Ranthambore’s tigers have names, families and reputations. Guides and photographers give many of them nicknames, while the forest department identifies each tiger by a T-number based on its stripe pattern. This guide introduces the best-known tigers of Ranthambore and shows how they are connected, so your next safari has a story behind every sighting.
1. How tigers are identified
Every tiger in the reserve has a T-number, based on its unique stripe pattern. The numbers are the official way to track tigers. Names such as Machli, Arrowhead or Riddhi were given by guides, photographers and visitors, so they are popular but not official. The park’s tiger population changes all the time as cubs grow up, move away and establish new territories. The official tiger count reported in June 2026 was 77.
2. The family tree at a glance
Many of the park’s famous tigers are related. The table below shows the main line from Machli to her great-granddaughters, plus a few other well-known tigers.
| ID | Name | Relation and story |
|---|---|---|
| T-16 | Machli | The “Lady of the Lakes”, the matriarch of the lake dynasty. Died in 2016. |
| T-19 | Krishna | Machli’s daughter, who took over the lake territory and became the mother of Arrowhead. |
| T-84 | Arrowhead | Krishna’s daughter and Machli’s granddaughter. Ruled the lakes for years. Died in June 2025. |
| T-124 | Riddhi | Arrowhead’s daughter, born in late 2018. A dominant tigress of the lake area. |
| T-125 | Siddhi | Riddhi’s sister, also born in late 2018 to Arrowhead. |
| T-24 | Ustad | A large dominant male who moved out of the park to Sajjangarh Biological Park, Udaipur, in 2015. |
| T-25 | Zalim | A male known for raising two orphaned cubs, which is very rare behaviour for a male tiger. |
| T-28 | Star Male | Named after a star-shaped mark on his face, a well-known male of the core zones. |
| T-39 | Noor | A well-known tigress of Zones 1, 2 and 6, and the mother of several litters. |
Tiger territories change often, and sightings are never guaranteed. For the park’s wider story, read our Ranthambore National Park guide.
3. Machli (T-16): the Lady of the Lakes
Machli is the tigress that most visitors have heard about. She ruled the lakes around Padam Talao and Rajbagh, was one of the most photographed tigers in the world, and became famous for fighting a large mugger crocodile in the lake. Her bloodline is the reason many of today’s famous tigers are connected to her. Read more about her in our Ranthambore tigers guide.
4. Krishna (T-19): Machli’s daughter
Krishna is Machli’s daughter. She took over the lake territory and raised a litter in 2014 that included Arrowhead (T-84), Lightning (T-83) and Pacman (T-85). Krishna is the link between Machli and the tigresses that followed, so she is an important name in the park’s family story.
5. Arrowhead (T-84): a queen of the lakes
Arrowhead was Krishna’s daughter and Machli’s granddaughter. She was named after an arrow-shaped marking and became one of the most photographed tigresses in the park. Arrowhead had several litters and was seen around the lakes for many years. She died in June 2025, and her death was widely reported in the national media.
Her legacy continues through her daughters, Riddhi and Siddhi. You can read about the park’s conservation story in our Ranthambore National Park guide.
6. Riddhi (T-124) and Siddhi (T-125)
Riddhi and Siddhi were born to Arrowhead in late 2018, and they were first seen as cubs in January 2019. Riddhi became one of the park’s best-known tigresses. In 2023 the forest department confirmed that she had given birth to three cubs. Reports from 2026 describe Riddhi as the dominant tigress of the lake area, covering Padam Lake, Rajbagh and Malik Talab, and say she has since had more cubs.
Siddhi is the quieter sister, and she has been reported in Zone 5 in recent seasons. Both sisters show how the lake dynasty continues to develop. To plan a safari in their likely areas, read our best zone for Ranthambore safari guide.
7. Other famous tigers
- Ustad (T-24): a large, dominant male of the early years of the park. He moved out of Ranthambore to Sajjangarh Biological Park in Udaipur in 2015.
- Zalim (T-25): a male who raised two orphaned cubs, a rare behaviour for a male tiger.
- Star Male (T-28): named after the star-shaped mark on his face.
- Noor (T-39): a well-known tigress of Zones 1, 2 and 6, and the mother of several litters.
8. How to see them on your safari
No safari can promise a particular tiger, but you can improve your chances:
- Book two or three safaris in different zones. The best-known tigers move across several zones.
- Visit from March to June for the best sightings near the waterholes. Our best time to visit Ranthambore guide explains each season.
- Choose your zone wisely. Read our best zone for Ranthambore safari guide before you book.
- Book early. Seats are released by the Forest Department in fixed windows. See our Ranthambore safari booking guide.
Ready to go? Browse our Ranthambore tiger safari packages or talk to our team for help with dates and zones.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
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