Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park is located around 195 km off Jabalpur and 210 km off Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. Considered as the crown in the wildlife heritage of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers, cheetals, leopard, gaur, sambhar, and many more faunal species. Bandhavgarh National Park is nestled in the Vindhya mountain range of Central India full of hills and reverines. Though, very small in comparison to Kanha or other parks of Madhya Pradesh, the park hosts almost the same number of tigers or any other wildlife animal. Apart from tigers and leopards, Bandhavgarh is also extremely productive for medium-sized bison herds.

Sal trees cover low, undulating and plain tracts and degenerate in growth and quality as they ascend he hill slopes, giving place to mixed forest on the upper slopes, mainly due to edaphic factors. Gregarious flowering of bamboo in year 1984-85 has resulted in profuse regeneration all over, which is giving good cover to all animals. A few rare species such as the insectivorous plant Drocera peltata and medicinal plants such as Buch (Acorus calamus are found in some isolated patches of Tata range of the Reserve. The rivers Johilla and Son flowing on the eastern side, the river Umrar passing through the western fringes and the landmarks of the Reserve. Bandhavgarh has been an excellent habitat of the tiger and is Known for its highest density of tiger population in the world.

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 inscription here, date back to the 1st century BC A hunting reserve of the roya! 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 inhabitants of the Park include the muntjac, jungle cat, ratel, hyena, porcupine, the rhesus macaque and the black-faced langur. About 150 species of birds are also found here and include the migratory birds that arrive in winter like the steppe eagle and various water birds.

Best Time To Visit Bandhavgarh

Summers start here in April and continues till June. The temperature touches the high of around 42°C. But these are also the months when you can look forward to sighting tigers and leopard. December to February is the best months climate wise, while the weather is cool and pleasant. The park is closed during the monsoon season, which also coincides with the breeding season, from June till November. Another reason for closure during this season is the torrential rainfall washing away most of the jungle tracks.