Quick Facts
Location - 32km of SE of Umaria district in Madhya Pradesh
How To Reach - The nearest airport is Khajuraho(230km). The nearest
railheads are Jabalpur(164km), Katni(102km) on the central railway and
Umaria is on the southeastern railway. Bandhavgarh national park is situated
on the Satna-Umaria and Rewa Umaria highway. Madhya Pradesh state transport
run buses from Rewa, Satna, Katni, and Umaria.
When To Go - November to June
Where To Stay - There are plenty of lodges and cottages. Also one
can stay at Jungle camp near Tala Gate.
Major Attraction - White tigers.
Bandhavgarh National Park is located at Vidhya Hills in Madhya Pradesh
spread an area of 500 sq km. The topography is also very vast and diverges
from open meadows, rippling forest and steep ridges. The park is famous for
royal Bengal tiger and moreover, the most elusive white tigers. It is
estimated in the recent census that tiger population is th highest in India.
Once a favorite hunting ground of the royal family of Rewa, it was declared
as a national park in year 1968 when Maharaj of Rewa handed over to the
government of Madhya Pradesh. The park is extended to the northern and
southern areas and now spread about an area of 500 sq km.
The much extended portion of the park is enshrouded with sal and bamboo
forests. The park has vast meadows but most of it is covered with variety of
trees. The tree and floiage concentration of the park is remarkable where
most of it covered with sal, and bamboo. On the higher hills the dominant
forests are mainly mixed vegetation including sali, saj, saja, dhobin etc.
The northern part of the park is covered with tall grasslands. The core area
of national park is the main sightseeing area with 32 colorful wooded hills.
The main attraction of the park is undoubtedly the big cats. The park has
highest density of tigers. The park is blessed with numerous animals, about
35 kinds of mammals, 250 species of birds,111 species of butterflies and 16
kinds of snakes. Apart from tigers there are leopards, gaur(Indian bison),
chital, sambar deer, dholes, nilgais, wild boars, chinkaras, sloth bears,
rhesus macaques, black faced langurs, jungle cats, hyenas, porcupines, wild
dogs, jackals, foxes, and others. There are also number of birds spotted in
the park such as white browed fantails, steppe eagles, green pigeons,
blossom headed parakeets, parakeets, blue bearded bee eaters, green bee
eaters, owls, minivets, woodshrikes, and flycatchers.
Sights And Activities
Bandhagarh Fort
It is believed that the fort is around 2000 years and the fort is also
mentioned in ancient texts of the Narad Panch Ratra and the Siva Purana. It
was ruled by Maghas from the 1st century AD, the 3rd century was dominated
by Vakatakas, followed by Sengars and the Kalachuris in the 5th and 10th
century respectively. The last inhabitants deserted the fort in 1935. The
fort is a major tourist attraction apart from regular wildlife sightseeing.
Baghel Musuem
This museum is located at the corner of the park. The museum houses rare
belongings of Maharaja of Rewa who once owned the Bandhavgarh park. The park
was their hunting ground, the stuffed white tiger in the museum testify the
hunting spree of Maharaj of erstwhile.
Village Tala
To get the tribal culture and village flavor, sightseeing around village
Tala is a nice place where still villagers use the old way of lifestyle with
modest homes, humble huts, you will see older people smoking hookahs sitting
on a cot.
Rajbahera
The Bandhaini Hillock View - The marshy meadow is the origin of river
Dammer. You can spot storks, vultures and herds of chital and wild pigs.
Wildlife Safari
There are two types of safari available in the park, jeep and elephant
safari. jeep safari are organized by the lodges and cottages and taken on
early morning and lasting till evening. A forest department guide accompany
you. Like jeep safari, elephant safari is also started during early morning.
Elephant safaris are organized for tiger tracking early in the morning.
