Ranthambore Fort lies within the Ranthambore National Park, near the town of Sawai Madhopur, the park being the former hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jaipur until the time of India's Independence. It is a formidable fort having been a focal point of the historical developments of Rajasthan. The fort is known for the glory and valor of Hammir dev of the Chauhan dynasty. This This fort stands majestically atop a hill overlooking tne of the onNavlakha Pol: This is the first gate provided with an arch facing east, having a width of 3.20 m. There is a provision of guard rooms and gun slits, It is made of ashlar masonry. A copper plate inscription affixed to the gate states that the existing wooden doors were provided during the period of Sawai Jagat Sigh of Jaipur.
Hathia Pol : The second gate, facing the south-east, is 3.20 m wide. It is bounded by natural rock on one side and the fort wall on the other. A rectangular Guard room is built over the gate.
Ganesh Pol : This is the third gate, facing south, having 3.10m wide span. The beam of the gate is supported by brackets over which is provided a recessed ogee arch. The eastern side of the gate is attached to the rock.In 18th century the Maratha rulers were at their peak and to check them Sawai Madho Singh, that time king of the Jaipur requested Mughals to had over the Fort to him. Sawai Madho Singh then developed the nearby village and fortified the fort adn renamed the village as Sawai Madhopur.
The best time to visit Ranthambore National park is October to end of June. The rest of the timeRanthambore National Park remain closed for the visitors. The fort had many buildings inside of which only a few have survived the ravages of wars and time. Among the remaining ruins, the two pavilions, Badal Mahal and Hammirs court and parts of the royal palace give an idea of the old grandeur. For water supply there are two rain fed reservoirs in the fort. Iltumish was the king of slave dynasty who captured the fort in 1226. After his death, Chauhans again captured it. The fort was unsuccessfully besieged by Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud in 1248 and 1253 but in 1259 Jaitra Singh Chauhan was defeated and the fort came under the rule of Delhi Sultanate. Shakti Dev again captured the fort in 1283. Then Jalal-ud-Din Khilji and after that Alauiddin Khilji unsuccessfully besieged the fort. But in 1301, Alauddin Khilji captured the fort.