Nested in the rolling hills of the Aravalli and Vindhyachal ranges, 180 kms northwest of Jaipur lies the town of Sawai Madhopur. Founded in 1765 A.D., the town is named after its founder Sawai Madho-I of Jaipur. Today the town receives worldwide recognition for its famous and historical Ranthambhore National Park. The forest provides shelter to an amazing variety of plants and animals including about 300 plant species, over 50 aquatic plant species and more than a 100 species of herbs, climbers and grass. It is also home to over 270 species of birds and nearly 30 different species of mammals. While at Sawai Madhopur you may stay at the lodge and move to the National Park and spot Leopards, Wild Boars, Crocodiles, Langurs, Sloth Bears, Jungle Cats, Blue Bulls, Chinkaras and Hyenas, Sambhar, the Asiatic Deer Doves, Partridges, Storks, Flycatchers, Kingfishers, and Hawk Eagles. During winters migratory birds like Greylag Geese, Ruddy Shelducks and Pintails may also be spotted.
If you are looking for a holiday that involves seeing the wildlife of India at close range, a visit to Sawai Madhopur makes good sense. Lying on the main Delhi - Mumbai railway line, Sawai Madhopur is the entranceway to the world renowned Ranthambhor National Park and is one of the main reasons people visit this alluring site as it is one of the few parks where tigers can be best seen and photographed. Sawai Madhopur area is thick with ruins of its past history. Walls, wells, mosques and hunting lodges adorn the lavish rolling hills of the Vindhyas and the Aravalis.
The town was originally founded by Amer rulers (the Kachhawahas) who had a long standing association with Sawai Madhopur for many centuries.
Maharajah Sawai Man Singh-II built the Sawai-Madhopur Lodge for his personal use on hunting trips to the forest, which was the favorite pastime of the royal family of Jaipur. In fact the entire town of Sawai Madhopur is world renowned for the famous and historical Ranthambhore National Park.
The first luxury jungle resort in India, Vanyavilas is located in Ranthambhore - Sawai Madhopur, in Rajasthan province in northwest India. The resort is situated adjacent to the famous Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. The Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is recognized for its variety of wildlife. |
