Ranthambore Fort rises from a sheer-sided rocky outcrop above the forest, a thousand years of Rajput history enclosed within a national park full of tigers. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (as part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan) and one of the more atmospheric monuments in the country — partly because you approach it through the jungle, partly because very few tourists make the effort.
The fort contains temples to Ganesh, Shiva, and Ramlalaji that remain active; local pilgrims walk up through the park to worship here. From the battlements you have sweeping views over Padam Talao and the treetops, with the occasional possibility of spotting a tiger or leopard in the forest below. The climb is steep — allow an hour up and down — and the jeep drop-off at the base reduces the effort considerably.