Bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh 

established in 1968 as a National Park, Bandhavgarh Wildlife Reserve is widening over an area of 448 sq. kms. This wildlife park was affirmed as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in the year 1993. A shining jewel in the crown of Madhya Pradesh, the Bandhavgarh National Park is truly a wildlife lover's enjoyment and a must visit for all. 

Bandhavgarh treated as the game reserve of the Maharajas of Rewa in the earlier times, the region was a major hunting ground of animals where Maharaja Raman Singh himself shot a stupendous figure of 111 tigers by 1914. It was violence like these on the susceptible wildlife on India that forced our authorities to take stringent action and ban the shooting of animals. Bandhavgarh is also known for white tigers.Bandhavgarh is also house of wild animals such as the Gaur, Leopard, Chinkaras, Boars, Jackals, Chausinghas, Ratels, Nilgais, Dholes, Indian Bison, Hyenas, Porcupines and Jungle Cats. To see all these charming creatures you must Tour the Bandhavgarh National Park and stay in the area for a few days. Wildlife Resorts in Bandhavgarh National Park offer the perfect place to stay on your wildlife Tour to Bandhavgarh. 

Bandhavgarh is also known as the country of Tigers, Bandhavgarh attract a large number of tourists to its heavily forested area, lush greenery, wilderness and variety of plants including the great gaur or Indian bison, sambar and barking deer. 

Tourism in Madhya Pradesh remains unfinished without a Tour to Bandhavgarh in Shahdol district. The caves dotting the famous BandhavgarhNational Park spreading across nearly 450 square kilometers, can give you a shelter much away from the noise and commotion of the mundane world. Tourist Attractions in Bandhavgarh

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 Cobra, 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.