Bandhavgarh National Park
The thick forest of Bandhavgarh National Park sits in a bowl encircled by
cliffs and wooded Vindhyan mountains, and its plains have a number of grass
and reed covered wetlands where Kingfishers dive and Egrets sit poised,
hunch-backed, in the shallows. Up above, vultures nestle in holes in the
sheer cliffs.
The Bandhavgarh jungle, when it is large enough, becomes
a living self-sustaining organism providing its own climate, atmosphere,
water and nutrition through its recycling systems. It even has a sleep
wake cycle. As more light fills the sky, Bandhavgarh begins to awaken.
Location : Umaria District, Madhya Pradesh
Flora In Bandhavgarh
Initially just 105.40-sq-kms in area, Bandhavgarh with 25 resident tigers,
was noted for its high-density tiger population. Today, it has been extended
to an area of 437-sq-kms. About half the Bandhavgarh park is covered with
fine trees of Sal, while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches
of the hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands extend to the north.
The main wildlife viewing is still done in the core of the park with its
32 picturesque, wooded hills.
Major Wildlife Attractions - Bandhavgarh
Once a hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa in more recent times,
Bandhavgarh was declared a park in 1968. This is also the site where the
fanmous White Tigers of Rewa were discovered.
Wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an
Elephant Back, the chances of seeing a tiger are quite good. Among the
other wild attractions include, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara,
Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.
Other Attractions In Bandhavgarh
Kalchuri Archeological Remains : Beside the wildlife, Bandhavgarh is also
famous for the archaeological remains of the Kalchuri period that have
been found here.
Bandhavgarh Fort : The Bandhavgarhpark
area is hilly and is dominated by the majestic Bandhavgarh fort, built
in 14th century. The fort and the adjacent hills have a large number of
caves belonging to the pre-historic period.
Jeep & Elephant Safari : One can
enjoy viewing the wildlife by two ways in Bandhavgarh - Jeep Safari and
Elephant Safari.. Jeep safaris are undertaken during the early morning
hours till evening. A forest department guide is always their with the
visitors on these jeep trips taken
inside the park. Elephant safari trips
are organised for tiger tracking early in the morning.
Best Time to Visit - Bandavgarh National Park
The visiting season of Bandhavgarh national park starts from Mid-November
to June, as the park remains closed during the monsoon months from July
to early November.
How to Get there
Air : Khajurao at 230-kms is the most convenient airport
connected by various domestic airline services with Agra, Delhi, Varanasi.
Rail : The nearest railhead Umaria at
30-kms is on the Katni-Bilaspur section of South-Eastern Railway. Another
convenient railhead Satna (117-kms) is on the Bombay-Howrah main line
of the Central Railway.
Road : Bandhavgarh National Park is
situated on the Satna-Umaria & Rewa-Umaria highway. Some of the important
road distances are: Khajuraho (via Satna)230-kms, Varanasi (via Rewa)
340-kms, Katni 75-kms, Rewa 115-kms, Umaria 30-kms, Kanha 250-kms. Madhya
Pradesh State Transport Bus Services are also available from Rewa, Satna,
Katni and Umaria.
