Best Travel Duration

November-May

About Sawai Madhopur

The history of Sawai Madhopur revolves round the Ranthambhor Fort which is surrounded by the Vindhyas and Aravalis, amidst vast arid denuded tracts of Rajasthan, in an oasis within an ecological desert, the Great Ranthambhor.

No one knows exactly when the fort was built and the most eminent ruler of the the place was Rao Hamir who lived here around 1296 AD. In the 13th century A.D. Govinda, the grandson of Prithviraj Chauhan took over control of the land and later his successor Vagabhatta, beautified the city and built a noteworthy temple at Jhain.

In the middle of the 15th century A.D. Rana Kumbha captured the fort and gifted it to his son to be occupied later by the Hada Rajputs of Bundi and Mughal Emperors Akbar and Aurangazeb.

Later the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gifted it to Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I of Jaipur in 1754 and it was maintained as the hunting preserve of the Maharaja. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were once part of a royal hunting party who stayed here some years ago along with other members of nobility over the years.

There are various places of historical interest inside the fort namely the Toran Dwar, Mahadeo Chhatri, Sameton Ki Haveli, 32-pillared Chhatri, Mosque and the Ganesh temple, the biggest attraction of the fort.

As far as a general history on the area, we’ll leave that for you to discover on arrival and your adventure will be added to your own personal history book once your journey is complete.

Places to Visit

Chauth Mata Temple

About 25km from Sawai Madhopur situated on a hill near Chauth Ka Barwara town is worth visiting while here.

Devpura

18km from Sawai Madhopur Where black buck abound, is not far from Surwal. Interestingly, black buck are almost never seen inside the Ranthambhore National Park due to their preference for open spaces to jungles.

Ganesh Temple

Ganesh Temple the biggest attraction of the fort is dedicated to Lord Ganesha is located about 12km from Sawai Madhopur. It is one of the most important Ganesha temples in the state and there are markets around the temple that attracts visitors and are worth meandering around.

Jogi Mahal

Jogi Mahal overlooking the pretty Padam Talab afloat with water lilies at the foot of the fort is another place not to be missed. The landscape here is dotted with ancient banyan trees, dhok and pipal trees, clusters of mango trees and crisscrossed with evergreen belts. The terrain is made up of massive rock formations, steep escarpments, perennial lakes and streams and forests which suddenly opening up into large areas of savannah. Don’t forget your camera.

Karauli

Karauli Famous for its red sandstone, Karauli is situated in the eastern part of Sawai Madhopur, away from the hustle-bustle of modern life. The majestic Durbar Hall with its delicate stone carvings and exquisite medieval frescoes are worth seeing here.

Ranthambhore National Park

Ranthambhore National Park (Tiger Reserve) barely 14 km from Sawai Madhopur at the junction of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas, is a unique example of natural and historical richness, standing out conspicuously in the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan. It is spread over a highly undulating topography varying from gentle to steep slopes; from flat topped hills of the Vindhyas to the conical hillocks and sharp ridges of the Aravalis, from wide and flat valleys to narrow rocky gorges. An important geological feature the ‘Great Boundary Fault’ where the Vindhya plateaus meet the Aravali hill ranges, meanders through the Reserve which is bound by the Chambal River in the south and Banas River in the north. Don’t miss a visit to this wonderful park where tigers rule and nature is at it’s best.

Ranthambhor Fort

The areas royal past manifests itself in the well-preserved imposing fort, built in 994 A.D., atop a steep high creek 200 meters above sea level. Ruined pavilions, walls, chhatris and splendid monuments are interspersed within the majestic fort. An 8th century A.D. Ganesh temple on an open land attracts thousands of devotees and is the venue for an annual fair held on Bhadrapad Sudi Chaturthi, fourth day of the bright half, in the month of Bhadra.

How to Get to Sawai Madhopur

By air:

The airport nearest to Sawai Madhopur is that of Jaipur which is 175 kms away.

By rail:

The railway network connects Sawai Madhopur with Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities in Western India.

By road:

Sawai Madhopur can be easily reached by road as well. There are well-maintained roads linking it to tourism destinations in Rajasthan and its neighbouring states including (Agra 226 km), Bharatpur (166 km), Delhi (434 km), Kota (217 km) and Jaipur (180 km).