Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park Tourism
Formerly a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Rewa, this National Park is world-renowned as a tiger reserve.
The Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh is a beautiful forest with wildlife and vegetation in abundance. Bandhavgarh is known to have the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers in the world and the frequent sightings of royal tigers make this national park a must-visit for all wildlife enthusiasts. In 2012, around 44-49 tigers were living in the park. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of avifauna.
Among the carnivores, Tigers, Asiatic jackals, foxes, sloth bears, ratels, gray mongoose, striped hyenas, jungle cats, and leopards are found here. Deer, monkeys, Wild boars, Nilgai, Chinkara, and Gaur, are also found here. A jeep safari into the park can take for a ride through adventure and enjoyment. The park got its name from the Bandhavgarh fort situated at the height of 800 m high cliffs nearby. The fort is in ruins now, but an hour trek to the fort is worth it as it provides a generous view of surroundings.
How to reach
Nearest railway station is Umaria after Katani railway station, from there it is about 40 minutes drive to Nature Heritage. Alternatively, take the overnight train from Delhi to Umaria and drive (30 minutes) to the park. Only jeeps are available for transfers. Khajuraho / Bandhavgarh distance is 250 Kms, (8 hrs drive).
Bandhavgarh, a small village of Jabalpur district, is located on the banks of river Narmada and widely famous for its marble rocks towering in glittering grandeur. The marble rocks at Bhedaghat soar up to a hundred feet on either side of river Narmada. The serene loveliness of the scene is one of the cool, quiet sunlight gleaming on the marble-white pinnacles and casting dappled shadows on the pellucid waters.
Here and there, the white saccharine limestone is seamed by veins of dark green or black volcanic rock; a contrast which only enhances like a setting of jet, the
purity of the surrounding marble. Jabalpur is also famous for eroded volcanic rock formations called as Balancing Rocks of Jabalpur. hover over densely forested valley bottoms, driving through the park you come across many streams that weave their way along the park.
Tiger sightings are what attract most travelers to Bandhavgarh as locals proudly inform “you are lucky to spot a tiger at any other park but here you are unlucky if you don’t sight at least one”.
The highest point in the park is the Bandhavgarh fort, which is said to be around 2000 years old, inscriptions in ancient Sanskrit are to be found in numerous caves that are scattered all over the park and especially around the fort, according to locals and park officials these caves are the reason behind the high survival rate of tiger cubs in the park, as they provide an ideal shelter and protection to the cubs when they are most vulnerable.
Vulnerability at Bandhavgarh is not limited to tiger cubs, the terrain and weather are harsh, during summers the mercury soars to a scorching 44 °C and during winters it reaches a trough at around 2 °C, Bandhavgarh hill and Tala the highest and lowest points in the park are separated by a mammoth 371 m, this contrast of elements and nature is just what makes Bandhavgarh an ideal haven for the animals, birds and reptiles that inhabit the park and a must visit for the discerning wildlife traveler.
