. The surrounding 1,334-sq-km Ranthambore National Park is India's premier tiger reserve. As of 2024 the park hosts roughly 75 tigers across the core and buffer zones — among the highest tiger densities in any Indian national park. Standard safaris are conducted in Gypsy (6-seater) or Canter (20-seater) vehicles in 10 zones; zones 2, 3, 4 have historically been the highest-yielding. Fort entry is free with a park ticket. UNESCO inscribed the fort under the Hill Forts of Rajasthan listing in 2013.