The answers to these questions are neither straightforward nor entirely precise, but through fragments of historical accounts, I have tried to piece together the story behind the name.

Historically, this place has been known by four distinct names:

These names, too, appear in various forms across different sources. Most historical accounts suggest that the name Ranthambhore originated from two words: Ran and Thambhore.

Ran refers to a battlefield, a term still used for the plateau behind the main fort, where Akbar’s army is said to have waged war and fired cannonballs at the fort.

Thambhore refers to the hill where the fort is located. The word Thambhore is thought to mean “forehead,” as the hill resembles a prominent brow in the landscape.

However, this explanation has some inconsistencies. For instance, the plateau behind the fort might have been named Ran after the battle during Akbar’s time, but significant battles before this era seem unlikely, as earlier armies lacked artillery, making an assault from this location improbable. Most historians agree that significant conflicts, such as those with the Khilji forces, likely took place near the Delhi Gate of the fort, not at the plateau. Moreover, local inhabitants have never referred to the hill as Thambhore.

The name Ranatbhanwar has been associated with the Ganesh deity enshrined within the fort. In Rajasthan, Bhanwar is a term often used for the son of a king, and Ganesh is revered as the son of Shiva.

The term Ranantpur appears in a poetic context and lacks substantial historical evidence to support its usage.

The oldest and most reliable evidence of the name comes from two ancient inscriptions. The first is the Mangalana inscription from 1215 AD, commissioned by Jaitra Singh of Ajmer for a stepwell, now housed in a museum in Ajmer. The second is an inscription from 1288 AD, found in the Kwalji Shiva temple- Indergarh (Bundi), installed by a prominent minister of that time. Both inscriptions primarily document the reign of the Chauhan rulers and mention the term Ranasthambhapur, the oldest known name for Ranthambhore.

The term Ranasthambhapura is derived from three words:

Together, it signifies a place upheld by the pillars of war. Over time, this name evolved into Ranthambhore, which remains in use today.

Thus, Ranasthambhapur is the earliest documented name for this historically significant place. Beyond this, no further explanations are available regarding the origin of the name.