Sawai Madhopur : Lying on the main Delhi - Mumbai railway line, Sawai Madhopur is the gateway to the world renowned Ranthambhore National Park - the famous Tiger Reserve, just 12 kms away from here. Ranthambhore has been a witness to the rise and fall of many rulers and a series of battle scenes.

In the 13th century A.D., Govinda, the grandson of Prithviraj Chauhan took over the reign of the land. Later his successor Vagbhatta beautified the city and built a noteworthy temple at Jhain.

In the middle of 15th century A.D., Rana Kumbha captured the fort and gifted it to his son to be occupied later by the Hada Rajputs of Bundi and Mughal Emperors Akbar and Aurangazeb. Mughal emperor Shah Alam gifted it to Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh 1 of Jaipur in 1754 and since then it was mainted as the hunting preserve of the Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were part of the royal hunting parties who stayed here.