About Bandhavgarh National Park
Set
amidst the Vindhyan Mountain range in Madhya Pradesh, the Bandhavgarh
National Park is home to the famous White Tigers of Rewa. The prominent ones
captured in the Park include the legendary White Tiger called Mohan, who
supposedly fathered several offspring found in zoos the world over.
The park was a former hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa where
once Maharajah Venkat Raman Singh made his illustrious career out of hunting
111 tigers. Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968. The landscape
is a unique mixture of steep and rocky hills, with flat tops and level
grasslands in the valleys below. The vegetation found within the Park is
moist deciduous forest with fine Sal trees and stretches of bamboo.
Today, Bandhavgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is known for having one of the
densest populations of Tigers in the country. Prominent among other wild
animals are Nilgai, Chital, Chinkara, Gaur, Sloth Bears and Wild Boar along
with some 250 species of birds. It is one of the best places to witness the
Tiger in action with the highest density of tiger population for any
wildlife park in the country.
Wildlife Attractions in Bandhavgarh National Park
Chances are you will spot a striped predator while wandering through the
park on elephant back. Other animals seen here are Nilgai, Chausingha,
Chital, Chinkara, Wild boar and sometimes a fox or jackal.
Around 250 species of birds are also found in the park including migratory
birds that arrive in winter such as the steppe eagle and various water
birds. The terrace of the Bandhavgarh Fort provides a breathtaking
bird's-eye view of the Park.
Other avian species found here include Peacock,
Paradise fly catchers, Jungle Fowl, Golden and Black headed Orioles, Yellow
Ioras, Red-vented Bulbuls, Blue Jays, Purple Sunbirds, Green Barbets and
Mynahs.
Safaris
Safari
options in the park include Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari. Jeep safaris
are undertaken during the early morning hours till evening. It is essential
to take along a forest department guide on a Jeep safari, while on an
elephant safari your guide will be the mahout or elephant driver. Elephant
safari trips are organized for tiger tracking early in the morning. It is
advisable to go on every possible safari, because a sighting is never
guaranteed and no sighting is the same. The best time for a safari is the
early morning hours, while you can also make good use of the afternoon. The
tiger show is another major attraction which guarantees a sighting.
Other Attractions In Bandhavgarh National Park
Kalchuri Archaeological Remains
Besides the wildlife, Bandhavgarh is also famous for the archaeological
remains of the Kalchuri period that have been found here.
Bandhavgarh Fort
Within the Park, stands tall the ruins of Bandhavgarh Fort, believed to be
over 2000 years old. The Fort has a large number of caves belonging to the
pre-historic period with Brahmi inscriptions dating far back to the first
century B.C.
Baghela Museum
The museum houses the private collection of the maharajah of Rewa. The
stuffed body of Mohan, the first Tiger found in the park in 1951, can be
seen here. Also seen is a unique collection of military weapons and other
hunting stuff. The museum timings are 10 AM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM.
How to Get there
By Air : Khajuraho is the nearest well connected
airport. Indian Airlines flies from Delhi to Khajuraho seven days a week
(Dep. 11:40). Jet Airways has a daily connection between Khajuraho-Delhi via
Varanasi (Dep. 10:40). Another major airport, Jabalpur is connected by a
daily Air Deccan flight from Bhopal (7:55) and Delhi (5:55).
By Rail : The nearest railhead is Umaria located on the
Katni-Bilaspur section of South-Eastern Railway. Important trains between
Delhi-Umaria are Kalingautkal Express (12:50, Daily) and Hirakund Exp.
(8:45, Mon, Thu & Sat). Other convenient railheads near Bandhavgarh are
Jabalpur, Katni and Satna on the central railway. Mumbai is connected with
Jabalpur through a number of daily trains which include the Gorakhpur
Express (6:35), Mahanagari Exp. (00:10), Rajendra Ngr Exp. (23:40), Kolkata
Mail (21:25), LTT RLPB Exp (22:10), Guwahati Exp. (7:45, Wed, Fri, Sat) and
so on. From Jabalpur, a short journey by bus from will take you Tala, near
the entrance of the park.
By Road : Bandhavgarh National Park is situated on the
Satna-Umaria & Rewa-Umaria highway. Madhya Pradesh State Transport Bus
Services are available from Rewa, Satna, Katni and Umaria. Another option is
to hire cars from Katni, Umaria, Satna or Bilaspur and hit the bumpy road.
The road trip from Khajuraho to Bandhavgarh is an interesting one which
passes through the Ken river, a crocodile sanctuary. It then moves on to the
diamond mining industry of Panna and Satna before branching off on a
subsidiary road across the ridges of Vindhyachal to Bandhavgarh.
To bypass the long booking queues and enjoy a hassle free and adventurous
tour to the Bandhavgarh National Park with Wildlife Tour India, just
Click
Here!
Distances from Major Cities:
Umaria : 35 km (NE)/ 45 min
Khajuraho : 270 km/ 6 hrs.
Jabalpur : 190 km/ 4 hrs.
Satna : 120 km
Delhi : 978 km (SE)
Gwalior : 565 km (SE)
Katni : 102 km
Travel Tips/Important Information
- The small town of Tala, located near the park, provides most of the
basic facilities including vegetable vendors, cigeratte shops, liquor
store, a fuel pump and a small hospital with basic medical facilities.
The park office is also located here near the northern gate.
- The park has four main entrances, Panpatha in the north, Tala in the
east (most of the hotels are located here), Dhamokar in the south-west
and Khitauli in the west. Two roads, Umaria-Rewa highway and
Parasi-Katni road via Khitauli pass through the park.
- The park charges are Entry Fee : Rs. 20 (Indians), Rs. 200
(Foreigners), Guide Charges : Rs. 75, Vehicle Entry : Rs. 100 (Park
round charges extra), Camera Charges : Rs. 25/Day (Still) Rs. 200/Day
(Video), Cine documentary film : 12000/Day and Video documentary film :
Rs. 6000/Day
- The best way to track tigers is on an Elephant back. Elephants
belonging to the forest department can be booked from the park office
near the gate on Umaria road. Elephant ride charges are Indians: Rs.
60/Hour (Adults), Rs. 40/Hour (Child below 12 years) and Foreigners: Rs.
300 (Adults), Rs. 200 (Child). Be sure to make your bookings well in
advance to avoid disappointment.
- Watchtowers are located all over the park for animal viewing. The one
in Bhadrasila is good for watching Gaur.
- A compact pair of binoculars of 7x or 8x magnification is a
must-carry along.
- The park timings vary according to season, generally depending on the
time of sunrise and sunset
- You can also travel around the park in your own vehicle, but assisted
by a forest department guide. Jeeps can be rented at the park office for
about Rs. 650. Jeeps enter the park from 6:30 to 10 AM and from 2:30 PM
till 6. Only 6 persons + 1 driver + 1 guide are allowed in one jeep.
- Shopping options include maps, books and pictures related to the
wildlife of the park which can be bought from the souvenir shop at the
main entrance of the park.
- Do not stroll on the road during night without a source of light and
try not to visit the place during Kali puja as the animals get scared of
fire cracker noise and move deeper in to the jungle.
Leave the hassles of arranging suitable accommodation, comfortable travel
and picking the best sight seeing to us and enjoy a holiday in the lap of
mother nature blended with the best of traditional Indian hospitality at the
Bandhavgarh National Park.
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Jungle
Resorts in Bandhavgarh
| Tiger’s
Den |
Taal |
The
resort, fully equipped with all the modern amenities, is located in
village Tala, 400 yards from Bandhavgarh National Park.
|
The USP
of this resort is the natural environs and homely services on offer.
Since everything is taken care of all you have to do is sit back and
enjoy with your family.
|
“With
the highest density of tiger population for any wildlife park in India,
a tiger sighting is guaranteed. Even if you miss out one in the wild,
the tiger show is a spectacle not to be missed....”
