This is one of the most well-known tiger sanctuaries in India. It is so popular due to two reasons - the sightings of this royal beast are almost guaranteed; and the ambience of the park is magical with the forests, Aravalli mountains, the ancient Rathambhore Fort, and the beautiful lake Padam Talao with the Jogi Mahal in the centre.

Ranthambhore is at its best in winter, but you can visit it from October to June. Sawai Madhopur Station is the main junction from where you drive to the park and check into one of the many hotels on the outskirts.

Tiger sighting is very organised here - you can only go into the park in the Forest Department jeeps and mini-buses. Fixed routes are followed, and sometimes there are almost traffic jams with eager tourists waiting for an exciting glimpse of the big cat. The tourist hysteria can sometimes put you off, but when you see a tiger saunter within a few feet of you, your impatience melts away and you savour the memory for a lifetime.

KEOLADEO GHANA NATIONAL PARK  Rajasthan is home to India?s most famous bird sanctuary also known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. A convenient driving distance from Delhi (5 hours) and close to Mathura, Bharatpur is a nice weekend getaway.

The marshy wetland was once the hunting grounds for the Rajasthan maharajas and British sahibs. Now it is the protected home of thousands of water birds ? both local and migratory. In winters you see an amazing variety of ducks, geese, storks, pelicans, flamingos that have flown in from distant countries. Unfortunately the famous Siberian Crane is coming no longer since the past 3 or 4 years.

In the monsoons the local birds make their nests and procreate. This too is an amazing sight with dense colonies of nests on the low-lying trees by the water edge, buzzing with courtship displays, and later, greedy chicks demanding food.