Ranthambore - The Land Of Tigers
Have you ever gone on a last minute unplanned trip to a destination which you had no idea about? That's how my trip to Ranthambore happened. We were packed and ready to visit a different destination but that place wasn't available and someone suggested Ranthambore so we drove from Gurgaon for about a good 10 hours and made it there in the middle of the night. We hadn't researched anything about it and had no idea of what to expect so it was a totally unexpected experience.
RANTHAMBORE REGENCY
We checked into this beautiful 4 star hotel which is a ten minute drive from the famed Ranthambore National Park. The property is neat and clean with very helpful and friendly staff. Spread over a sprawling 2.75 acres of land, this property has 75 rooms with a choice of poolside or garden facing rooms.
The hotel is huge and has photos of the national park and tigers everywhere.
It has an outdoor bar by the poolside along with manicured lawns and a large and nice restaurant with a buffet. The food was very nice and the restaurant staff were very warm and attentive.
Rooms are large and spacious and the property has a vibe which makes it perfect for families and groups. All rooms have amenities such as a mini bar, cable television, air-conditioning and Wi-Fi and all rooms are cleaned daily.
I had a very pleasant stay here thanks to their wonderful hospitality and the best part was they arranged a fantastic Jungle Safari for us which was my first safari ever!
More about my stay at Ranthambore Regency hotel here
THE JUNGLE SAFARI
The tiger reserve area is divided into various zones and we went to zone 3 by jeep for the afternoon safari. While you will easily spot different species of deer, monkeys and other wildlife, spotting the Royal Bengal Tiger in its natural habitat depends on your pure luck.
We were lucky and managed to spot two tigers real close along with many other animals.
Click below to watch a video tour of the Ranthambore Jungle Safari -
SAWAI VILAS RANTHAMBORE
Situated just a few minutes away from the Ranthambore National Park is Sawai Vilas - a luxurious resort that promises a spectacular and authentic jungle experience. Tucked in the rustic woodlands at the edge of the forest reserve, Sawai Vilas has 60 exquisite villas and we moved here after our safari.
It is a stunning property with beautifully done up villas in a scenic setting. The vast property has a lovely pool and outdoor bar with a great view. They also have a small lake within the property which makes it a great venue for private parties, functions and weddings.
Their restaurant serves a wide and delicious variety of cuisines. Staff is extremely well behaved and friendly and come with five star hotel experience.
The exterior of the villas -
Each villa has a living room section, a bedroom area and a study table and desk which open up to the private backyard garden.
Each villa opens up to a garden at the front entrance with a seating area for two. The most remarkable aspect of the villas is the humongous bathroom with an open sky shower which gives you an amazing showering experience. Click here to see more photos and videos of the villa I stayed in.
We had a fabulous stay here and totally recommend this place for a luxurious and comfortable stay in Ranthambore.
THE RANTHAMBORE FORT
Built by the Chauhan Dynasty in 944 AD, this fort has a long and rich history, and an even longer list of rulers as it controlled the trade routes between North India and Central India. Arriving at the fortress’s foothills, you will see a seemingly endless set of stone steps. While trekking up the architectural marvel, it’s inhabitants – the langur monkeys join you in your quest.
The monkeys around the temple are rather cheeky and bold, asking for food and I fed one of them which was super funny because it got mad at me after it ate up all the food straight out of my hands.
At the top of the fort, 700 feet above the surrounding meadows, you get an amazing view of the expansive Ranthambhore National Park.
While walking through the fort’s interiors you will stumble upon as many as eleven Hindu and Jain temples.
The main tourist attraction is the Trinetra (three-eyed) Ganesha temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims.
Overall, Ranthambore is a pretty interesting place to visit and there is a lot to see around it as well. A trip here is totally worth it if you love wildlife, nature and history.