Bandhavgarh National Park
Where is the Bandhavgarh National Park?
The Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the School district in the central Indian street of Madhya Pradesh. Surrounded by the Vindhyachal Hill ranges, the park came into existence the Maharaja of Rewa handed over the area to the Government.
What is it famous for?
Bandhavgarh National Park is known all across the globe for the density of its big cat population. The park is also one’s chance to witness some of the larger specimens of wild boar, Sambhar, deer, and barking deer.
How will you gain access?
Jabalpur (164 km) and Khajuraho (273 km) are the closest airports. Umaria, 32 km from the park, is the nearest railhead, lying on the South Eastern Railway. For those coming in from Delhi, there is a train called Utkal Express that takes around 19 hours to reach Umaria. There are regular bus services available from the cities of Khajuraho and Jabalpur to all the major destinations of the country.
What are the entry charges?
For Indians and citizens of other SAARC countries, the entry fee is Rs 20 per head. For foreign nationals, it is Rs 200 each. The extra charge is to be paid for vehicles and cameras.
What is the best time?
The best time to visit the park is between the months of December and February. However, warmer months of April, May, and June are the best for tigers and leopard sighting. The park remains closed during the monsoon season.
What constitutes the flora, fauna, and avifauna?
The forests at the Bandhavgarh National Park are dominated by Sal trees. The higher reaches have vegetation consisting of Sali, Saj, Saja, Durbin, etc. In the northern region of the park, there can be found vast expanses of grasslands and bamboo forests.
The animal inmates of the park include tigers, leopards, Gaur (Indian Bison), Dholes, Nilgais (Blue bulls), wild boars, Chinkaras, sloth bears, hyenas, porcupines, jackals, foxes, wild dogs, Chausinghas and Ratels among others. Larger specimens of wild boar, Sambhar, and deer can be seen here.
The park is home to around one hundred and fifty species of birds. White-brow fantails, steppe eagles, green pigeons, grey Malabar hornbills, black and white Malabar hornbills can be seen around. Blossom headed parakeets, parakeets, blue bearded bee-eaters, green bee-eaters, white-bellied drongos, owls, Jerdon’s, and gold fronted leaf birds are the other feathered inhabitants of the park.
What are the nearby attractions?
Bandhavgarh Fort
The Bandhavgarh Fort is a major attraction around the park. From above the fort, magnificent panoramic views of the national park can be enjoyed. Though in ruins, the fort’s high walls still stand to tell its glorious past to one and all. No one knows when the fort was erected. From its reference in the ancient scripture of Shiv Purana, the fort is believed to be almost 2000 years old. Brahmi inscriptions inside the fort date back to the 1st century BC. A small population of blackbucks can be seen here, protected from the predators below.
