Rajasthan, the desert state of India, is popularly called the Land of Kings. It is known for its architectural edifices, forts, and grand palaces left by royal dynasties. While learning about their lifestyle, you will learn about their hunting sport, a hobby for them to demonstrate their courage and skill. As a result, many tigers were killed in large numbers. Later, the numbers dropped more due to hunting during the British era. But now watching the tigers of Ranthambore National Park with their numbers growing brings a positive sign and happiness among wildlife lovers.
Seeing Bengal tigers is one of the top activities to do in Ranthambore. Watching these majestic species in their natural surroundings is a visual treat for any wildlife lover. If you also dream of watching tigers beyond the confinement of books or pictures, visit Ranthambore National Park, a well-known tiger reserve in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district and weave unforgettable memories with your dear ones. Now let’s begin with the list of:
Popular Tigers of Ranthambore National Park
Machali (T-16) – When listing the popular tigers of Ranthambore National Park, it cannot begin without mentioning Machali, the oldest tigress who died at the age of 20, which is beyond the usual lifespan of tigers from 10 to 15 years. This royal tigress was the pride of this national park as she gained immense fame in documentaries, short films, books, journals, and wildlife research papers. She dominated the territory with her male counterpart, Bamburam, and gave birth to 11 cubs from 1999 to 2006.
Krishna (T-19) – Krishna was the daughter of Machali, who gave birth to 12 cubs. She was the icon of the tiger reserve, dominating the major part of the territory, including the three lakes area: Singh-Dwar, Gular-kui, Tamba-Khan, Lakkada, Maggar—Dah, Gazzal –Hill, Mandoop, High-Point, Nal-Ghati, and Khemcha Kund. Krishna died on 8th February 2023, around 12:30 PM.
Arrowhead (T-84) – Arrowhead is the daughter of the legendary tigress of Ranthambore National Park, Machali. She got the name because of the arrow mark on her head. Inheriting her mother’s exceptional hunting skills and phenomenal beauty, this 9-year-old tigress captivates the attention of tourists and wildlife enthusiasts. She has gained the reputation of a cunning hunter.
Riddhi (T-124) – Among the fascinating tigers of Ranthambore National Park is Riddhi, the daughter of Arrowhead and the great-granddaughter of Machali. Currently, she is this tiger reserve’s dominant queen of the lake area. She is a proficient hunter who recently killed a crocodile. Pictures showing her preying on the reptile made the news.
Siddhi (T-125) – She is another daughter of the tiger Arrowhead. This two-year-and-five-month-old tiger was born in October or November 2018. Siddhi shares her territory with her father, the male tiger Chirico. You can spot this sub-adult tigress roaming around Padam Lake, Malik Lake, and Raj Bagh.
Noor (T-39) – Noor is a beautiful 16-year-old tigress in Ranthambore National Park. Her trident-like mark above the right eye and a Y formation on her right hind leg are worth noticing, making her famous in the Ranthambore vicinity. When exploring the wildlife of Ranthambore National Park, be the luckier one to spot this tigress.
Sultana (T-107) – Sultana, the 3-year-old young and bold tigress, is a daughter of Noor (T-39) and a dominant male tiger, Singhasth (T-57). Her videos of chasing a canter safari jeep, walking with her cubs near Trinetra Ganesh Temple and pouncing on a dog had gone viral on news and social media. The regions dominated by Sultana tigress are Singhdwar-Sultanpur-kala-Peela-Pani, Khemcha-Kund, Phootah-Bhanda, Kishni ka Deh, Soleshwar, Chuli-Deh and Amareshwar Dang.
Ustad (T-24) – Like the legendary tigress Machali, Ustad was a famed male tiger in Ranthambore National Park. For nine years, he truly lived up to the name of a dominant master. Photographers and wildlife lovers much liked him. But his man-eater image became a major concern for forest authorities. He died on 28 December 2022 due to multiple serious health issues.
Gandri (T-99) – Gandri, the young, shy, and adult tigress ruling the Halonda region, is also among the popular Ranthambore National Park tigers list. She is the daughter of Junior Indu T-60 and Singhasth (T-57). Gandri has two male siblings, T-97 and T-98, who later moved to the Guda, Chavan, Doongar, Nagadi Chata, and Maga-Deh areas.
Aves (T-104) – Aves is a young, sub-adult tiger who roams in the national park’s Bakhola, Dhakad, Berda, Lal-Ghati, Anantpuraand, and Jamun-Deh areas. Born in June 2016, this male tiger is the son of tigress Laila (T-41) and father Akash (T-64). Among the two cubs of tigress Laila, Aves is mostly spotted with her mother.
Sitara (T-28) – Sitara is one of the tigers of Ranthambore National Park. He got his name because of a five-point star mark on his left eye. He is known for the territorial fight with the legendary tigress Machalii in 2009. Sitara shares territory with his sibling T-29 at Gilai Sagar, Thumka, and other surrounding parts of the northeast end of the park.
Shakti (T-111) – Shakti is the daughter of tigress Krishna (T-19) and the granddaughter of legendary lake queen Machali. Recently, there was news about her giving birth to four cubs in the Lakarda forest area of the Kundera range. This two-and-a-half-year-old plus young tigress lives in her parents’ territory. She can be spotted during a safari ride.
Noori (T-105) – Noori is a bold tigress who roams around Phuta Banda, Magar-Deh, and Pandu-Deh. She is the 4th litter of Noor (T-39) and shares her territory with her father, Singhasth (T-57). After becoming an adult tigress, Noori claimed her territory in Zone 2. You can spot her in zones 1 and 2.
Veeru (T-109) – Veeru is a 3-year old sub-adult tiger in Zone 6. He is the 4th litter among his three other siblings of tigress Ladali (T-8) and father Kumbha (T-34). Unfortunately, the two cubs that survived were Veeru and his brother Jai (T-108) who lives in the similar area. Both the brothers make a perfect pair and can be spotted during the Ranthambore safari.
Identification of Tigers
Apart from watching these popular tigers at the safari zones in Ranthambore National Park, any wildlife enthusiast would be curious to know how these striped big cats are identified. We all know tigers are beautiful creatures that captivate attention with their striped skins. But all tigers do not have the similar stripes pattern, and are different to each other. They are named based on unique markings on their bodies, be it on the head or other body parts.
Taking an example of Machali, who gained popularity with the names Lady of the Lakes and Crocodile Hunter. Her name does not match with the characteristics of a tigress, but if you have a close watch on its fish-shaped mark on the left ear of her face, you will know the reason. Similar is the case with other tigers. Another way to identify tigers is their pugmarks that vary in shape and size on the pad’s right, left or bottom lobe.
Plan your luxury stay at the top-rated resort at Ranthambore
To make your tour unforgettable in the wilderness of Ranthambore National Park, Bookmark Resorts, Jogi Mahal is a luxury resort in Ranthambore appealing with its rustic outdoors and beautifully designed indoor spaces. Whether you seek a rejuvenating experience, adrenaline fun, walking down memory lane, or deep history, this resort makes the best choice.
The 40 well-appointed rooms, adorned with thoughtful decor, reflect the heritage of the wildlife retreat. Every room here features a plunge pool or garden view. Below are the two luxury options for your stay.
- Premium Room with Aravalli View – Premium Room with Aravalli View of 500 sq. ft. is a room category with a rich tapestry of vibrant hues and wooden accents that bring warmth to the space. The greenery around the villa lets you have a leisurely walk, giving soothing relief from the city’s noisy atmosphere. Every room has an open shower area and a shower cubicle. You can choose either of these options.
- Luxury Room with Plunge Pool – Luxury Room with a Plunge Pool is another lavish room category of 550 – 650 sq. ft. to stay in the wildlife region. Scoring high on the decor and design, it showcases Rajasthan’s rich culture and heritage. It lets you lounge around, sit with a book on the plush sofas, or enjoy the company of your loved ones in the private sit-out zone. For a rejuvenating experience, you can take a refreshing dip at its heated plunge pool or enjoy being in the water sipping your favourite beverage.
Experience a memorable culinary treat
Experience a memorable culinary session with Indian and global cuisines, one of the top restaurants in Ranthambore. Food prepared by culinary masters lets guests relish the taste of Rajasthani cuisine.
The restaurant provides an extensive range of local delicacies utilising fresh produce and spices from the region. When you come here, you will be amazed at its inviting ambience, black-and-white chequered flooring, and beautiful paintings on the walls.
Conclusion
So, this ends our blog on the famous tigers of Ranthambore National Park. Today we gave you a brief overview of the tigers with their numeric tags, starting from Machali, the legendary tigress who earned much fame through documentaries, short films, journals, etc. Her popularity helped the Indian government earn nearly US$100 million between 1998 and 2009.
In the list we also included the names of other tigers of her lineage, like Krishna, Arrowhead, Riddhi Siddhi, and others. Besides all this, we also mentioned the reasons behind the names of tigers or how they are identified. If this guide has helped you gain knowledge of Ranthambore’s majestic striped big cats, visit this beautiful wildlife destination and fulfil your dream of spotting them at safari zones.
