In search of the Ranthambore tiger

On the way from Agra to Ranthambore we stopped at The Chand Baori, Abanerl or a step well. The were 3500 steps over 13 stories going down 100 feet for people to walk down to collect water. This 9^th century structure included elaborate carvings and featured a palace.

                                                             A long way to make tea.

                             Gail with a 1200 year old column depicting "poison women"

We stayed at The World Heritage National Park at Ranthambore and managed to fit in two extended safaris in search of the elusive tigers of Ranthambore. We saw lots of different birds, reptiles and mammals but the tigers were hard to spot. We were in cantors like large jeeps and the tracks were of a high grade of difficulty.

                                           Rob looking for tigers.

We saw lots of tiger food..red spotted deer, monkeys, antelope, sambar deer along with wild boar, mongoose and many different birds. We even had good crocodile sightings and even pugmarks. These are the footprints of the tiger.

                                                       Red Spotted Deer.

Deer and monkeys. They are often seen together and the monkeys warn the deer of approaching tigers. This is one of the main ways the rangers locate the movement of a tiger. From the relaxed stance of the deer there were no tigers nearby.

A Sambar deer, the largest in Asia. This one was ready for action but not a tiger but a female Sambar.

                         A Antelope. They are nothing like the African Antelopes.

                                     

                                                          A crocodile. Also looking for a tiger

Eventually we were rewarded with a sighting but it was a glimpse rather than a relaxed photo opportunity. We also had a second possible sighting but when we backed up it was gone. On the evening safari there were plenty of animals but no tigers.

                                       A pugmark, the footprint of a tiger. We were close.

If you zoom in enough you just might be able to see the tiger. We both saw it as did the rest of the people in the cantor but no-one got a good photo!

                                                       The best tiger sighting!

It was still rewarding to travel through this park in search of the elusive tiger.

                                                We headed for home as the sun set.