Question 1

What is the cancellation refund policy?

Accepted Answer

You get a 75% refund for cancellations made 30 or more days before the visit date, a 50% refund for cancellations made between 72 hours and 30 days before the visit date, and 0% refund for cancellations made within 72 hours of the visit date. Any applicable difference in fees or taxes at the time of entry is collected separately. See our Refunds & Cancellation Policy page for full details.

Question 2

Are Tatkal bookings refundable?

Accepted Answer

No. Confirmed Tatkal and Premium Tatkal bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable, regardless of when the cancellation request is made.

Question 3

What happens during monsoon season?

Accepted Answer

Core zones may remain closed during the monsoon season (typically 1st July to 30th September). Limited safari routes may be available through offline booking. Safari bookings made during this period are provisional and can be cancelled on short notice due to weather conditions, and no refunds will be issued in such cases.

Question 4

What are MDR charges?

Accepted Answer

MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) is a fee charged by a bank for providing payment processing services on every online transaction. This fee is non-refundable — if a payment is deducted but your ticket isn't generated, the refunded amount will exclude the MDR charges. Contact our support team within 48 hours if this happens to you.

Question 5

What ID do I need to carry?

Accepted Answer

You must carry the original government-authorized ID (or DigiLocker ID) that matches the details used at the time of booking — acceptable IDs include a PAN card, Aadhar card, Driving License, or Passport. The first visitor whose ID was uploaded during booking must be present during the visit.

Question 6

What are the safari timings?

Accepted Answer

Oct 1 – Oct 31: morning 6:30 AM – 10:00 AM, afternoon 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM; Nov 1 – Jan 31: morning 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM, afternoon 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM; Feb 1 – Mar 31: morning 6:30 AM – 10:00 AM, afternoon 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM; Apr 1 – May 15: morning 6:00 AM – 9:30 AM, afternoon 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM; May 16 – Jun 30: morning 6:00 AM – 9:30 AM, afternoon 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM. See our safari timings page for the full schedule.

Question 7

Are children below 5 free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Children below 5 years of age are not required to purchase safari tickets. Children aged 5–10 years sharing a room or vehicle with their parents are charged 75% of the adult cost.

Question 8

What items are prohibited in the reserve?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol and non-vegetarian food are prohibited inside the reserve. Firearms, pets, and unregistered vehicles are strictly prohibited. Guides must ensure visitors do not feed, disturb, or harm wildlife — violations may attract penalties under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Question 9

What is the entry fee for Ranthambore National Park?

Accepted Answer

Ranthambore National Park entry fee is bundled into your safari ticket price — it is not paid separately. The safari fee (jeep or canter) already includes the forest entry permit, vehicle charge, and guide fee; Indian and foreign nationals are charged different rates, and a camera/lens fee of ₹250 is collected separately at the forest gate.

Question 10

What are the Ranthambore safari rules and guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Key Ranthambore safari rules and guidelines: stay seated inside the vehicle at all times, maintain silence and do not call out to animals, no flash photography, no alcohol or non-vegetarian food inside the park, no littering, firearms, or pets, and always follow your guide's instructions. Violations can attract penalties under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Question 11

How early should I arrive?

Accepted Answer

Please reach the Forest Permit Booking Counter at least 45 minutes before your scheduled entry time. Carry two printed copies of your confirmation slip — one for submission and one for your reference.

Question 12

Can I transfer my permit?

Accepted Answer

No. Safari permits are non-transferable and cannot be modified after confirmation. Confirmed Tatkal bookings are also non-transferable. If you need to cancel one or more passengers on a ticket without cancelling the whole booking, see our Partial Cancellation Policy — note that no refund is issued for partial cancellations and the change cannot be reverted.

Question 13

Why should I visit Ranthambore National Park?

Accepted Answer

Ranthambore is one of the best places in the world to see wild Bengal tigers in their natural habitat, combined with a UNESCO World Heritage fort, three scenic lakes, and over 300 bird species inside a single park. Few reserves pair this much tiger density with accessible history and landscape in one visit.

Question 14

What is the best time to visit Ranthambore?

Accepted Answer

The park is open from October to June, with November to April the most comfortable period to visit. The weather stays favorable for wildlife sighting during this period. May and June are preferred by photographers, as tigers are more easily spotted near waterholes during peak heat.

Question 15

What is the best way to reach Ranthambore National Park?

Accepted Answer

The nearest town, Sawai Madhopur, sits on the main Delhi–Mumbai railway line, making train the most convenient way to reach Ranthambore from most of India. It's about 180 km from Jaipur and 450 km from Delhi by road. From Sawai Madhopur station, taxis and local buses cover the short final stretch.

Question 16

What are the chances of sighting a tiger in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve?

Accepted Answer

Tiger sightings are never guaranteed — they depend on the zone, season, and time of day. Most visitors who book 3–4 safaris across different zones see a tiger at least once; a single safari is closer to a coin flip. Multiple safaris across your stay meaningfully improve your odds.

Question 17

What other wild animals can one spot in Ranthambore besides tigers?

Accepted Answer

Beyond tigers, Ranthambore is home to leopards, sloth bears, striped hyenas, marsh crocodiles, and large herds of sambar and chital deer. The park also holds over 300 recorded bird species, from painted storks to raptors, making it a strong destination for birdwatchers as well as tiger seekers.

Question 18

During which time of year does the park close for travelers?

Accepted Answer

Core zones 1–5 close from 1 July to 30 September each year; some buffer zones may run on a limited basis, weather permitting. The park reopens fully on 1 October.

Question 19

Which is the nearest airport to Ranthambore National Park?

Accepted Answer

The nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport, roughly 180 km away and about a 3.5–4 hour drive. From Jaipur, Ranthambore is reachable by road or by connecting to a train at Jaipur Junction — there's no airport closer to the park itself.

Question 20

Which is the nearest railway station to Ranthambore?

Accepted Answer

Sawai Madhopur Junction is the nearest railway station, right at the edge of the park and a major stop on the Delhi–Mumbai line. It's well connected to Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, and most major Indian cities, making it the most common way travelers reach Ranthambore.

Question 21

What other places can be visited around Ranthambore?

Accepted Answer

Beyond the safari, worth visiting are Ranthambore Fort and the Trinetra Ganesh Temple inside the park, the Chambal River for a boat safari and gharial sightings, and Sawai Madhopur's surrounding heritage sites. Many visitors also combine Ranthambore with Jaipur or the wider Golden Triangle circuit.

Question 22

Can we do birdwatching in and around Ranthambore National Park?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Ranthambore holds over 300 recorded bird species, and its lakes (Padam Talao, Raj Bagh Talao, Malik Talao) are particularly reliable spots for waterbirds, storks, and kingfishers. Winter (November–February) is the best season, when migratory species join the park's residents.

Question 23

Can we get an experienced wildlife guide for safaris?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every jeep and canter safari includes a trained naturalist guide as part of the booking, at no extra cost. Guides help track wildlife using pug marks and alarm calls, and can answer questions about the park's flora, fauna, and history along the way.

Question 24

Can we choose safari zones ourselves?

Accepted Answer

Not directly — zone allocation inside Ranthambore is computerised and largely random, handled by the forest department rather than tour operators or visitors. You can express a preference or a broad range (e.g. Zones 1–6 or 7–10) when booking, but the final assignment isn't guaranteed.

Question 25

How do I book a Ranthambore safari online?

Accepted Answer

Pick a package from our packages page, choose your travel dates and number of travelers, and submit your details — we confirm your jeep or canter safari booking, forest permits, and hotel stay directly, with support available if you need help choosing a zone or vehicle type.

Question 26

What is the starting price for a Ranthambore safari package?

Accepted Answer

Our packages start from ₹6,999 per person for a 1 Night / 2 Days trip from Sawai Madhopur, which includes a jungle safari, a stay at a 4-star resort, meals, and Ranthambore Fort sightseeing. Multi-day packages from Jaipur and Delhi with more safaris are also available.

Question 27

What is included in a Ranthambore safari package?

Accepted Answer

Our packages include open jeep or canter safari in the core tiger zones, hotel or resort accommodation, meals as specified per package, station or airport pickup and drop, all forest permits, and naturalist guide fees. Most also include Ranthambore Fort and Trinetra Ganesh Temple sightseeing. Children below 5 travel free, and ages 5–10 pay 75% of the adult cost.

Question 28

Which Ranthambore package is best if I'm travelling from Delhi or Jaipur?

Accepted Answer

From Jaipur, the 2 Nights / 3 Days package (₹13,000/person) or the 3 Nights / 4 Days package with 6 jeep safaris (₹26,400/person) both include Jaipur pickup. From Delhi, the 5 Nights / 6 Days Golden Triangle package (₹22,199/person) combines Delhi, Agra and Jaipur sightseeing with a Ranthambore tiger safari in one trip.

Question 29

Which zones are closed on which days in Ranthambore?

Accepted Answer

Ranthambore safari zones follow a weekly closure schedule. Zones 1–5 (core zones) are closed every Wednesday to give wildlife a rest day free from tourist activity. Zones 6–10 (buffer zones) are closed every Tuesday. From 1 July to 30 September core zones 1–5 close, and some buffer zones may run on a limited basis, weather permitting.

Question 30

What documents are required for Ranthambore safari entry?

Accepted Answer

Every visitor must carry a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar Card, Passport or Driving Licence) matching the name on the safari booking. A passport-size photograph (minimum 100 KB digital file) is required for permit processing. Foreign nationals must carry their passport. Entry permits are mandatory for all zones — our packages include all forest permits as part of the booking.

Question 31

Is hotel pickup and drop included in the safari booking?

Accepted Answer

Hotel-to-safari-gate pickup and drop is included in all our tour packages at bookranthamboresafari.co.in. Standalone safari-only bookings do not include hotel transfers — guests should arrange their own transport to the designated safari reporting point. We recommend booking 30–60 days in advance as permits are strictly limited per zone per day.

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