Next week I will be in Jaipur with some friends and family. Our stay in Jaipur will be for 5 days and we are making some plans to extend the stay and take the trip further ahead towards Ranthambore. We know that Ranthambore is in Jaipur but we would like to know what the distance between Jaipur and Ranthambore is? We would be able to work out if we would have enough days to travel to Ranthambore from Jaipur and also spend at least 3 days there.
Hello, welcome to the forum! The distance between Jaipur and Ranthambore is about 170 kms, it depends on which route you take. There are three in total, which are the following: Route No. 1 via NH52 - Jaipur > Chaksu > Kothun > Lalsot > Bhadoti > Ranthambore. This route is about 167 kms and it can take you 3 to 4 hours to cover this distance. It can take you a much shorter time during off-peak hours. This route also has tolls so the roads are well-maintained and smooth. Route No. 2 via NH21 - Jaipur > Dausa > Nangal > Lalsot > Bhadoti > Ranthambore. This route is about 168 kms long. It can take you about 3 to 4 hours to cover this distance as well. It also has tolls so the roads are in good condition. Route No. 3 via NH552 - Jaipur > Chaksu > Kothun > Niwai > Tonk > Aligarh > Sawai Madhopur > Ranthambore. This is the longest route at 194 kms. Just like the other two routes, you can reach Ranthambore within 3 to 4 hours with this one. It also has tolls so the roads are good here as well. If you'd like to include Sawai Madhopur in your itinerary, then this is the best route to take. As you can see, different routes have different distances but they average to about 170 kms. Without traffic, you can reach Ranthambore within 3 hours and with traffic or stopovers, you can reach it in about 4 hours or less. Anyway, here are some of the best attractions in Ranthambore, so you can have some idea of the time you have to spend here: Wildlife and Nature Ranthambore National Park - This was previously known as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary and was built in 1955. In 1973, it became a part of the Project Tiger reserves in the country. It became a national park in 1980. It is well-known for its high tiger density and sightings. According to a 2014 census, there were about 64 tigers in the park. It is a great increase because during 2013, the number of tigers were just 48 and in 2005, the tigers were only at about 25. You can also spot other animals like leopards, wild boars, sambars, striped hyenas, sloth bears and chitals. The safari here usually lasts for three hours and some tourists avail of multiple rides to have a higher likelihood of seeing tigers. Kachida Valley - This is located on the border of the Ranthambore National Park. It is home to many panthers, as they try to avoid the central part of the national park and its tigers. It is also home to a number of bears. You can also have a safari here just like with the Ranthambore National Park. Surwal Lake - This is about a 15-minute drive from Sawai Madhopur. It is also within the confines of the Ranthambore National Park. It is a shallow lake, located within a rural village. It is a haven for bird watchers as there are plenty of resident and migratory birds here. It's best visited during winter when the birds flock to the lake and enjoy the shallow water with fishes. Some of the commonly spotted birds here are grey herons, white breasted kingfishers, Indian robins, oriental magpie robins and common babblers. Balas Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary - This is about 9 kms from Sawai Madhopur. It mostly has dhok trees but there's also other varieties like cheelas, tendus and gurjans. You can spot animals like sambars, chitals, hyenas, jackals, wild boars and panthers. There are also a wide variety of birds like peacocks, vultures and parakeets. Historical Ranthambore Fort - This lies within the confines of the Ranthambore National Park. It was built by a Chauhan ruler but it's not known who it is exactly. Some of the names that are related to the building of the fort are Sapaldaksha and Jayant. But it's also likely that Sapaldaksha started the construction of the fort in 944 CE while Jayant continued it in 1110 CE. Back then, it was known as Ranastambha or Ranastambhapura. There are temples within the fort dedicated to Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva and Ramlalaji. There's also a Jain temple inside the fort. Jogi Mahal - This is located within the national park as well. Back then, tourists are permitted to stay in the palace. Now though, access to it is restricted and you can only view it from a distance. It used to be the forest lodge for the royal family visiting the hunting lodge, which was the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary. Raj Bagh Ruins - This is also located within the national park, between the Padam Talao and Raj Bagh Talao. The ruins consist of ancient palaces, arches, domes and minarets. I hope this helps.
If you are taking your own transportation it's a few hours. By train or bus it can take a lot more time and you might not enjoy the trek.
