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Ranthambhore of course is most famous for its flagship, apex predator, the tiger, for a very good reason: it is easily one of the world’s best places to see a tiger in the wild.

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In the summer months, tigers are often found cooling off in waterholes, making for fantastic extended tiger viewing.

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The archaeological beauty of Ranthambhore takes on a different dimension and turns the park into a theatre when tigers choose to grace its structures. Here, a male tiger sits on the ramparts of a resting place called a chhatri.

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The large monuments of Ranthambhore, especially the old hunting palace, are used by tigers regularly to shelter from the hottest hours of the day.

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Ranthambhore is also home to a healthy population of the tiger’s co-predator, the leopard.

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Sometimes leopards too become a part of the architectural heritage.

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Ranthambhore is a fantastic place to observe sloth bears as well.

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Ranthambhore’s male tigers are famously bold and handsome.

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The water bodies in Ranthambhore are magnets of biodiversity. Here, a herd of chital dominate the scene, while a pair of black drongos, a black-winged stilt, Asian openbills and an egret are seen around.

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Jungle cats are among the smaller carnivora of Ranthambhore, although it’s exceedingly rare to chance upon one.

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Ruddy mongooses are relatively abundant and are often seen looking for grub.

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A herd of sambar in the waters of Rajbagh, one of the main lakes of the heart of Ranthambhore, which are an important feeding ground for the herbivores.

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Chital or spotted deer are, of course, the commonest prey species in the park, and it’s possible to get gorgeous views and photos of them to the heart’s content.

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The excellent visibility Ranthambhore’s habitat affords offers stunning views of even shy species such as leopards.

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Ranthambhore also has a healthy population of chinkara, or the Indian gazelle, which are a treat to watch and photograph.

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A sambar in water. Ranthambhore offers one of the finest settings in all of India to photograph charismatic mammals.

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It’s hard to overestimate the birding potential in Ranthambhore. Owls are aplenty and include many different species.

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Stork-billed kingfishers are among the several species of kingfisher found here. .

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A stupendous dusky-eagle owl bedecks a branch among the golden sinews of dying light.

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A wild boar crossing a water body. These stunningly hardy animals are famously feisty, and a big male with tusks can often fight back even tigers trying to hunt them.

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A pair of langurs play fighting. These are the commonest primates you’ll see on safari in Ranthambhore.

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Ranthambhore is a birder’s paradise as much as it is a tiger watcher’s. Here, a rufous Indian paradise flycatcher poses momentarily.

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Ranthambhore’s abundance of water bodies makes possible artistic images of many species, such as this pond heron here.

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A darter takes off from water. Ranthambhore is an exceptional place to see the natural behaviour of these fishers.

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Parakeets at water. These raucous avians are one of the emblems of Ranthambhore’s ambience.

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A shikra poses in the open, affording a fantastic photo opportunity.

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A turtle lakeside. It’s possible to observe several species of these reptilians in Ranthambhore. Lately tigers have started hunting them too!