Bandhavgarh National Park
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Bandhavgarh National Park is situated amidst the
Vindhyas mountain range in Madhya Pradesh. The
famous white tigers were first found in the
Bandhavgarh National Park. White tigers were
originally discovered in Rewa. In 1951, the
legendary white tiger called Mohan was first
captured in this park. This national park was
earlier a hunting reserve of the royal family of
Rewa. Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh has earlier hunted
about 111 tigers. Bandhavgarh was declared as a
national park in 1968 and extended in 1986.
Bandhavgarh national park was declared as a tiger
reserve in 1993. At this place the famous
storywriter Rudyard Kipling found inspiration for
his famous book, the Jungle Book. |
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Bandhavgarh National park covers an area of 448 square km.
There are steep and rocky hills at the higher ranges with
flat tops and grasslands below the valley. The main
vegetation found within the Park is the moist deciduous
forest with Sal and bamboo trees and grasslands. The forests
are less dense here, with less undergrowth, which thus
offers better sighting of wildlife animals. Within
the park, stands the Bandhavgarh Fort, believed to be about
2000 years old. This fort has a large number of caves
belonging to the pre historic period with Brahmi
inscriptions belonging to first century B.C. The fort is now
in ruins and its monuments and tanks are being gradually
reclaimed by the forest, which provides shelter to various
wildlife animals including Blackbuck. From the top of the
Bandhavgarh Fort one can have a breathtaking view of the
Park and also view the Blackbuck which resides within the
fort.
Wildlife attractions in the Bandhavgarh National Park
The highest population of tigers is found in the
Bandhavgarh National Park, which is estimated to be about
more than 40. The park is home to about 22 species of
wildlife animals. The other wildlife attractions in the park
include Regal Gaur, the Muntajac, Jungle Cat, Ratel,
Porcupine, Rhesus Macaque, black faced Langur, Nilgai,
Chital, Chinkara, Sloth Bear, Four-horned Antelope, Deer,
Striped Hyena, Fox, Jackal, Leopard, Mongoose and Wild Boar.
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Besides various wildlife animals about 150 species
of birds known from the Tala area are also found here
including the Brown Fish Owl, Grey-headed Fishing
Eagle, Malabar Pied Hornbill and Shahin Falcon. The
other birds which are found in this park 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. Some of the birds that migrate during the
winter are the Steppe eagle and various water birds.
Jungle Safari in the Park:
You can visit the park either by having an Elephant or
a Jeep Safari. A guide will always accompany you
during the safari in the park. Besides the jeep or
elephant safari you can also move around in the park
in the private vehicles. |
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Best time to visit
The best season to visit Bandhavgarh National park is from
the November and June. The park is closed during the monsoon
season, which is from July to October.
However the best time to visit the park is early in the
morning or after 4 p.m. It is during this time that the
animals are most active and can be easily spotted.
How to get there
By Air:
The nearest airport is located at Khajuraho and Jabalpur.
Khajuraho is connected by various domestic airline services
with Agra, Delhi and Varanasi.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is located at Umaria, which is
about 30 kms located on the Katni-Bilaspur section of
South-Eastern Railway. Umaria is linked by train to various
cities in Madhya Pradesh including Delhi. Another convenient
railway station is at Satna, which is about 117 kms located
on the Bombay-Howrah main line of the Central Railway
By Road:
Bandhavgarh National Park is situated on the Satna-Umaria
and Rewa-Umaria highway. Bandhavgarh National Park is
connected by road with Khajuraho, Varanasi, Katni, Rewa and
Umaria. There are regular bus services available from
Khajuraho to Bandhavgarh. |
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National Parks
