MARWAR - the magazine that inspires Excellence

Known for its strategic location and coveted for its military advantages, this is one edifice with a chequered history. Acts of valour, women leaping into the fire or even treachery, this fort has seen it all and how. But with time and the winds of change, Ranthambore's tigers have taken precedence over its once magnificent battlements

Mention the word Ranthambore and the first thought that comes to mind is the tiger sanctuary. No doubt the awareness regarding this endangered species is noteworthy but sadly the fact remains that the once impregnable fort in its precincts is now lying in total ignominy. From a historical perspective as well, a lot remains ambiguous about the origin of this majestic edifice. Intriguingly the temple of Lord Ganesh within the fortification receives the customary first invite of a wedding from all over the country but only a handful of the thousands of tourists who come to glimpse the tiger. This irony not withstanding, this citadel commands the most spectacular view of the sanctuary.

It is a fascinating matter of chance that Ranthambore's original name may have had something to do with carving out its battle-prone destiny! Among its earliest names was Rantapur which meant ‘town located in the valley of ran' (ran in Hindi means battle).

While Ran is the name of the hill below, the hill on which the fort is built is known as Thambha and the fort was thereafter referred to as Ranstambhpur which later became famous as Ranthambore.

Located on a hill at a height of 481 mt above sea level, this fortress is enigmatically different from other forts built on a hill – while the others are noticeable from a distance, Ranthambore is quite the opposite. Amazingly, it conceals itself amidst mountain ranges and thick forests. Even the series of steps and gateways hide the phenomenal vastness of this stronghold. Its only when you ascend to the top, that the breathtaking vista from the fort hits you. The scattered ruins of temples and palaces, cenotaphs, talaabs or water bodies and the encircling ramparts eloquently narrate its chequered history. Even though historians differ on the exact date of the fort's foundation and theories abound in this regard, one feature that is universally accepted is its might! This fort always remained a challenge for those wanting to expand their territory through warfare.