There is more to the Ranthambore National Park than just Tigers!

In the company of Ganesha

Perhaps, the most evocative photograph that I took at the Ranthambore Temple area on the way to the Jain temple was a mother Langoor looking pensive and contemplative. This time I used one of my older cameras, a Canon 1300D, and the 18-55mm kit lens. Sawai Madhopur is not just about Tigers, but also about the Ranthambore Fort and the temples in it. Incidentally, the Ranthambore fort was an important strategic location.

Ascending the stairs to the Ranthambore Fort might be a bit tiring, but the effort is worth taking. The architecture and the placement of the buildings speak a lot about ancient and medieval methods of construction. The very fact that these buildings stand tall even today is a testimony to the capabilities of the builders in the past!

The thirty-two-pillared Chattri or Pavilion is supported by 32 pillars. It is a marvel of architectural engineering.

Battis Khamba Chattri

Stretching across the horizon are these threads, scarves, and handkerchiefs tied to the railings leading to the temple complexes. Meant to ask for a wish, by the hopeful, the threads are often untied once a wish comes true. Any thread can be untied. Another interesting thing that I spotted above the Fort were piles of stones dotting the rampart walls. Later, I came to know that these piles of stones marked people's desire to buy a house. The piles of stones symbolized a future home.

But then, it is also the Macroscopic world that makes Sawai Madhopur a place ot visit.

The Queen of Ranthambore might not be a Tiger but a common Toad!

When I visited the Ranthambore National Park recently and was offered zone nine, it was a huge disappointment! All we spotted were a few wild boars rooting around and of dear there were a bare few. The lesson is that while visiting the Ranthambore National Park, don't ever book a safari in the buffer zones if you can help it! The admin has opened buffer zones merely to accommodate increasing numbers of visitors and that too in the form of a rip-off! Disappointed by the safari at zone nine, I turned inwards towards the generous number of insects and amphibians that were available at the resort that I was staying in. I could have got better photographs at the Sultanpur National Park close to my home in Gurgaon!

A Spittle Bug offers food for Ants while the latter offer security.

Moreover, I was able to capture a few amazing Macro photographs at the resort, namely the Clark Inn. One of the best photographs that I was able to take was that of the common Indian Toad. Besides this, I was able to photograph a few insects that seemed to be larger than those found in Gurgaon. Sawai Madhopur can come up with some surprises in the form of unique insects like stink bugs.

 

One of the must-visit places while in Sawai Madhopore is the Ranthambore Fort. The fort complex features several temples, including both Jain and Hindu ones. Situated at a height above the town, the fort has a commanding position.

Unfortunately, spotting a tiger in any of the zones is not guaranteed irrespective of the zone you might be visiting. I visited zone 9 which was bereft of wildlife except for a few wild pigs, the odd Sambur deer and the ubiquitous Asian Antelope, known locally as Nil Gai.

A visit to the Ranthambore fort can spring some surprises, like a Langur Monkey playing with a rubber band, or perhaps the ancient architecture of the temples and fort structures. Like human babies, baby Langurs are equally playful, curious, and sometimes rather mischievous. After a few moments, the mother of the baby Langoor snatched the rubber band from her baby and cuffed the latter.

Langoor Monkeys are highly communal, and they work together grooming each other, gossiping, and playing! Some of the Langoor monkeys had flour all over their faces, which made them look rather funny! Actually, these monkeys gain access to offerings made in the temples by devotees, and that's how many of them get white flour all over their faces.