We all know that once upon a time there was a tiger queen called Machli who ruled Ranthambore. Machli is believed to be the most photographed tiger on earth. Tiger spotting wouldn’t have been possible, had it not been for her. The tigers that you get to see at Ranthambore National Park are all children, grand-children and great-grand children of Machli. It was Machli who helped the Indian government earn nearly US$100 million between the year1998 to 2009.
Spotting a tiger is partly a matter of luck and one need to take out time for two or three safaris to actually be fortunate enough to spot one. But remember there’s plenty of other wildlife to see, including more than 300 species of birds, deer, crocodiles. It’s 10km from Sawai Madhopur (the gateway town for Ranthambore) to the first gate of the park, and another 3km to the main gate and Ranthambore Fort.
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Comprising 1334 sq km of wild jungle scrub hemmed in by rocky ridges, at its centre is the 10th-century Ranthambore Fort. All around the fort are ancient temples and mosques, hunting pavilions and lakes which are filled with crocodiles.
If you are looking for a good place to stay, Abhyaran in Ranthambore is ideal. It is located in the outskirts of the city of Ranthambore, situated near to the Ranthambore railway station and Ranthambore bus stand. The contemporary architecture and finest hospitality makes it an ideal place for a holiday.
Here are few facts about Machli:
*Did you know why the tigress was named Machli? This was because she had a fish shaped mark on the left part of her face.
*She was fondly called the ‘Tigress Queen of Ranthambore’, ‘Lady of the Lakes’ and ‘Crocodile Killer’
*Machli had 11 cubs over the years whose offspring make up almost half the park's tiger population.
*She was the oldest surviving tigress in the world.
