Ranthambhore Fort, famous for its proximity to a tiger reserve, is located in which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
Ranthambhore Fort is one of the best known hill forts of India and lies inside the famous Ranthambhore National Park, a major tiger reserve. Many general knowledge questions link monuments with the states in which they are located. This question tests whether you can correctly associate Ranthambhore Fort with its state, which is also a popular tourist and wildlife destination.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The monument in question is Ranthambhore Fort. • It is associated with a tiger reserve called Ranthambhore National Park. • The options list different Indian states from various regions.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is to remember that Ranthambhore is the name of a fort as well as a national park located near Sawai Madhopur. Sawai Madhopur is a town in the state of Rajasthan. Rajasthan is already known for its many forts and palaces, and Ranthambhore Fort is one of the prominent heritage sites included in the group of Hill Forts of Rajasthan that have UNESCO World Heritage status. Therefore identifying the state as Rajasthan is straightforward once you recall the fort location.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Ranthambhore National Park is a famous wildlife sanctuary and tiger reserve in northern India. Step 2: Remember that the park and the fort are located near the town of Sawai Madhopur. Step 3: Associate Sawai Madhopur with the state of Rajasthan, which is known for cities like Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur. Step 4: Check the options. Rajasthan clearly matches this memory, while Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim are in different regions. Step 5: Conclude that Ranthambhore Fort is in Rajasthan and select Rajasthan as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Tourist brochures and history books about Rajasthan regularly list Ranthambhore Fort among the state major heritage attractions, along with Amer Fort, Chittorgarh Fort and others. The Ranthambhore tiger reserve is also usually described as lying in the eastern part of Rajasthan. No standard source places Ranthambhore in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha or Sikkim, which confirms that Rajasthan is the correct state.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Maharashtra: Known for forts like Raigad and Pratapgad, but Ranthambhore Fort is not located here. Uttar Pradesh: Has monuments such as the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, but not Ranthambhore Fort. Odisha: Famous for the Sun Temple at Konark and the Jagannath Temple at Puri, not for Ranthambhore Fort. Sikkim: A small Himalayan state with monasteries and mountain scenery, unrelated to the Ranthambhore region.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Ranthambhore with other tiger reserves in different states, such as Tadoba in Maharashtra or Dudhwa in Uttar Pradesh. If they focus only on the wildlife aspect and forget the fort and town, they might wrongly associate it with another state famous for tigers. To avoid such confusion, always connect the full set of details: Ranthambhore Fort, Sawai Madhopur, and the state of Rajasthan.

Final Answer:
Ranthambhore Fort is located in the state of Rajasthan.