The activities on offer for children in Sawai Madhopur are not of the typical theme park variety. What families will find is a wealth of educational and fun opportunities, such as exploring wildlife parks, learning about the history of this ancient area through Ranthambhore Fort – and taking part in the hugely popular sport of kite-flying.

Kite-flying
Kite-flying is a passion in India and is one that is often formed from a very young age. The people of Rajasthan celebrate the sport with fairs and competitions each year, bringing in participants from the region and other parts of the country as well. On any day, you can find young kite-flyers trying out their newest kite designs; and typically, on a day with even the lightest breeze, you’ll see a variety of colours and shapes in the sky. Young visitors can learn to make their own kites here, or simply try their hand at flying one they buy at a market stall.

Ranthambhore Fort 
The vast interior spaces of the Ranthambhore Fort site provide great exploration opportunities for youngsters. The crumbled ancient rock scattered around the forest floor alongside remnants of old houses that are overgrown with roots and branches of banyan trees make great playing grounds. The imagination can take over here, and young visitors in particular see the magic and intrigue in the atmosphere. The ruins date from the 10^th century and are situated alongside lakes where you’ll encounter herons, holy men and guides who retell myths related to Raja Hamir.

Ranthambhore National Park
The park is host to a variety of wildlife which roam freely around 392 square kilometres of open bushland and rocky terrain interspread with lakes and streams. The best time of year for spotting tigers in the park is in March, which is half-way through the area’s dry season. This is a time when the trees have dropped their leaves and it is easiest to see the wildlife. You probably get to see herds of small chital and the larger sambars – both members of the deer family – prancing their way along the steep hills and through the lush valleys. Unfortunately for the deer, they form a major part of the tigers’ diet. Marsh crocodiles can be seen sunning themselves on the banks of lakes that are filled with lotuses; and langur monkeys can be seen hanging in the banyan trees, where they raise their babies in communal ‘day care’ centres.

The area around Sawai Madhopur is littered with ancient ruins dating back at least 1,000 years. The most prominent of these form the core of cultural attractions, which include the centuries-old temples at Rameshwaram ghat, the Ranthambhore and Khandar forts, the ancient tantric temple of Kalaji Goraji, and also the city of Sawi Madhopur itself. Visits to villages offer interesting insights into the lives of locals. Their culture and beliefs are evident in arts and handicrafts which they produce and sell to tourists.

Dastkari Kendra
This organisation works with women from villages scattered throughout the region, helping them develop means of supporting themselves and their families through creating and selling handicrafts. Buying from these women is a good way to obtain quality art, clothing and craft items – as their creations include colourful kurtis, tie-dyed fabric and clothing, patchwork quilts, skirts, and also black pottery. All profits from sales go straight to the women who have made the items, directly benefiting the local community.

Entertainment
Entertainment options here are largely focused on performances of folk music and dance, periodic cultural festivals, events and fairs, and also on cinema – particularly popular are Bollywood blockbusters, although major hits produced by Hollywood are also frequently shown and they are almost equally well received.

Temples
There are several temples found in Sawai Madhopur that are well worth visiting, and can be see in one day. Chamatkar Temple is one that is famous for miracles that are said to have occurred on the spot where the temple was eventually built. This is a Jain temple that is a popular destination for pilgrims from around India – and a sacred place where wishes are said to be granted and miracles are said to still occur. Chauth Mata Temple is set high on a hill, and is visited by the faithful who are seeking to have their unmet desires fulfilled. Kala Gaura Bhairav Temple is another interesting site worth a visit; it’s one of the few temples in India where devotees practice tantric kriyas. Trinetra Ganesha Temple is the most well known and widely visited of Sawai Madhopur’s temples, and is found inside Ranthambhore Fort.

Sawai Madhopur’s hotel restaurants are a good bet if you’d like to try out Rajasthani cuisine; and there are a number of lower-priced options available in the city’s bazaar as well. Local specialities include bajre-ki-roti, salty-sweet chhaas and a spicy, garlic chutney. Popular local fare is quite liberally flavoured with red chilli. For those not used to spicy food, they must be taken with slight caution. A tangy local drink made from phalsa berries is a favourite in the summertime. It is a bright red and a bit sour, but very thirst-quenching.

Shopping is a popular activity in Sawai Madhopur for visiting tourists, and the markets in particular draw in the greatest number of visitors due to the exotic atmosphere of the marketplace and the incredible variety of items on offer. There are accessories available made from camel leather, locally-woven wool carpets, and copies of locally-unearthed artefacts. Also popular are perfumes made from an aromatic local plant - khas (vetiver). Other objects made from different parts of the same plant, including small boxes and fans are for sale as well.

Golf, horseback riding and polo are the most popular outdoor activities in Sawai Madhopur and throughout Rajasthan. You will find facilities for riding at stud farms in the area, as well as a chance to take in a polo match. If you’re willing to travel as far as Jaipur, there is also an opportunity to play at an 18-hole golf course.

Golf
During British India, the local aristocracy became interested in golf - the gentlemen’s game. Due to the hot and dry conditions, it however was not possible to build and sustain the grass needed for the sport. It is only in Jaipur that a sustainable course exists. Being a result of Maharaja Man Singh – an avid fan of the game who constructed an 18-hole course while renovating his palace - it is not regarded as a professional course, although it is great for a round of golf in a beautiful setting: there’s a palace next door and peacocks wandering the fairways.

Horseback riding
Horses and horseback riding feature significantly in the history of Rajasthan. There are opportunities to ride in the area, and the hilly areas surrounding Sawai Madhopur are the perfect places to explore desert trails and sand dunes. This is an activity that the whole family can enjoy with or without a guide from the stables. Most horses found in this region are marwaris. At one time they were ridden in battle and greatly prized by the rulers who owned them.

Polo
The association with polo in Rajasthan dates to the Mughal period and is widely depicted in the many miniature paintings of that era. The game did not actually become a popular sport until during British rule when it was seen as an appropriate peacetime activity for a gentleman. Taking in a match while you’re in Rajasthan is highly recommended, as it is such an important part of the regional culture.