BANDHAVGARH TOURIST PLACE
Useful Facts:
State & District Madhya Pradesh, Umaria (STD Code: 07627)
Closed for Afternoon Safari on Every Wednesday , Holi Festival Day, From 01-July to 15-Oct
Location 3° 30' to 23°46' North and 80 ° 11' to36' East. Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh in Central India
Open for visitors Mid October - To - June End (16-Oct-2010 till 30-June-2011)
Famous For High Tiger Density, Fort in the Forest, Tiger sighting & photography
Best Time to Visit : October to May
Best Time Tiger- photography February to April
Climate Moderate (20° C - 35° C): Oct, Nov, Mar; Cool (02° C - 18° C): Dec, Jan, Feb; Hot (35° C - 45° C): Apr, May, Jun
Park Safari Timing Morning Safari: 06:15 - 10:20, Afternoon Safari:15:15 - 18:20, Fort Safari: Sunrise - Sunset
Park Safari Zones Tala Zone (Gate-1), Magdhi Zone (Gate-2), Khitauli Zone (Gate-3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A thick-forested land encompassed by bamboo and sal trees and wooded cliffs of the Vindhyas; Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most exotic wildlife destinations in India. An erstwhile game reserve of the royal family of Rewa, Bandhavgarh got recognition as a wildlife park in 1968, when the Maharaja of Rewa bequeathed the park to the Government. Initially the park stretched to 105.40-sq-kms in area, with 25 resident tigers forming its prime attraction.
Today this sprawling park of Madhya Pradesh covers an area of 437-sq-kms. Visiting Bandhavgarh and trailing tigers on Elephant Safari or cutting through the jungle tracks in a jeep
(Jeep Safari) promises to give you one of the best wildlife experiences in the state. The nearest airport to reach Bandhavgarh is Khajuraho (270 km) and the nearest railhead is Umaria (35 km). The best time to visit Bandhavgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is mid-November to June.
Landscape and Flora
Bandhavgarh jungle has an excellent vegetation concentration and consists mainly of sal trees. The park remains enveloped in thickets of greenery and the shower of trees here is simply spellbinding. Towards higher altitude, the vegetation changes to a mixed type, with stretches of dhobin, sali and saja. In the northern regions, there are vast areas of grass and reed-covered lowlands, with bamboo coppices. The emerald lndscape in this region also exhibits craggy ridges, with dramatic ravines and perennial streams.
Low hillocks, cloaked in green trees and grasslands, make up the southern region of the park. This region was incorporated into the park in 1982. The central zone or the core zone of the park consists of the original 105.40 square km and still remains the main site of wildlife viewing, with its 32 hills and the 14th century Bandhavgarh Fort. There are also some swampy areas, divided by water bodies and a few stretches of grasslands, in the region.
Fauna
Declared a tiger reserve under 'Project Tiger', in 1993, the popularity of Bandhavgarh lies in the fact that it domiciles the highest density of tiger population in India. It is also a white tiger country. So, the chance of spotting a wild tiger in Bandhavgarh is higher as compared to other wildlife sanctuaries in India. Apart from tigers, other animals that reside amidst the folds of its jungle include leopards, rhesus, gaur, chital (spotted deer), sambar, dholes, nilgais, wild boars, sloth bears, macaques, black faced langurs, hyenas, porcupines, jackals, foxes, wild dogs, chinkaras, chausinghas, ratels, cats etc.
fauna
From graceful egrets to carnivorous birds like vultures, Bandhavgarh promises some excellent sights as far as its collection of birds is concerned. Bird population in the park include steppe eagles, orange-headed thrush, coppersmith barbet, browed fantails, green pigeons, black and white malabar hornbills, grey malabar hornbills, kingfishers, white bellied drongos, parakeets, blue bearded bee-eaters, green bee-eaters, black stork, owls, Jerdon's and gold fronted leaf birds, minivets, woodshrikes, paradise flycatchers, giant leaf bird, common sandpiper, laughing dove and many others.
Landscape and Flora
Bandhavgarh jungle has an excellent vegetation concentration and consists mainly of sal trees. The park remains enveloped in thickets of greenery and the shower of trees here is simply spellbinding. Towards higher altitude, the vegetation changes to a mixed type, with stretches of dhobin, sali and saja. In the northern regions, there are vast areas of grass and reed-covered lowlands, with bamboo coppices. The emerald lndscape in this region also exhibits craggy ridges, with dramatic ravines and perennial streams.
Low hillocks, cloaked in green trees and grasslands, make up the southern region of the park. This region was incorporated into the park in 1982. The central zone or the core zone of the park consists of the original 105.40 square km and still remains the main site of wildlife viewing, with its 32 hills and the 14th century Bandhavgarh Fort. There are also some swampy areas, divided by water bodies and a few stretches of grasslands, in the region.
Fauna
Declared a tiger reserve under 'Project Tiger', in 1993, the popularity of Bandhavgarh lies in the fact that it domiciles the highest density of tiger population in India. It is also a white tiger country. So, the chance of spotting a wild tiger in Bandhavgarh is higher as compared to other wildlife sanctuaries in India. Apart from tigers, other animals that reside amidst the folds of its jungle include leopards, rhesus, gaur, chital (spotted deer), sambar, dholes, nilgais, wild boars, sloth bears, macaques, black faced langurs, hyenas, porcupines, jackals, foxes, wild dogs, chinkaras, chausinghas, ratels, cats etc.
fauna
From graceful egrets to carnivorous birds like vultures, Bandhavgarh promises some excellent sights as far as its collection of birds is concerned. Bird population in the park include steppe eagles, orange-headed thrush, coppersmith barbet, browed fantails, green pigeons, black and white malabar hornbills, grey malabar hornbills, kingfishers, white bellied drongos, parakeets, blue bearded bee-eaters, green bee-eaters, black stork, owls, Jerdon's and gold fronted leaf birds, minivets, woodshrikes, paradise flycatchers, giant leaf bird, common sandpiper, laughing dove and many others.
BANDHAVGARH
This is a small National Park; compact, yet full of game. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India.
This is also White Tiger country. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for many years. The last known was captured by Maharajah Martand Singh in 1951. This White Tiger, Mohan, is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajahs of Rewa.
Covering 448 sq. km., Bandhavgarh is situated in Shahdol district among the outlying hills of the Vindhya range. At the centre of the park is Bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 mt above MSL. Surrounding it are a large number of smaller hills separated by gently sloping valleys. These valleys end in small, swampy meadows, locally known as 'Bohera'. The lowest point in the park is at Tala (440 mt above MSL). The vegetation is chiefly of Sal forest in the valleys and on the lower slopes, gradually changing to mixed deciduous forest on the hills and in the hotter, drier areas of the park in the south and west. Bamboo is found throughout.
The Fort
No records remain to show when Bandhavgarh Fort was constructed. It is thought, however, to be some 2,000 years old, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Siva Purana. Various dynasties have ruled this fort: for example, the Maghas from the 1st century AD, the Vakatakas from the 3rd century; the Sengars from the 5th century and the Kalchuris from the 10th century. In the 13th century AD, the Baghels took over, ruling from Bandhavgarh until 1617, when Maharajah Vikramaditya Singh moved his capital to Rewa. The last inhabitants deserted the fort in 1935.
The Flora & Fauna
The forest of Bandhavgarh can be classified as moist deciduous, and the National Park holds all those animal species which are typical of this habitat in Central India. Certain areas of the park (particularly the south and the west) are drier in character, and hold such species as the Nilgai and the Chinkara. Sal forest occurs throughout the valleys, giving way to mixed forest which occurs where the soil is of relatively poor quality on the upper hill slopes, on rocky outcrops and in the South and West. Grassy meadow patches occur in the valley and along the nalas.
Wildlife
Bandhavgarh is densely populated with tiger and other wildlife species. The great Gaur, or Indian Bison, can be seen with ease, as they come onto the meadows to graze at dusk; Sambar and Barking Deer are a common sight, and Nilgai are to be seen in the more open areas of the park.
There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaque represent the primate group. Carnivores include the Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Gray Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard and Tiger. The artiodactyls frequently sighted are Wild Pigs, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Chausingha, Nilgai, Chinkara and Gaur. Mammals such as Dhole, the small Indian Civet, Palm Squirrel and Lesser Bandicoot Rat are seen occasionally. Among the herbivores, Gaur is the only coarse feeder.
The vegetation along streams and marshes is rich in bird life. The common ones are Little Grebe, Egret, lesser Adjutant, Sarus Crane, Black Ibis, Lesser Whistling Teal, White-eyed Buzzard, Black Kite, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Common Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl, Dove, Parakeets, Kingfishers and Indian Rollers. Reptilian Fauna include Cobxzra, Krait, Viper, Rat-snake, Python, Turtle and a number of lizard varieties, including Varanus.
Wildlife Viewing
There are two main ways of getting about in the park- in a motor vehicle or on elephant back. Many of the animals are now accustomed to both; even so, it is best to talk quietly and not make rapid movements.
Jeep safaris are best undertaken from dawn until about 10am and from about 4pm until dusk, as the animals are most active during these periods. A Forest Department guide must always accompany you. This guide will be able to direct you and point out wildlife.
Elephants are used every morning by the Forest Department for Tiger- tracking. If a Tiger is found, then the elephant will take you directly to the Tiger either from the lodge or from a nearby point reached by jeep/car.
How to Reach
By Air Nearest airport is at Jabalpur (164 km). The most convenient route to Bandhavgarh is to fly from Delhi to Khajuraho from where it is a five and a half hour drive (237 km). Though long, the drive is interesting. The road rosses the Ken river, some stretches of which have been declared a crocodile sanctuary famous for Ghariyal, a rare fish eating crocodile. It then goes past Panna town, famous for its diamond mines, to Satna, the midway point from where it branches off on a subsidiary road across ridges of the Vindhyachal to Bandhavgarh.
By Train The nearest railway stations are Jabalpur (164 km), Katni (102 km), and Satna 120 km) on the Central Railway and Umaria (35 km) on the South-Eastern Railway.
By Road State / private transport buses ply between Katni and Umaria and from Satna and Rewa to Tala (Bandhavgarh). Taxis are available at Satna, Jabalpur,Katni, Umaria, Bilaspur ( 300 km) and Khajuraho.
Best Season February to June, although the cool season is much more comfortable and still very good for wildlife. The park is closed from July 1 to September 30 because of the monsoon. For those planning a visit, a stay of at least three nights is recommended in order to have a good chance of seeing the more elusive animals - although, of course, a brief visit will also be very interesting.
