Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest national parks in northen India covering an area of 392 km². It is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan about 110 km northeast of Kota and 140 km southeast of Jaipur, northern India. It is a former royal hunting ground of maharajas of Jaipur and home to tigers, leopards and marsh crocodiles. Its landmarks include the imposing 10th-century Ranthambore Fort, on a hilltop,the Ganesh Mandir temple and Padam Talao Lake known for its abundance of water lilies.Ranthambhore was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973.It is one of the best places in India to see tigers in their natural jungle habitat.