Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest and most famous national parks in north India. It is named after the historic Ranthambhore fortress that is found within the park. Ranthambore is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, about 180 km from Jaipur. The park covers an area of 392 sq km (square kilometer).

The Government of India instituted Ranthambhore under the name of 'Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary' in 1955. The park was selected as a Project Tiger reserve in 1973. However, it was only in 1980 that Ranthambhore became a national park. Four years later, in 1984, the adjacent forests became the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and the Keladevi Sanctuary. The tiger reserve was further enlarged in 1991 to include these two sanctuaries.

Bound to the north by the Banas river and to the south by the Chambal river, Ranthambore lies at the edge of a plateau. There are several lakes here and it is home to a variety of plants and animals. However, Ranthambore's pride is the population of tigers that inhabit the park and it is also the site of one of the largest banyan trees in India.

Ranthambore National Park is open from October 1 to June 30. It remains closed to visitors between July and September every year. The ideal time to visit the park is between November and May, when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes it easier to spot wildlife.