After eventful encounters with the rugged forts, palaces, and colorful men and women of Rajasthan, be ready for a sporty encounter with the wild variety. Palace on Wheels takes you to the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve named after an imposing, more than a thousand year old Ranthambor Fort. It is set atop a broad hill, 700 feet above the ground.
The Reserve consists of dry deciduous forest, spread over a highly undulating topography. The natural canvas is crowded with gentle to steep slopes or vertical rocky escarpments of conical hillocks and the sharp ridges of the Aravali, including the flat-topped Vindhyan hills. The landscape is interspersed with wide and flat grassy valleys and narrow rocky gorges.
Ruined pavilions, mosques, guard posts, cenotaphs, tombs, a summer palace and other structures-relics of a historical past, are scattered all over the area lending it a unique magical touch.
A system of three artificially created old lakes and a number of ancients are part of the ecosystem, crucial for the denizens of the forest. In addition, these enhance the scenic charm of the place.
The tiger reigns supreme here. Ranthambore is among the few places in the world where this super-predator, symbol of power, strength and magnificence, can be observed at close quarters.
There are about 25 tigers and 40 leopards in the reserve. These are supported by a large population of healthy herbivores. The sambar is at its best in Ranthambore. So is the shy, sleek and fleet-footed chinkara which gracefully hops away in the presence of human beings.
Interestingly, during summer, when no green vegetation can be seen for long stretches, the herbivores do not face the fodder scarcity because the dry fallen leaves of dhok (the predominant flora species) and ber fruits provide the main sustenance. Crocodiles are most conspicuous, all along the edges of the lakes and pools, basking in the sun during winter.
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