RANTHAMBORE Zone 2: Phuta Kot and the waterholes
Zone 2 is the waterhole zone: Phuta Kot, Nal Ghati and Lahpur on one route, close to Jogi Mahal, long rated well by guides for tigers and with leopards reported too.
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In one line: Zone 2 is the waterhole zone: Phuta Kot, Nal Ghati and Lahpur on one route, close to Jogi Mahal, long rated well by guides for tigers and with leopards reported too.
Zone 2 is one of the core zones 1 to 5. Zones 2, 3 and 4 can be named on your permit at the “zone of your choice” price; all other zones are allotted by the Forest Department portal within their group, and we request yours where seats are open. Zones 1 to 5 do not run on Wednesdays, zones 6 to 10 on Tuesdays. Content checked 4 November 2026.
Where zone 2 is
Zone 2 lies between the Singh Dwar side of the park and the lakes of zone 3. The route works its way through Phuta Kot and the Nal Ghati valley to Lahpur, and the Jogi Mahal area is close by.
Boundaries on our maps are drawn from public map data and our drivers’ knowledge of the routes; they are illustrative, not the Forest Department’s survey lines.
Landscape and water
Dry forest broken by a chain of waterholes and small nallas, which is why the zone keeps its reputation: in the hot months animals come to the water, and the track passes most of it.
Got a date in mind? Send it on WhatsApp. We check live seats and reply in minutes, 7am–10pm.
Check my date on WhatsAppLandmarks on the route
- Phuta Kot
- Nal Ghati
- Lahpur
- the waterholes between them
Wildlife our guides see in zone 2
Tigers, and leopards more often than in most zones. Sambar, chital and wild boar at the waterholes, crested serpent eagle and owls in the valley forest.
Tigers and zone 2
Guides have rated zone 2 well for tigers for many seasons because of its water. It is one of the three zones (2, 3 and 4) that the Forest Department lets you name when you book, at a higher permit price. We tell you what has been seen there recently when you ask; we do not publish which tiger holds which part of the zone.
Sold out online? Ask us. We book from the daily current and tatkal quotas, and you pay only after we confirm availability, with a full refund if the permit can’t be issued.
Check my date on WhatsAppGetting zone 2: permits, closures and our prices
| Safari | Indian nationals | Foreign nationals | Quota and release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canter seat (20-seat open bus) | ₹3,000 | ₹5,500 | Current quota: released 10:00 am the day before |
| Gypsy seat (6-seat open jeep) | ₹7,500 | ₹12,000 | Premium quota: released 3 days before |
| Whole gypsy (tatkal, up to 6) | ₹45,000 | ₹65,000 | Tatkal: 11:00 am, 7 days before; non-refundable once issued |
All-in per seat or per vehicle: Forest Department permit, vehicle, guide and pickup. Festive weeks (Diwali, Christmas to New Year) run higher; advance-quota dates (after 31 January 2027) are priced lower and allotted by the portal. Full refund if the permit is not issued. Zone 2 does not run on Wednesdays.
Photography in zone 2
Waterhole sightings are often head-on and close, so a mid-range zoom is as useful as a long lens. Afternoons in summer are the busiest time at the water and the harshest light, so shade and patience matter.
Zone 2 questions
Can I choose zone 2 when I book?
Yes. Zones 2, 3 and 4 can be named on the permit at the “zone of your choice” price. If your zone is full on the day we book another core zone and refund any difference, or refund you in full, whichever you chose at booking.
Zone 2 or zone 3?
Zone 3 has the lakes and the views; zone 2 has more water points along the track and usually fewer vehicles. Both are among the most productive routes. If you have two drives, take one of each.
Is zone 2 closed on any day?
The core zones 1 to 5 do not run on Wednesdays, when only zones 6 to 10 are open.
The other zones
Zone 1: Singh Dwar and Sultanpur · Zone 3: Padam Talao and Rajbagh · Zone 4: Malik Talao and Lakarda · Zone 5: Kachida valley and Bakaula · Zone 6: Kundal · Zone 7: Chidikho · Zone 8: Balas · Zone 9: Kuwalji · Zone 10: Aantri
All ten zones compared → · Timings and zones → · Famous tigers →
Dated sightings archive
Verified entries for this zone from our sightings archive: dated, zone-level, sourced. Not a live position.
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Sources and how we know
Zone descriptions, landmarks and route notes come from our own drivers and guides, who drive these zones every week; closures, quotas and fees are as published on the official portal and are re-checked when the Forest Department changes them (see the “Updated” date).
- Official Rajasthan Forest Department safari booking portal (FMDSS / Aaranyak): seat release, quotas, official permit fees
- Official Rajasthan Forest Department
- Official National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Government of India
- Research Status of Tigers in India 2022: summary report (NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India)
- Background Ranthambore National Park: Wikipedia (background reading, not our source for prices or rules)
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