Home :: Wildlife in India :: Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park at a Glance :
• State : Madhya Pradesh (India)
• Year of Establishment : 1968
• Altitude : 811 m (approx.)
• Temprature : Max. 42 deg. celsius (Summer), Min. 2 deg. celsius (Winter)
• Avg. Annual Rainfall : 1500 mm (approx.)
• Best Time to visit : February to June
• Bandhavgarh National Park is specially Known for : White Tigers
• No. of Mamals Species : 22 (approx.)
• No. of Birds Species : 250 (approx.)

About Bandhavgarh National Park :
Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the wild life sanctuaries in the Indian state Madhya Pradesh. The national park is situated at 197 km away north-east of Jabalpur. This wild life park derived its very name from an ancient fort in the area. Bandhawgarh National Park belongs to the Vindhyan mountain ranges of central India and it boasts to have the highest density of tiger population in the country. Now there are about 46 to 52 tigers one can spot here.

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.

In the Bandhavgarh National Park the visitors can be entered on elephant back apart from the four wheelers. In the elephant safaris a forest department guide always accompanies the guests who will direct and tell about the flora and fauna of the park. The best time to visit the park is early in the morning or after 4 pm to spot the animals. The park is closed from 1st July to 31st October, which is the monsoon season.

Jeep and 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 organized for tiger tracking early in the morning.

Places to Stay :
• Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge
• Tiger Trail Resort
• Tiger Den Resort
• Royal Tiger Resort

How to Get There :
By Air : The most convenient route to Bandhavgarh National Park is by air to Khajuraho from where it is a five-hour drive (237Km). Though long, the driver is interesting; the road crosses the Ken river, some stretches of which have been declared a crocodile sanctuary famous for the ghariyal, a rare fish eating crocodile; and goes past Panna town, famous for its diamond mines, to Satna, the midway-point, from where it branches off on a subsidiary road across ridges of Vindhyachal to Bandhavgarh.

By Rail : The nearest railway station near Bandhavgarh are Jabalpur (164 Km), Katni (102 Km) and Satna (120 Km) on the central railway and Umaria (35 Km) on the South Eastern Railway.

By Road : The Park Can be reached from Jabalpur, Satna, Katni, Umeria, Bilaspur and Khajuraho.