Ranthambore National Park

This 150-square-mile (392-square-kilometer) park is best known for its wild tiger population— around three dozen of the big cats live here—and nearly everyone who visits takes part in a 3.5-hour tiger-spotting safari, managed by the government. Both jeep and cantar (open-air 20-seat minibus) safaris are available. If you want to up your chances of seeing a wild tiger, go on a couple of safaris; some multi-day park tours offer the opportunity to partake in both a morning and an afternoon tiger-spotting adventure.

Ranthambore is a popular stop on many Rajasthan itineraries, amongst independent travelers and private and small-group tours alike. Independent travelers can prebook safaris through the Rajasthan Forest Department, though it's much easier to go through a travel agent.

• Ranthambore National Park is a must for nature lovers, wildlife-watchers, and families with kids.

• Safaris are available every morning and afternoon.

• The government limits safari seats to protect the area, so it’s wise to prebook or join an organized tour. Jeep safaris tend to sell out faster than cantar trips.

• Make sure to bring your passport; all safari participants must carry ID.

Ranthambore National Park is just outside of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. If driving, it’s about eight hours from Delhi (245 miles/395 kilometers), five hours from Agra (158 miles/255 kilometers), or four hours from Jaipur (96 miles/155 kilometers). All three major cities are connected to Sawai Madhopur, by train; most trains from Agra or Delhi take about 4.5 hours, while those from Jaipur do the trip in as few as two hours.

Until 2017, Ranthambore National Park closed annually from July to September (the monsoon season). Now it is open year-round, though the best months for spotting tigers tend to be March and April. Note that May and June can be particularly hot here, though the forest shade and abundance of trees help make temperatures feel less intense.

The Bengal tiger is India’s national animal, and tiger conservation is taken very seriously here. At the forefront of the movement is Project Tiger, which launched in 1973 to protect Bengal tigers from extinction. Tiger censuses are carried out every four years, and it’s currently estimated that there are around 3,000 of the animals in the wild.

The cost of a trip to the Ranthambore National Park depends on many factors, including the tour length, the quality of accommodation, the point of departure, and whether it’s a private or group tour. The cheapest group safaris cost INR1,200 for Indians and INR2,700 for foreigners.

You can visit Ranthambore National Park in as little as half a day, but most travelers will prefer to spend at least two full days here. This will allow you to go on a couple of safaris at different times of day, thus increasing your chances of spotting the active wildlife at different times.

October to March is generally the best time to visit Ranthambore National Park. The weather is best for humans and animals, with the most comfortable conditions and the greatest chances of seeing wildlife in the open. May and June are very hot, but the park remains open—parts of the park close during monsoon, July–September.

Visiting Ranthambore National Park on a safari is worth it if you’re interested in wildlife. There’s a chance of seeing tigers, leopards, sloth bears, various deer, marsh crocodiles, desert foxes, and many more mammals, reptiles, and birds. Safaris often wait around looking for tigers, so travelers less interested in wildlife may not enjoy them as much.

Ranthambore National Park is one of the best places in the world to see tigers, and the chances of seeing them here are greater than in many other places: the park puts the likelihood at about 70%. Going on multiple safari tours during your visit increases the chances of seeing tigers.

Ranthambore National Park is divided into several different zones, and Zone 3 is the most popular place to go on safari. Zone 3 has three different lakes—Padam, Rajbagh, and Malik Lakes—which are ideal habitats for tigers, thus increasing the chances of seeing tigers in this zone. It’s also incredibly scenic as it’s near Ranthambore Fort.