Vanyvilas An Oberoi Resort

The Former Royal Hunting Lodge

by lynnehamman about Castle Jhoomar Baori (Hotel)

We have stayed in many hotels, guest-houses and B&B's all around India. Few had the special atmosphere and serene locality of this old former hunting lodge. It is Government owned, and was a bit neglected, but we found the accomodation to be perfect.Each room consists of 3 huge interlocking rooms, with a sitting area, dressing area and a bedroom.The bathrooms were modern, with hot showers. Everything was spotless. The staff were friendly and helpful. I recommend this hotel very highly. It is more like a guest house - and there were only about 10 visitors there during our 4 day stay. A communal dining room served buffet style meals every evening, and the quality of the food was good. Breakfast and lunches are standard, and the cost was minimal. Castle Jhoomer has ATMOSPHERE.Set on 4 levels, there are narrow, dark winding stairs leading upwards(candles provided) to the rooftop. The rooms all have windows that are set low down, so that one can see the views, while reclining on the bed or coaches.This is typical hunting-lodge architecture. We were given a "suite" that overlooked the mountainside.
Without a doubt, Castle Jhoomer has the very best location in Sawai Modhopur.and within Ranthambore. It is situated very high on top of the mountain side, with not a building within miles.The views are spectacular, from every level. Every evening at dusk we would climb the narrow stairs to the rooftop, and just take in all the natural beauty surrounding us. We could hear the roar of tigers, leopards , and other wild animals.The birds would perch on the railings, waiting for a tid-bit. We heard not one car or any other human sound. The friendly staff would bring up drinks or snacks if we required any. At night there is folk dancing and singing, around a barbeque fire.We loved this place - We hope to return soon.Maybe we will see a tiger on our next visit.

Ranthambore Fort # 4

by grets

Inside the fort are palatial living quarters, temples, barracks, massive gates, curtain walls and even a mosque! This monument has been declared a protective site by the Archaeological survey of India.

Driving in the moonlight

by wispofcloud

Get that car out and go for a drive in the moonlight!

We were extremely lucky in that we happened to drive on a full moon night. For almost fifty kilometres, we were chasing a gigantic full moon that entirely filled our vision through the windscreen.

In the pic: a sunset on the way to Ranthambore

Gateway to Ranthambore National Park

by chrissyms

"Ranthambore Park"

The main reason for our visit here was to view the Bengal Tiger. We stayed 3 nights outside the park and made 5 jeep safaris into the park. We saw a Tiger the first day, she had 2 cubs with her and was deep inside a thicket. In truth we saw very little of her as she was so well camouflaged and I only saw the tail of one cub, we had to take the rangers word that there were 2. The Tiger had killed something and remained at the same place for the 3 days we were at the Park, we visited her every day and at no time did she feel inclined to pose for a photo. The dissapointment of not having a good view of her or any other Tiger was made up by the abundance of other wildlife in the Park. Our final drive through resulted in the grande finale of our visit right on cue we were lucky to spot this beautiful majestic creature taking in the last of the evening sun before setting off on her evening hunt.

Ranthambore National Park

by grets

"Tiger, tiger, burning bright......"

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

William Blake. 1757–1827

"Ranthambore National Park"

Ranthambore is India’s premier tiger reserve, declared in 1973 as part of Project Tiger. Covering an area of over 500 square kilometres in the state of Rajastan, the park is dotted with archaeological remains, including the 1000-year old Ranthambore fort, hunting palaces and many temples of the medieval period. The setting is stunning, and brings about feelings of a bygone era with the thrill of the hunt from when the park was the hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The park gats its name from two hills close by, Ran and Thambor.

"The park and its wildlife"

Located 14 km from the small town of Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore is spread over a highly undulating topography, varying from gentle slopes to majestic escarpments, from wide and flat valleys to narrow, rocky gorges to tranquil lakes and pools. The best time to spot one of the 40 resident tigers in the park, is between October and June.

Other animals found in the park include:

Leopard
Striped hyena
Sambar deer
Chital
Nilgai
Hanuman langur
Macaque
Jackal
Jungle cat
Caracal
Sloth bear
Black buck
Rufoustailed hare
Indian wild boar
Chinkara
Common palm civet
Toddy cat
Common yellow bat
Desert cat
Fivestriped palm squirrel
Indian false vampire
Indian flying fox
Indian fox
Indian gerbil
Indian mole rat
Indian porcupine
Long-eared hedgehog
Ratel
Small Indian mongoose
Small Indian civet
Common mongoose
There are some 250 bird species in the park, and we identified the following:

White Throated Kingfisher
Indian Greenpie
Green Treepie
Red Vented Bulbul
Rosewing Parakeet
Peacock
Anhinga
Black Headed Ibis
Common Snipe
Ruddy Shelduck
Common Teal
Grey Francolin
Partridge
Common Tern
Osprey
Indian Roller
Bareback Shrike
Hoopoo
Eurasian Spoonbill
Black Stork
Spotted Owlet
Little Cormorant
Lesser Black Woodpecker
Grey Heron
Lesser Pied Kingfisher
White Breasted Kingfisher
Golden Backed Woodpecker
Jungle Babbler
Peraya Kite
Long Billed Vulture
White Broad Fronted Flycatcher
Brown Fish Owl
Red Wattled Lapwing
Black Winged Kite
Crested Serpent Eagle
Black Drongo
White Bellied Drongo
Great Stone Plover
Common Kingfisher
Indian Sarus Crane
Green Bee Eater
Asian Palm Swift
Rock Pigeon
Wood Sandpiper
Indian Cormorant
Little Egret
Painted Stork
Oriental Magpie Robin
Common Myna

I have put my tiger pictures and stories in the Must See category, my other animal pictures under the General heading and birds under Off the Beaten Path.The history and pictures of the fort can be found in the Sports section