NEW DELHI, JANUARY 2026 – To commemorate five decades of India’s most storied tiger habitat, acclaimed photographer and conservationist Kairav Engineer announces the premiere of ‘Ranthambhore – 50 Iconic Years.’ This landmark event, running from January 20th to 22nd, 2026, at CCA Building, Bikaner House, serves as the official launch of a definitive photographic volume and an immersive multi-sensory exhibition. The project stands as a profound final collaboration with the late Valmik Thapar (1952–2025), the legendary “Tiger Man of India,” who co-authored the work before his passing.
The Book: A Five-Decade Visual Archive
Established in 1974, Ranthambhore National Park celebrated its golden jubilee in 2024. ‘Ranthambhore – 50 Iconic Years’ is a unique chronicle of the historical significance of the park and its subsequent evolution. Curated from five decades of documentation, the book weaves together a narrative of survival and splendor. It traces the park’s beginnings from early, uncertain days to its current status as the crown jewel of global tiger tourism; captured through Kairav Engineer’s lens – one that balances creative depth with a conservationist’s precision.
Departing from a standard chronological record, the volume honors Valmik Thapar’s vision of the jungle as a place of constant discovery; the book is structured like a series of spectacular safaris where every turn of the page brings an unexpected surprise. This collective tribute is further enriched by the contributions of over 130 Indian and international photographers, whose lenses provide a kaleidoscopic view of the park’s history
The Exhibition: Where Heritage Meets the Wild
The exhibition transforms the traditional book launch into an experiential journey across two floors of the CCA Building in Bikaner House, blending high-fidelity photography with archival history.
Ground Floor: The Historical Bedrock The journey begins in the Book Lounge, a space for reflection and study, before moving into a curated historical overview. Visitors will navigate the park’s evolution from the Mughal Period to the present day, guided by archival maps, historical texts, and rare paintings. This section explores the “Early Wildlife” era, illustrating the unique co-existence of humans and predators amidst the ruins of the Ranthambhore Fort.
The Timeline Corridor & Film Room: A text-driven corridor functions as a living timeline of wildlife milestones. The space culminates in the Film Room, featuring rare documentary footage and screenings of Valmik Thapar’s iconic BBC works, offering a cinematic tribute to the man who brought the Indian tiger to the world’s living rooms.
First Floor: The upper level is dedicated to the visceral beauty of the jungle. Large-scale installations and lightboxes showcase a breathtaking array of imagery. Reflecting the collaborative nature of the book, the exhibition features works crowdsourced from a vast community of photographers who have traversed Ranthambhore over the last half-century. These visuals are accompanied by a soundscape recorded in the Ranthambhore wilderness, creating a total sensory immersion into the tiger’s domain.
In alignment with the spirit of the project, all proceeds from the book and exhibition will be donated to Tiger Watch, Valmik Thapar’s charity of choice. These funds will directly support anti-poaching initiatives and the welfare of the frontline forest guards who remain the true custodians of the park.
