Spectrum Tours » National parks in india » Bandhavgarh national park

Madhya Pradesh State is blessed with the one of the most varied wildlife habitats in the world and two most famous national parks cum reserves of India, Bandhavgarh National Park & Kanha National Park. There's another one Panna, maybe not as famous as the other two, but still worth a visit for wildlife enthusiasts The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve lies 300 km south-cast of Khajuraho, famous worldwide for its erotic sculptures. The Vindhya hills, in which the reserve is located, are dotted with crucial wildlife parks. Bandhavgarh is one of the best managed, with local villagers included in forest-protection tasks. A popular wildlife destination, it can be crowded over the weekends.

Once the private game preserve of the maharajas of Rewa, Bandhagarh is famous as the original home of the first white tiger observed in the wilds. Today, Mohun’s stuffed remains adorn the palace in Rewa. It is also famous for its near certain tiger sightings by every visitor. Spread over 1,167.47 sq km in ;the eastern Satpura hills of Vindhyachal range in central India, the national park encloses an undulating terrain of thickly wqooded low hills and open grasslands in the valleys. There are 32 hills within the park, the highest of which rises 812 mt above sea level and is crowned by a fort, now in ruins. The vegetation in the park is chiefly of dry tropical and moist deciduous forest. The major arboreal species are sal, tendu and mahua with a liberal sprinkling of bamboo and lantana. Six perennial and many seasonal streams irrigate the forests of Bandhavgarh. The national park harbours a variety of wildlife including tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, wolf, jackal, spotted deer, sambhar, wild boar, muntjac, etc. Besides these, there are many species of reptilians, like cobra, krait, python, viper, and over 250 species of resident and migratory avifauna have been identified in the park. The park is reputed to have the largest concentration of tigers. A number of dirt roads weave through the park and the chief mode of wildlife sighting is a motor vehicle safari conducted twice every day. However, if a tiger is not sighted from the road, forest guards track tigers with elephant and visitors are shown the big cat from the elephant. For this the park authorities maintain 12 elephants. In the days long past the park enclosed a number of human habitations in the form of villages and cave shelters. Of the latter there are 85 and only one of these, Bari Gufa, which has nine apartments, is open to visitors. The National Park is open from November 1 till june 30.

Walking is prohibited but guided elephant and jeep rides to Khilouli and Sehra Dadra, classic grazing grounds in the reserve, provide interesting insights into the Indian jungle and offer plenty of wildlife to view. Winter is the best time for bird-watching. Over 200 species include the Red Junglefowl and the Malabar Pied Hornbill.

Bandhavgarh is wonderfully geared for tourism with a broad network of well-maintained roads and comfortable accommodation. The forest department's holistic approach ensures that this reserve is run well and wisely. In order to get a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, so integral to India and immortalized by Rudyard Kipling in The jungle Book, a visit to the historic fort of 13 and havgarh is a necessary and an unforgettable experience.

Resorts and Lodges in Bandhavgarh national park
Churhat Kothi.
White Tiger Lodge.
Tiger Trails Resorts.
Royal Tiger Resorts.
Royal Tiger Resorts.
Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge.
Maharaja’s Royal Retreat.
Nature Heritage Resort.
Tiger’s Den Resort.