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A
wildlife retreat, where history
and nature meet, Bhandavgarh
National Park is not far from
Kanha. Set amidst the Vindhyan
ranges, the park has a series of
ridges running through it.
Initially just 105.40 sq km 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
km. About half the park is
covered with fine stands 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 viewing area is still
in the core of the park with its
32 picturesque, wooded hills.
An ancient
fort up on a precipice, 800
metres high, dominates the Park.
Bandhavgarh's history goes back
2000 years in time and the
earliest signs of habitation can
be seen in the caves excavated
from the cliffs to the north of
the fort. Brahmi inscriptions
here, date back to the 1st
centuary BC. A hunting reserve
of the royal family of Rewa in
more recent times, Bandhavgarh
was declared a Park in 1968.
This is where the famous white
tigers of Rewa were discovered.
 Wandering
through the Park on elephant
back, the chances of seeing a
tiger are quite good. Also to be
seen here are nilgai, chausingha,
chital, chinkara, wild boar and
sometimes a fox or jackal. Other
habitants of the Park include
the muntjac, jungle cat, ratel,
hyena, procupine, the rhesus
macaque and the black-faced
langur. About 150 species of
bird are also found here and
include the migratory birds that
arrive in winter like the steppe
eagle and various water-birds.
It is
possible to climb up to the
Bandhavgarh fort for a
breathtaking bird's eye view of
the Park and there is also small
population of black buck that
lives her, protected from the
predators below.
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General Information :
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Best time to Visit
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: November - June (Parl
closes in July for the
monsoons) |
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Accommodation
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: Forest Rest Houses ,
Bandhavgarh Jungle Camp.
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Nearest town
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: Umaria (30 Km) (65Km)
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How to get there
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: Rail - Umaria (30 Km) or
Satna (112 Km) Air -
Khajuraho (210 Km) or
Jabalpur(70 Km) |
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In
the Vindhyachal mountain range,
Bandhavgarh National Park
is situated. The Park offers a
variety of wildlife including
the famous tiger, leopard,
sambar, wild pig, blue bull,
spotted deer etc. The flora
attracts woodland birds which
include green pigeon, crested
serpent eagle and variable hawk
eagle. There are also
interesting cave shrines
scattered around the park, some
of them dating back to 1st
century BC.