About 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.
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 Tigersof 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
By Airport : Khajurao at 230-kms is the most convenient
airport connected by various domestic airline services with Agra, Delhi,
Varanasi.
By Railway Station : 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.
By 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.
