The Royal Bengal Tigers are one of the most sought after animals when it comes to wildlife viewing experiences across India and visitors from across the World plan a visit to the ancient country of India every year to visit either of the very famous National Parks of the country to go for a wildlife safari experience to sight the Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild. The popular National Parks that are frequented by tourists every year to sight these Royal Bengal Tigers are the oldest National Park in India – the Jim Corbett National Park, the Ranthambore National Park, the Nagarhole National Park, Kaziranga National Park and the very fast catching up tourist National Park in India viz. the Bandhavgarh National Park located at the heart of the country in the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. The Bandhavgarh National Park is located amidst the Vindhya hills and it is a very popular National park of the country that draws visitors in the thousands every year to the place who would want the opportunity to sight the Royal Bengal tigers in the wild. Bandhavgarh National Park is fairly smaller in the core area and it comprises of around 105 sq. km. while the other that spread over more area.
Not only the Royal Bengal Tigers but Bandhavgarh National Park is also home to various other biodiversity and it has come a long way since its inception in 1968 as one of the prominent National Parks of the country that has a healthy population of the Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards and various deer species as well. The Bandhavgarh National Park has been a success story in Tiger Conservation and the tiger population here has been growing ever since. The total area of Bandhavgarh National Park is around 450 sq. km. and the core area is around 105 sq. km. and the park is located at an elevation of 800m above MSL that sees an annual rainfall of 1200mm with temperatures ranging from 42 degrees to 2 degrees in the winter season. At Bandhavgarh National Park, sighting of tigers occur at the three safari zones of the park namely the Jala, Magdi and Banera zones with more focus on the Magdi zone to spot tigers in the wild that needs to be done across the thick cover of Sal forests and tall grasslands. But owing to the fact that numerous sighting of the Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards and sloth bears have been reported from inside the core forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park, the place is getting many people and it is now becoming one of the top visited National parks in the country when it comes to footfalls from foreign tourists along with the various other tourist attractions of Madhya Pradesh that has gained prominence after the grand tourism campaign that was launched by the state government with the tagline of ‘Hindustan ka Dil Dekho’!
Bandhavgarh National Park is located at Bandhavgarh that has a very old history and the mention of the place has been found in the Indian Epic of Ramayana as well. The name Bandhavgarh translates to as the ‘Brother’s Fort’ and there is the presence of an ancient fort atop the Vindhya mountain range and as per legends of the Ramayana it is believed that this fort was gifted by Lord Rama to his brother Lakshmana. It is also believed that the ruined fort was reconstructed by an army of monkeys who were believed to have built the bridge between India and Lanka. During the rule of the Maharajas of Madhya Pradesh, the Bandhavgarh area become a deserted land due to the presence of the thick forests and being the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tigers and this area was declared as a Game Reserve and the royal families pursued their interest of hunting the tigers as a hobby. It is believed that the Kings of Rewa killed at least 109 tigers that were known man eaters and the number of 83 was achieved in a single year by Raja Gulab Singh Baghel.
The area was handed over to the state and central government in 1968 and it was since declared as the Bandhavgarh National Park. The place went on to be declared as a project tiger reserve in the year 1993 with the neighbouring Panpatha sanctuary. Today various steps and measures are being undertaken by the forest authorities at Bandhavgarh National Park to improve the living conditions of the wildlife of the park as the place has gradually gained attention from around the World. Various measures including building of small dams to direct water to the animals during the scorching summer heat is also undertaken and various measures to protect the wildlife of Bandhavgarh National Park from the poachers are also being adopted to make this place a renowned tourism destination in the country. The Bandhavgarh National Park witnesses a tropical monsoon climate and hence the place witnesses a weather that is having a well-defined winter, summer and monsoon season. The seasonal rains that occur at Bandhavgarh National Park makes the place lush and rejuvenate its floral wealth that leads to a thriving fauna population as well.
Today Bandhavgarh National Park has come a long way since its inception and is becoming one of the most visited National Park in Central India and since becoming a Tiger Reserve, the popularity of this place has been ever increasing. Bandhavgarh National Park has altitudes varying from between 410m to 810m and this is because of the presence of 32 hills that are to be found inside the place along with the natural forest that is present. Bandhavgarh National Park is covered and surrounded by mix forests that comprise of mixed forests of Sai, Dhobin and Saja along with Sal trees as well. The area of Bandhavgarh National Park comprises of a total of 1161 sq. km. but the tourists who come to visit the place are restricted to the core area that comprises of around 105 sq. km. and this is the Tala range that is very rich in floral and faunal diversity. However, tourism activities are also promoted at the Magdhi, Khitauli, Kallwah and Panpatha zone of Bandhavgarh National Park. The place witnesses three major climates across the year with the summer months ranging from mid-March to June, the monsoons from mid-June to September and winters from November to mid-February.
The monsoon season sees an annual rainfall at Bandhavgarh National Park of 1175mm and hence the park remains closed to visitors in the monsoon time and the best time to visit the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park to enjoy your wildlife safari experience happens from 16th October to 30th June while the park remains closed across July through September in the year. When it comes to the wildlife safari experience at Bandhavgarh National Park, then this National Park in central India is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and especially visitors who are very much interested in sighting the Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild. Bandhavgarh National Park is home to around 22 animals and over 250 species of birds that makes the place one of the very special tourist interest places. The animal species to be found are Royal Bengal Tigers, Asiatic Jackal, Sloth Bears, Bengal Fox, Stripped Hyenas, Jungle Cats, Leopards, etc. Also to be spotted are wild boars, Nilgais, Chinkara, Gaurs, Spotted Deers, etc. Other mammals are Palm squirrel, Dhole, Gaurs, etc. At Bandhavgarh National Park visitors get the opportunity of exploring the varied wildlife and birds of the place on two safari ride options namely the Jeep Safari and the elephant safari. The jeep rides are undertaken up to 11 AM in the morning and up to 5 PM in the afternoon session.
What makes Bandhavgarh National Park a very good place for animal population to thrive is the presence of a soil that is comprised of sandstones and sandy loam soil and this area is watered by 20 streams that are very rich in nutrients to the soil and most of these streams finally merge with the Son river that is a very important southern tributary of the River Ganges. Other than these streams there are many lakes and caves as well that form a part of the Bandhavgarh National Park area as well. At Bandhavgarh, the park authorities allow the visitors to go to explore the forest reserves of the place in two safari modes namely the elephant safari and the jeep safari rides. There are four safari zones at the park and visitors can enjoy their jeep safari rides in this park. The jeep safari rides are operated in two shifts inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park one in the morning shift that happens up to 11 AM and the after shift that happens up to 6 PM and visitors can experience the wildlife of Bandhavgarh National Park on the jeep safari rides. The jeep safari timings inside Bandhavgarh National Park keep changing as per the season as during the summer months the sunset happens late as compared to the winter season and just like Kaziranga National Park or any other National Park in India, visitors need to come out of the forest reserves much before sunset.
It is important to note that at Bandhavgarh National Park, the jeep safari rides for visitors are closed on Wednesdays and also on the festival of Holi. For reservations of jeep safari at Bandhavgarh National Park, the visitors need to book priorly and thy need to provide the details like Name, age, gender, Nationality, ID proof, etc. The jeep safari is a delightful experience for all wildlife, bird lovers and photographers who come to visit Bandhavgarh National Park and these are open jeep rides that allow the visitors to explore the varied flora and fauna of Bandhavgarh National Park. Visitors coming here are never disappointed after their jeep safari experience because the thrill of going to the forest reserves to spot the Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild is a once in a lifetime experience. Visitors are not allowed to walk inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park jeep safari and elephant safari are the only two means that allow visitors to explore the dense forest reserves of the place and no other means of transportation are present inside the park.
The Jeep safari rides at Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most popular safari experiences among the various National Parks in India because it offers visitors a unique chance to sight the big cats like Royal Bengal Tigers, Leopards, etc. inside the dense forest reserves of the place. This is a grand mode to explore the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park because the jeep being a smaller yet powerful vehicle can manoeuvre across the smaller openings of the forest and this takes you closer to the tigers on the designated safari track inside the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park. It is to be noted that the jeep safari rides not only at Bandhavgarh National Park but across the National Parks of India are conducted on designated safari tracks inside the forest reserves only and no one should be encouraged to tell the jeep drivers and guides to digress from this track as it is for the safety of the tourists itself and also not to disturb the natural habitat and decorum of the forest. The animals are used to motor vehicles plying across their home but they feel threatened when the jeep vehicles get very close to them and the predators especially might try to attack such vehicles. Also visitors are not allowed to get down from the jeep inside the forest reserves of not only Bandhavgarh National Park but any other National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries where such jeep rides are allowed for visitors to go and explore the forest reserves and sight the varied flora, fauna and avifauna of the place.
The jeep safari vehicles are 4WDs and are open roof and can accommodate around 6 adults in addition to a driver and a guide and it takes you inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park and this small yet powerful vehicles can easily drive across the stony tracks that are inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park and you can take your time to capture pictures of animals inside the park. It is to be advised that when you are on your jeep safari rides inside the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park, you should refrain from loud talks and making any noise and also not play music as it causes the animals to run away and your sole purpose of visit to the park to catch a glimpse of the Tigers and capture pictures is lost. Also do not wear bright clothes inside the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park on your jeep safari ride as this will distract the animals and they might even charge towards your vehicle. It is advised to carry a pair of good binoculars during your safari experience at Bandhavgarh National Park as the animals are generally hidden under the trees and to spot them clearly a pair of binoculars is of great help.
The jeep safaris are conducted at two sessions inside the area of Bandhavgarh National Park and one slot is in the morning time extending up to 11 AM and the second slot in the afternoon time extending to around 6 PM in the evening during the summer season when the sunset happens late. So you can plan your safari rides accordingly on your visit to Bandhavgarh National Park but the sole discretion of what slot you will get in on the forest authorities who issue the passes for your jeep safari timings and also to maintain the natural decorum of the place. To reiterate, there are four different zones inside the Bandhavgarh National Park where visitors can enjoy their jeep safari rides. While jeeps can enter all the four safari zones of Bandhavgarh National Park at Panpatta, Khitauli, Tala and Magadhi zones, the maximum number of jeeps in one shift is allowed to enter at the Magadhi zone of Bandhavgarh National Park (around 66) and the others have allowances to ply around 35 vehicles each while the least number is permitted at the Tala zone with 25 jeeps at each shift. Looking at the numbers of the jeep rides inside the park you can estimate the number of visitors who come to visit the Bandhavgarh National Park every day during the peak tourist season and this serves as a good source of revenue generation for the local people.
Another safari option that visitors at Bandhavgarh National Park can enjoy is the elephant safari ride that is conducted upon permission that is granted from the forest authorities and visitors can take the opportunity to go tiger sighting at this popular National Park of central India. The elephant safari allows visitors to go for their tiger tour of Bandhavgarh National Park in a detailed manner sitting behind the back of the majestic animal that served as the ride of the Kings of Madhya Pradesh and this safari ride is gaining importance as visitors get amazing views of the Royal Bengal Tigers of Bandhavgarh National Park.
The elephant safari option is a preferred mode of safari ride at Bandhavgarh National Park and Kaziranga National Park in Assam as well. This is because visitors get to board the elephant back and they get an aerial view of the surroundings of the National Park and thereby they are able to catch a better glimpse of animals that are moving around the premises of the park. This is also a safe option to travel as no other animal dares to come close to the mighty elephants. At Bandhavgarh National Park as well as Kaziranga National Park, these elephant rides are conducted in the early morning slots as this is the best time to catch the attention of the animals. These seats are limited and hence needs to be booked much prior before the scheduled date of the safari and at Bandhavgarh National Park, the elephant safari rides are conducted by the forest authority only upon the written permission from the field director of the park. However, many people nowadays do not opt for the elephant safari rides as they see this as a practice of animal cruelty and so they avoid this ride but it might be worthy to mention that these animals are well fed and provided apt medical facilities when it comes to the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries that engage the services of these elephants for the use of jungle safari rides and this is a sole way of the mahout to earn an income and so he could feed these domesticated elephants as well.
On your safari experience at Bandhavgarh National Park, certain guidelines need to be maintained to avoid disturbing the animal’s habitat of the park and so that visitors can get the ample opportunity to come to witness the wildlife of the place to the best possible manner. When you are at Bandhavgarh National Park and going for your wildlife safari experience inside the forest reserves of the place then ensure that the driver is driving slowly inside the designated tracks of the forest and this way guests can observe the animal species with their binoculars and do not miss on the opportunity of sighting any animal species. Driving off the track inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park may destroy growing trees and also disturb the resting animals of the park and so always drive along the designated tracks and also ensure to keep a distance from the animals of Bandhavgarh National Park as the forest is their home and we are guests who are visiting them. Also it is to be advised that visitors to Bandhavgarh National Park are requested to be seated on the vehicle and never to get down from the safari vehicle at any point inside the forest premises and this is for the safety of the guests and not adhering to this point is treated as a wildlife crime even punishable by law.
It is to be noted that, though Bandhavgarh National Park is famous for the presence of the Royal Bengal Tigers, it is not a guaranteed opportunity to sight these tiger species and visitors need not be disappointed in case they do not get an opportunity to sight the tigers in the wild at Bandhavgarh National Park as there are many other animal species that can be sighted inside the forest reserves and also to admire the flora and avifauna of the place. Carrying a pair of good binoculars to sight these animals inside the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park is always advisable because as the safari vehicle travel along a designated route it is obvious that these animals you will see will mostly be at a distance and therefore to sight them clearly you will need a pair of good binoculars. Not only across Bandhavgarh National Park, but across any other National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries across the country where visitors are allowed to go for a safari experience one thing has to be kept in mind always that nature should always be kept free from pollution and therefor visitors should make it a duty to keep the premises of these treasures of the country litter free. Always ensure to carry back all litter in a bag that is provided in the safari vehicle and dispose them off at the designated dust bins outside the forest reserves. Also smoking is not allowed inside the premises of Bandhavgarh National Park and ensures that you do not carry any objects that allow you to light fire inside.
Bandhavgarh National Park is well connected to various towns in Madhya Pradesh like Jabalpur, Khajuraho, Umaria, etc. and hence tourists who are planning to visit Bandhavgarh National Park will not have any problem to find vehicles connecting to the National Park. The nearest rail head near Bandhavgarh National Park is at Umaria that is about 35 km and another is at Kathi that is around 100 km from the park. The nearest airports to Bandhavgarh National Park are at Jabalpur and Khajuraho as well and there are regular flights to other destinations in the country as well so no matter in which part of the country you are you will access to visit the land of the Royal Bengal Tigers at Bandhavgarh National Park. Wildlife viewing at the National park is best experienced during the winter season starting November and continuing up to mid-March and the place remains closed for visitors during the monsoon months from July to September. In general, the climate of Bandhavgarh National Park can be described to be that of the North India monsoon season and this is because the Bandhavgarh National Park is located on the extreme north-eastern part of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India and has the stretch of forest cover across the Vindhya mountain range.
Bandhavgarh National Park witnesses three main climate or seasons viz. the winters, summer and monsoon season. While the summer season at Bandhavgarh National Park extends from the end of March to the end of June (temperatures often soar to 44 degrees during June), the monsoon season starts in mid-June and the park receives and average annual rainfall of 1133mm. The pleasant winter season approaches from November to February and though the weather gets cold at night it is best to experience the wildlife of Bandhavgarh National Park during this time of the year. Every year Bandhavgarh National Park is kept open for viewing to tourists from the 15th of October to the 30th of June and this is the time tourists plan on visiting the place as the climate remains favourable. The scorching heat in the summer time makes it unbearable to go out for a safari experience but it might be worthy to mention that during March to May most of the vegetation at Bandhavgarh National Park gets dried and this is the best time to sight the tigers of the park. But to enjoy a lush green environment of the park because the jungle cover blooms after the monsoon season and hence tourists prefer to visit Bandhavgarh National Park during the winter season as the climate remains favourable.
What you need to carry during your visit to Bandhavgarh National Park will depend on the climate during your time of visit. If you are visiting Bandhavgarh National Park during the chilly winter months then it is advised to carry warm clothing including jackets, mufflers and gloves. On the early morning jeep safari rides inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park, the temperature gets very cold and hence it can also be advised to carry a shawl or even a blanket to protect from the cold. During the summer months it is advised to visitors to carry cotton clothes and loose fitting clothes are recommended to stay cool. Camp and sun glasses are also advised to be carried to protect from the sun’s rays. As the climate is not humid so the use of sunscreen is recommended to protect the skin from burning. During the month of October the day temperature remains warm and hence visitors can carry cotton clothing to enjoy their safari. Avoid bright coloured clothes while travelling inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park as it might distract the animals and prefer to wear clothes that have colours like green, beige or brown. Do not forget to carry binoculars and cameras inside the Bandhavgarh National Park or rather any National Park you visit for safari experiences as this will allow you to have a closer viewing experience of the wild animals.
The flora of Bandhavgarh National Park can be described mostly as dry deciduous type and the foliage area around the park is very rich in flora and fauna as well. The area around Bandhavgarh National Park is considered to be the most vegetative one in the Umaria district of state of Madhya Pradesh and the favorable topography of the palace coupled with a moderate climate makes the place good in vegetation that harbours the life of the various herbivores of Bandhavgarh National Park and these in turn support the life of the carnivores of the place thereby representing the complete food chain of the place. Sal forests form a major stretch of the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park and even the growth of bamboo can be found here. The forests also have a mix species of flora that also include high grasslands across certain areas of the park. Tourists and nature lovers who come to visit Bandhavgarh National Park are enthralled with the abundance of flora of the place that is home to almost 300 species and across the place one gets to see various picturesque views. Some of the famous tree species inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park are Tendu, Amla, Mango, Dhok, Jamun, Kadam, Bamboo, Khair, Boswania, Neem, Mohna, etc.
At Bandhavgarh National Park apart from the lush flora there are around 22 species of mammals and around 250 species of birds and the primates like common Langurs and rhesus macaques. The flagship species of Bandhavgarh National Park however are the Bengal Tigers that inhabit the forest reserves mostly at the Magadhi range of the park and visitors from across the World come to Bandhavgarh National Park to have an opportunity to sight these fauna species of tigers of the place. Other fauna species to be spotted inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park are Leopards, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur, Wild Boars, Asiatic jackal, stripped hyena, jungle cat, etc. Certain reptiles that inhabit the park are Indian cobras, pythons, rat snakes, lizards, etc. But the flagship species remains to be that of the Bengal tigers that draw visitors from across the World to the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park.
Madhya Pradesh is not only home to the Bandhavgarh National Park but also three other National Parks as well and this speaks highly about the diverse flora, fauna and avifauna of the region and one more popular National Park is the Kanha National Park that is now being another popular tourists place of Madhya Pradesh and this is located around 255 km from the Bandhavgarh National Park. Kanha National Park is specially known for its population of the Swamp Deers and the Barasingha and that is one reason as to why this place is called as the ‘Jewel of Kanha’. This is also a tiger reserve and the special tiger tours conducted here at Kanha National Park is what draws tourists from across the World to this place. The Kanha National Park located near Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Satpura Mountains of Madhya Pradesh and it is considered to be one of the very beautiful highlands in central India. Kanha National Park was declared as a forest reserve in 1879 and the area of this park spreads across two reserve districts of Madhya Pradesh at Mardala and Kalghat. The park was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1933 and later to Kanha National Park in 1955.
Kanha National Park shot to fame and prominence in the National Parks tourism industry in India as the place is said to be the source of inspiration for the famous writer Rudyard Kipling and his famous novel ‘The Jungle Book’ and visitors started to flock to his National Park to enjoy their tiger sighting experience in the wild. Even with the tiger species, Kanha National Park is also home to the Barasingha and various other wildlife species as well. Coupled with Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park offers some of the most unique tiger viewing experiences in the wild across the National Parks of India. Kanha National Park is an ideal home for varied wildlife and many other species of flora, reptiles and avifauna as well. The reptiles and insect species to be found at Kanha National Park is an altogether different attraction that can be witnessed by visitors who can come to Bandhavgarh National Park to spot the majestic Royal Bengal Tigers and later take time to visit Kanha National Park and sight the various birds, reptiles and insects as well. The best location at Kanha National Park to enjoy the wildlife sighting is at the sunset point (Bammidadar) and as many visitors come from global countries to visit Kanha National Park, the park has a well-developed infrastructure to accommodate the guests as well.
Another place to visit after wrapping up your visit to Bandhavgarh National Park and Kanha National Park is that of Jabalpur that is one of the ancient cities of central India and is located along the banks of the Narmada River. The city of Jabalpur once served as the capital of the rulers of the Gond kingdom who were ruling during the medieval period and thus this is a historic city that is known for its marbles. Jabalpur can be called as the common gateway to access the various wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks of Madhya Pradesh and the place is considered to be one of the largest cities of the state as well. Jabalpur is known for its various marble rock formations and one sight to witness here is that of the balancing rocks and a very famous waterfall that is called as the Dhuadhar falls that is so called as the waters of this fall go above in concentrated mass and create an illusion of vapours. Bandhavgarh National Park is located at a distance of 197km from Jabalpur and the place is best visited during the time of the months from October to March.
Another popular National Park in Madhya Pradesh is that of the Panna National Park that is located around 196km from Bandhavgarh National Park. The Panna National Park is located in the Satpura range of Madhya Pradesh and the park borders the state of Maharashtra that is known for its diverse fauna and avifauna. The Panna National Park was declared as a tiger reserve in 1995 and the place spreads across 542 sq. km. and is the 22nd tiger reserve in the country. The place is a constituent of the great Gangetic plain and has a cover of teak trees that form a very important wildlife habitat. Another National Park of the state that is named after the Pench river and that comprises of the teak forests that is nestled amidst the Amravati, Satpura and Vindhya mountain range is that of the Pench National Park that is known for a good population of the various herbivores and also the Bengal Tigers. It was declared as a National Park in 1975 and upgraded to a tiger reserve in 1999 and the major fauna at Pench National park are Gaurs, Sambhars, Blue Bulls, Macaqueus, Langurs, Wild Boars, Bear, Dholes, Deer, Leopard, Tigers, Civets, etc.
Bandhavgarh National Park not only offers visitors a great wildlife viewing experience but there are many other places to visit apart from the lush surroundings and the wildlife species and one very popular attraction at Bandhavgarh is the Bandhavgarh fort that is considered to be the oldest fort in India. The history of this fort is linked to the Hindu mythology and in Ramayana when Lord Rama returned to his state after conquering the war from Ravana and Lord Rama stayed at this place and he built this fort to gift to his brother Lakshmana. The name Bandhavgarh is derived from the word ‘Bandhav’ (meaning brother) and ‘Garh’ meaning fort. The Bandhavgarh fort is believed to have been built in the 3rd century and is spread across a huge area of 582 acres at an elevation of 811m above MSL and various ruling dynasties of Central India have used the services of this fort as its capital and only in 1917 did the Baghels relocated their capital from Bandhavgarh to Rewa.
The Bandhavgarh fort is endowed with various geography and out of the 32 hillocks of the Vindhya mountain range, the highest hillock of 811m is where this fort is located on the plateau of 4 sq. km. The Bandhavgarh fort is viewed clearly from the Tala safari zone of the park and visitors can access this fort by either a jeep track or through a footpath. There are many temples inside the fort and these temples illustrate the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu and most of these temples date back to the 10th century and certain also from the 12th century. Guided tours by local guides are conducted across the Bandhavgarh fort and this serves as a way of livelihood for the locals of the place and a guided tour of the fort takes about an hour’s time. This fort is of special interest for tourists who are interested in archaeology and the study of the ancient temples here is surely of deep interest to many people. Along with the temple shrines inside the fort, there are also many man made caves inside the fort that are having various inscriptions and rock paintings as well. Though visitors take the opportunity to explore the fort on their visit to Bandhavgarh National Park in the winter season but the grandeur of the fort is best witnessed in the summer months.
Another place to visit Bandhavgarh National Park is the Baghel museum that is a historic museum where various personal belongings of the Maharajas of Rewa are kept on display. Madhya Pradesh has a lot of royal history and visitors to Bandhavgarh National Park can come to visit this museum to explore the royal life of Bandhavgarh. The museum also has on display various ancient hunting and military equipment’s of the Maharajas of Rewa and also one very unique thing to be seen here is the stuffed body of the first white tiger that was spotted by the Maharaja of Rewa. Once can visit the Baghel museum near Bandhavgarh that is locate just about 100m away from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and the timings are from 10AM to 3PM and from 5PM to 8PM. Another place to visit is the Tala village near the Bandhavgarh National Park that is a reflection of a true Indian village and displays to the guests the ethnic way of living and visitors can experience the true Indian earlier way of living at the Tala village.
This place illustrates the various modest dwellings in mud clustered houses, elderly of the village smoking hookahs on their cots and you will feel that time has come to a standstill here when you compare this life to a fast paced city life. The landscape across the Tala village near Bandhavgarh National Park is fascinating and also many of the deluxe Hotels and Resorts are to be found near the vicinity of the village as well. Continue exploring the places around Bandhavgarh National Park and go on to visit the Mahaman Pond that is located near the Bandhavgarh fort and the place is surrounded by the bamboo groves and lots of the wild animals can be seen clustered around this pond and this place is called as the place of quenching the thirst as a lot of the herbivores and carnivores of Bandhavgarh National Park come here to drink water. And close to this pond is the floral treasure of the Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve is called as the Kathika that is where a very aromatic Kewra plant is found and along with it there are growth of Jamun and Anjum trees as well.
Another place at Bandhavgarh National Park that symbolizes the vast natural beauty of the place is that of the Climber’s point and the location is filled with abundant growth of Sal and Bamboo trees. This place is also rich in fauna that is a part of the Bandhavgarh Forest Reserve and it is the perfect place to find a peace of mind and calm for the guests. Continue further to explore the Bari Gufa that is an area filled with number of lakes and caves and provides breathtaking views to its visitors. One of the very great creations of ancient history, the local believe that the Bari Gufa (meaning the great cave) is the largest man made cave that dates back to the 10th century providing an insight to the deep history of the place. The three cave point inside the Bandhavgarh National Park is visible from the Ganesh Hillock and has beautiful carvings that signify the architectural techniques that were prevalent in the olden times. This place is one of the ideal places inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park to sight many wild animals including the likes of leopards, tigers and sloth bears.
Another place to visit at Bandhavgarh National Park is the Raj baree that is mostly viewed from the Bandhaini Hillock that is from where the River Damen originates and it is mostly a meadow area that provides views of the vultures, herd of chital, wild boars and sambhar deer as well. Continue further to visit the Shesh Saya that is a 11m tall statue of Lord Vishnu and the statue on in a lying position and an umbrella of the Sheesh Naag is present along with a Shivalinga and a statue of Lord Brahma as well. This place is located towards the Bandhavgarh Fort and it is believed that this statue dates back to the 10th century. Another place not to be missed out located around 110km away from Bandhavgarh National Park is the Fossil National Park that illustrates the various fossils that existed across India anywhere between 40-150 million years back. The Fossil National Park is spread over a massive area of 2,74,100 sq. m. and there are also three villages at the buffer area of this National Park as well.
When it comes to wildlife stay around Bandhavgarh National Park there are various accommodation options ranging from Standard, Deluxe, Luxury and High end Hotels and Resorts to cater to various category of travellers who come to visit the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park. As far as the standard resorts at Bandhavgarh National Park, one example is that of the Salvan Resort that is located around the forest area of Bandhavgarh National Park and the place has around 10 luxury cottages that offer various modern amenities like AC, Intercom, Mini Bar, tea/coffee maker, sofa, study tables, room heater, fire place, etc. The cottages at the Salvan Resort at Bandhavgarh National Park are built with hard finished walls, wooden doors and even granite flooring as well. It can be described as an exquisite jungle resort built with all modern lifestyles and offer jungle views from your room itself.
The Salvan Resort offers an elaborate dining option to its esteemed guests and dining here is a surprise in itself. The kitchen at the Salvan resort at Bandhavgarh National Park follows an ancient ancestral cooking custom and dining as well and the ingredient used to prepare the meals are sourced fresh from the local vegetables grown in the backyard as well as the local ingredients and homemade accompaniments. At the Salvan Resort at Bandhavgarh National Park, you can choose to have a packed breakfast in the deep woods or grab a quick bite at the lounge area or even enjoy a cocktail and dine under the stars in the evening. The Salvan Resort at Bandhavgarh National Park also offers to its guests the option of live roasting, generations old cooking methods, folk dance performances, etc. In addition to all of the above, the Salvan Resort at Bandhavgarh National Park also offers to its guests various other facilities like swimming pool, spa, Wi-Fi, bird watching options, laundry service, pick up and drop from airport/railway station, mini bar, on call doctor, first aid, conference halls, etc.
Another popular standard resort around the vicinity of Bandhavgarh National Park located at the Tala village is that of the Mogli Jungle resort. The name has been inspired from the main character of the book by Rudyard Kipling ‘Jungle Book’ of Mogli and the place was opened to the guests to Bandhavgarh National Park in the year 2005 that is set amidst a sprawling area of 16 acres. The Mogli Jungle resort is set adjoining the River Charanganga and is just around 2km from the main forest entrance of Bandhavgarh National Park. It can be described that the Mogli Jungle Resort at Bandhavgarh National Park, combines the pleasure of relaxation and jungle experience and the place offers various facilities to its esteemed guests. The Mogli Jungle resort at Bandhavgarh National Park, offers a multi cuisine restaurant option to its guests that serves an array of dished based on Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisine and guests who sit at the dining hall of the Mogli resort can catch a glimpse of the historic Bandhavgarh Fort while savouring their meals or even savour the best wines and beverages at the bar present here. The various other facilities at the Mogli resort are conference halls, swimming pools, restaurant, bar, TV, tribal dance, nature walks, bird watching, jungle safaris, barbecues and bonfires, etc.
Another fine property and budget as well is the Greenwood resort at Bandhavgarh National Park that was established with a sole purpose of providing a luxury stay amidst the pristine forest valley to its highly esteemed guests who come to Bandhavgarh National Park for a once in a lifetime opportunity to sight the Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild on their jungle safari experience. The Greenwood resort is built on 5 acres of prime land and it is just about 6km from the Tala entrance gate of Bandhavgarh National Park and it is a very ideal place to experience the wonders of Bandhavgarh National Park. The Greenwood resort extends warm and matchless hospitality to its guests as well. The Greenwood resort offers 11 individual luxury cottages to its guests and 4 economy rooms as well and the cottages have been designed to offer comfort, tranquillity and privacy to guests who come from all around the World to visit Bandhavgarh National Park. The economy rooms are also following a similar pattern of construction and out of the four rooms 2 are equipped to provide all luxuries and modern amenities to their guests. The restaurant at the Greenwood resort is named as Elegant and it is a multi-cuisine restaurant that serves various cuisines to its guests.
Another one among the standard places to stay around the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park is that of the Nature Heritage that is located in the heart of the Tala village and this Resort is a very impressive place to stay during your visit to Bandhavgarh National Park and it is said that the Nature Heritage resort offers visitors a unique platform to mingle with the Bengal Tigers of Bandhavgarh. At the Nature Heritage resort various photographers and wildlife film makers come who are interested in mostly as the Tiger expert at this place has an experience of more than ten years of tracking the tigers in the wild at Bandhavgarh National Park. The place offers to its guest’s accommodation across 22 air conditioned luxury cottages that are having an attached bathroom as well as private verandah as well. The place also looks across the Vindhyachal mountain range and the views from the place are very breathtaking. The Nature Heritage Resort also offers a multicuisine restaurant that serves vegetarian n and non-vegetarian cuisine and the vegetables and poultry are sourced from the neighbouring farms and hence you can be rest assured that the meals served to you are fresh and hygienic and free from pesticides and other chemicals.
The restaurant at this place offers a variety of Indian, Continental and Chinese delicacies and the meals are served elaborately at the dining hall or at the area around the fire under a thatch roof that brings in a unique ethnic delight to the service. Another place that offers its guests a standard category rates for stay around the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park is that of the Tiger Trails resort that is a jungle lodge situated near the Tala village and close to the entry gate of the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park and the place is spread across an area of 11 acres. The Tiger Trails resort at Bandhavgarh National Park offers guests an in-depth view into the wildlife of the forest reserves and visitors who choose to stay at this resort are sure to experience an opportunity of a lifetime. At the Tiger Trails resort at Bandhavgarh National Park, visitors can get an opportunity of nature walks, trekking, bird watching, various group activities, etc. After a day of safari and also birding of around 150 species of birds you can spend your time in the evenings staring at the starlit skies and also enjoy barbecues and tribal folk dances.
To enjoy your visit and tour to Bandhavgarh National Park you can choose to access the Jabalpur airport at Madhya Pradesh and from Jabalpur you hire the services of a taxi or you can pre-book your tour with any reputed tour operator who can make your entire arrangement from the airport transfer, stay and safari arrangements at Bandhavgarh National Park. The Jabalpur airport is a domestic airport and therefore doesn’t have International flight operations but you can best access the airport from various destinations in India. In case you are an International traveller and are flying in to India to not only explore Bandhavgarh National Park but other famed tourism destinations in the country so it is best recommended that you first arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi and from here you can explore the places around New Delhi and Old Delhi as well and Agra and later you can board your flight from New Delhi to come to Jabalpur and at Jabalpur you will be welcomed by the services of the tour operator and later you can go on the four hour drive from Jabalpur to Bandhavgarh National Park. This is one of the very famous National Parks in the country known to be the home of the Bengal Tigers and you can also spot around 37 species of mammals, 250 species of birds and around 80 species of butterflies during your stay around the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park.
Apart from sighting the various wildlife inside the forests you can also explore various places around Bandhavgarh National Park that are of tourist interest like the Bandhavgarh Fort and the caves and rock inscriptions at the historic site that date back to almost 2000 years and therefore you will have a gala time and a vacation as well when you choose to visit this very popular National Park in India. There are high end luxury resorts around the vicinity of the Bandhavgarh National Park and you can choose to stay at one of these resorts that will pamper you with luxury hospitality that will make you chose to even extend your stay at Bandhavgarh National Park. It is recommended that visitors who come here take the opportunity to go for maximum number of jungle safari rides inside the forest reserves as this will provide an opportunity to sight more number of animal species inside the forests. In case you are travelling from Delhi and you want to experience the true life of India then it is recommended that you choose to travel via the train run by Indian railways and from Delhi you can travel to Umaria and further to Bandhavgarh National Park.
The journey by train across India is considered to be a very rewarding experience and across the journey you can sight the true essence of this historic country that is mostly to be been around the villages and the countryside and the train experience is always recommended for a one way journey to Bandhavgarh National Park from Delhi and you can choose to fly back carrying a bouquetful of memories of your visit to this pristine forest and tiger reserve. Once you are back to New Delhi you can take your time to explore the glorious past and history of the Mughal Kingdom at India’s capital and later you can go to visit Agra to witness the eternal symbol of love viz. the Taj Mahal. At Old Delhi you can visit the historic attractions like the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort areas along with the other attraction of Fatehpur Sikhri and the Qutub Minar. Also get the opportunity to explore the various bazars and markets of New Delhi at Chandi Chowk, Connaught place and also sight the Presidential Palace and the India Gate. From Delhi travel to Agra to visit the monument of love viz. the Taj Mahal and the other places of attractions around Agra viz. the Akbar’s Tomb and the old city of Agra. This visit to India can be more grand if you choose to visit North East India and also plan your visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros at Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
If you are interested in sighting one of the very mighty beast of the Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild, then India is a perfect location to visit and not only Bandhavgarh National Park but various other National Parks are present in this ancient country that have a decent population of these tigers in the wild like Jim Corbett National Park, Ranthambore National Park, Banerghatta National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Kanha National Park, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, etc. So in case you are interest in tiger sighting then it is recommended that you plan your visit to few of these National Parks on your tour itinerary and in case you would also want to sight one of the other mighty beast of the forest that is the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros then you can plan your visit to Delhi, Ranthambore National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park and further come to visit Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Start with your arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi and explore the mysteries of the capital of the country followed by the charm of its medieval Mughal architectures and the bazaars that once served as the point of the silk route. Explore the vibrant architectures of the Mughal Kingdom and also visit the local bazars of Delhi that have on sale various antiques and relics and thing that are not heard of in Western countries.
From Delhi board your train to travel to the Sawoi Madhopur railway station that is close to the Ranthambore National Park and from here you will be received by the representative to take you to Ranthambore that is located amidst the Aravali and Vindhya hills. This is another one of the protected Tiger reserves in the country that is having a healthy population of the Bengal Tigers and Blue bulls, leopards, black bucks, spotted deers, wild boars, etc. and also a variety of species of birds as well. Take about two days to spend time at the Ranthambore National Park and go for your wildlife safari experiences inside the forests and also explore the places of interest around Ranthambore National Park like the Ranthambore Fort. Travel from Ranthambore National Park to Umaria where you can travel to Bandhavgarh National Park to sight the Bengal Tigers of the place and also get the opportunity to get to stay in some of the very luxurios resorts in the place and also take time to explore the Bandhavgarh fort that has a rich history. Travel to the Jabalpur airport to catch your connecting flight to Jorhat Airport from where you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kaziranga National Park in Assam that is renowned for its population of the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros and also the Bengal Tigers along with varied other species of flora, fauna and avifauna as well. Go for jungle safaris at the four wildlife ranges of Kaziranga Nationaol Park and sure shot get to sight the mighty beast of the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros.
When it comes to the luxury resorts around Bandhavgarh National Park, it is rest assure that visitors to the place will have a wide variety of options to choose from and the stay at these luxury resorts are a once if a lifetime experience around the jungles of Bandhavgarh National Park. Most of these luxury resorts offer its guests a warm and relaxing experience that allows a person to spend their time in peace and tranquillity and at the same time also not compromise on comfort and luxury. These resorts offer a beautiful backdrop of nature all around and one can explore the wilderness of the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park on their safari rides that are easily accessible from these luxury resorts. One prime example of a tree house getaway around the Tala village near the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park is that of the Tree House Hideaway that is a unique property built on a huge area of 21 acres and the stay in a tree house is one thrilling experience in itself. The tree house hideaway follows a traditional local lifestyle and architecture that provides a thrilling wildlife holiday. The place has 5 air-conditioned tree houses with bathroom that provide various facilities to its guests for a comfortable stay.
Some of the facilities include 24 hour running water both hot and cold, a living area, mosquito net accompaniments, mini bar, lounges in balconies from where the esteemed guests can catch a glimpse of the tiger reserve and the Bandhavgarh forest and along with it the waterhole that is regularly visited by wild animals. The accommodations have been made with local stuff like wood and various other handmade crafts as well that is in sync with nature and ensures that guests can have a stay in peace with nature. The tree house hideaway at Bandhavgarh National Park offers an exclusive in house restaurant and bar and is spread out across two level that is built around a beautiful wide tree trunk and the place serves to its guests a unique meal of varied cuisine like Indian, Chinese, Barbecues, etc. The bar is located at the terrace of the place and it is named as the ‘Watering hole’. From the pioneers of hospitality across the various National Parks of India comes the Infinity Bandhavgarh Wilderness that is a chain of the Infinity Resorts that have prominent properties across various National Parks including one at Jim Corbett National Park and another at Kaziranga National Park in Assam as well.
The Infinity Bandhavgarh Resort is located within close proximity to the forests of this tiger reserve and it has been designed to be eco-friendly and to create low impact on the land and environment as well. The pioneers in the hospitality industry across the prominent National Parks of the country are well aware of that they would operate in the vicinity of some of the very pristine forest reserves across the country and they had ensured to take all adequate steps to design their place of stay that releases very less carbon footprints and operates towards the betterment of the forest reserves around them. At the Infinity Bandhavgarh you can be rest assured that you are going to enjoy the wilderness of forest reserves and along with it you will get to experience a taste of the rural culture of the fringe villages around Bandhavgarh National Park as well. The prime objective of the Infinity Bandhavgarh is to make sure to cater to the comfort level of its guests so that their visit to Bandhavgarh National Park is a memorable and unforgettable experience and at the same time the place is environment friendly and every aspect of its daily operation is sensitively working towards the protection of the environment.
The Infinity Bandhavgarh offers various accommodation options to its guests and there are 8 lakeside pavilion rooms, 6 deluxe rooms and another 6 Villa rooms with all the modern amenities that are needed to make the stay of guests a very pleasant and memorable one around Bandhavgarh National Park. All of these room options at Infinity Bandhavgarh have the facilities like AC, TV, tea/coffee maker, fruit baskets, mineral water, telephone, balcony, writing tables and the rooms are spacious and comfortable with en-suite bathrooms that have24 hour hot and cold water facility. The place also offers a multicuisine restaurant that serves a wide array of delicious and mouth-watering cuisines and the place has a large restaurant area, amusement hall and a spa as well. Another one place noteworthy to be mentioned around the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park for the luxury stay of guests is the King’s Lodge that is located at close proximity to the Tala gate of Bandhavgarh National Park and is located at the Rancha village. The Kings lodge at Bandhavgarh National Park is spread across an area of 8 acres and the place is nestled amidst the forest hills around Bandhavgarh National Park.
The Kings lodge is a perfect example of serenity and can be describes as a prime jungle retreat that is having modern infrastructure yet the stay here feels to be in closeness to nature. For the comfortable stay of guests, the Kings lodge offers 18 double sharing cottages and among these there are 8 stilt cottages that are lifted from the ground that provides a true jungle experience in the form of a luxurious tree house and all these cottages have modern amenities and en-suite bathrooms. Most of the cottages are air-conditioned and have large private sit out places that offer a wide view of the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park and are accompanied by a writing table and chair that allows visitors to strike inspiration to jot down their experience at Bandhavgarh National Park. The sounds of the birds chirping in the morning will be a soulful delight to your ears instead of the unpleasant honking of cars you hear when you stay in a busy city. The place also offers a multi-cuisine restaurant that is having a large space for dining and visitors can get to enjoy some lip smacking delights here.
The National Parks of Madhya Pradesh are renowned for its population of tigers and not only at Bandhavgarh National Park but the same applies to Kanha National Park and Pench National Park as well. So once you are visiting Bandhavgarh National Park it must be mentioned that you also take a tiger tour to visit the other 3 National Parks of Madhya Pradesh viz. the Pench National Park, Kanha National Park and the Panna National Park as well. Across the central region of India, visitors who are wildlife enthusiasts and also photographers and are especially interested in the mighty beast of the Indian Tigers can take the opportunity to go for a number of wildlife safaris inside the forest reserves of these National Parks of Central India and get the opportunity to sight more animals in their natural habitat. Once in Madhya Pradesh, you cannot miss to take the opportunity of visiting Khajuraho that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a very important place to sight the architectural finesse of its temples. And across your wildlife safaris at these prominent National Parks of Madhya Pradesh you will not only get the opportunity to sight the various animal species but also have the option of exploring the various local villages that are on the fringes of these National Parks and you get to enjoy nature and the tribal lifestyle of the local people here as well.
Across this visit to the prominent sight-seeing destinations of Central India in the state of Madhya Pradesh, you can start your visit by exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site of Khajuraho and explore the various ancient temples at Khajuraho that are known to have some of the finest pieces of architecture and continue to halt for the evening at Khajuraho at one of the very fine palace turned hotel and the next morning you head to visit the Panna National Park and get to check into one of the deluxe wildlife resorts at this place and proceed for an afternoon jeep safari session at the Panna National Park that too is known for its population of the Bengal Tigers. Overnight you can stay back at Panna National Park and enjoy a deluxe stay in one of the varisou jungle resorts at the place and pamper yourself with amazing food and drinks at the place and retire early to prepare another day of wildlife safari at the Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This will be one of the very amazing experiences at the Panna National Park and from here you can proceed on your drive to the very renowned and famous Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. At Bandhavgarh National Park you will not only go for jungle safari rides inside the forest reserves of the park but also take the opportunity to explore various other places of tourist interest including the famed Bandhavgarh fort and also the Tala village that is a historic village where you can get to experience a tribal village of living and you see the elderly sitting on their cots and smoking the hookah that illustrates the rural life of India.
Spend around 2 days exploring the Bandhavgarh National Park and later proceed to visit another very famous National Park in India called as the Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Kanha National Park is spread across a lush area of 940 sq. km. and the park is located in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh that is filled with Sal and Bamboo trees. Kanha National Park is famous for its carnivore species like Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Wild Dogs, Hyenas, Foxes, Jungle Cats, Civets, Sloth Bears, etc. Not only carnivores but various herbivores are also present inside the forest reserves of Kanha National Park and these are mostly the Indian Gaurs, Spotted Deers, Sambar Deers, Barking Deers, Nilgais and the very famous Barasingha. Explore the forests of this pristine National Park on-board your jeep safari rides and enjoy your evenings at the luxury resorts that are present around the forest of Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
At Bandavgarh National Park do not miss out the opportunity to go to visit the Tala village and also the tribal gallery here that exhibits the various facets of the tribal life of the local people of Madhya Pradesh. Spread across an area of 2 acres, this tribal gallery employs the local tribal youth thereby providing them an opportunity to earn a decent livelihood. Bandavgarh National Park is surely a paradise for all nature, wildlife and bird lovers and the park is known to be home to 22 animal species, 250 bird species and 300 species of flora with the flagship species being that of the Royal Bengal Tigers. A visit to Bandavgarh National Park as well as the other National Parks of Madhya Pradesh viz. Panna National Park, Kanha National Park and Pench National Park is an experience of a lifetime and going for the wildlife safari experience here to sight the tigers along with the Asiatic jackals, grey mongoose or even the wild boars is what makes these National Parks a very sought after tourism destination in the country. Even if tourists do not get the opportunity to sight the Royal Bengal Tigers in the wild you needn’t be disappointed because there are various other species of animals you will sight on your jungle safari rides.
But if sighting the Bengal Tigers is your prime aim then it is recommended that you do not limit yourself to only one jungle safari ride inside the forest reserves of Bandavgarh National Park but go for several safari rides and also at the other National parks as well. Apart from the animal species, Bandavgarh National Park is host to various bird species and around 250 species of birds are recorded here and certain species are the grey egrets, motted wood owl, grey lag geese, white browned foxtail flycatcher, etc. Apart from the Bengal Tigers certain other animals to be spotted at Bandavgarh National Park are the Bengal fox, spotted deers, wild bear, palm squirrels, sloth bears, etc. Certain of the other places to visit at Bandavgarh National Park are the Bari Gufa (large cave), the three cave point, Jwalamukhi temple, Chechpura waterfall, shesh saya, etc. After you explore these beautiful destinations around Bandavgarh National Park it is obvious that you will be very tired in the evening and you will want to relax and unwind and the same time need to keep an eye on your budget and to suit the requirements of all category of travellers, the area around Bandavgarh National Park has numerous resorts, hotels and guest houses that cater to the needs of the guests.
Certain of such resort is the Tigergarh resort that is located at the Ranchha village of Bandavgarh and it is only 5km away from the main entrance of Bandavgarh National Park. The beautiful jungle resort is not too heavy in the pockets of its guests and the place has 6 cottages that resemble a villa and also there are 5 deluxe rooms as well and these stay options are air conditioned and have various amenities like cable TV, attached bath with 24 hours hot and cold water, a tiny garden space, a balcony and seating area as well. The restaurant at the Tigergarh resort serves various cuisines to its guests and food that is served here is fresh and organic and the chef churns out various delights like Indian, Mughlai, Chinese and continental dishes that are very well presented and are lip smacking delicious as well. When you are at the Tigergarh resort at Bandavgarh National Park, you can be rest assured that all your needs for vacation and jungle rides into the forest reserves of Bandavgarh National Park are taken care of and you can go for jungle rides, fort visit, photography tour, heritage art workshop and sculpting courses as well. In the evenings you can even get to enjoy traditional tribal dance performances as well.
Another one of the unique heritage properties around Bandhavgarh National Park that is spread across a huge area of 20 acres of land is the Bagh Sarai resort. The cottages at this resort at Bandhavgarh National Park is built with an ancient look and it draws the charm of the ancient village environment where the resort is located and at the same time it offers all the modern amenities to its guests. The place is located at around 30 minutes distance from the main safari entrance of Bandhavgarh National Park at the Tala zone. The Bagh Sarai resort follows a typical jungle safari experience setup where the guests are offered accommodation across two stay options namely the cottages and tents. The cottages and tents both come with attached bathrooms and have beautiful furniture to make to stay of the guests utmost comfortable during their visit to one of the very popular National Parks in the country is renowned for its presence of the Royal Bengal Tigers and also they are designed to adjust the climate inside the rooms as per the season and that to naturally. The Bagh Sarai resort at Bandhavgarh National Park offers its guests a multicuisine restaurant as well as ample parking space and visitors can simply take a walk across the garden area, enjoy a trek across the forest, hire services of a local guide to explore the fringe villages around the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park and also enjoy bird watching by the forests as well.
Another budget stay option is the Jungle Inn that is located near the Tala gate of Bandhavgarh National Park and this is a perfect place to enjoy the wildlife of Bandhavgarh National Park without having to trek inside the park because certain animals like the Langurs and deers often come wandering into the background of the Jungle Inn as well. This beautiful Inn comprises of 21 rooms for its guests and the rooms are categorized into 13 cottages that are independent and also there are 8 separate rooms across 2 villas that offer all modern luxury and amenities for the guests to enjoy the premises of the place. There is a 24 hour helpdesk also present and visitors can ask for various jungle safari experiences at this place as well. The Jungle Inn offers an ample parking space for its guests and a multicuisine restaurant that serve a wide array of cuisines that range from Indian, Continental and Chinese and visitors can savour lip smacking delights at the Jungle Inn at Bandhavgarh National Park.
Perhaps one of the best value for money hotels around the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park is that of the Tiger Inn resort that is again located at the Tala village area of the place and guests who come to explore the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park can easily get to access this place. The Tiger Inn has various rooms on offer to its guests and also these rooms are cozy and have a rustic look that allows the visitors to enjoy a village stay experience yet not compromising on the modern luxuries. The Tiger Inn at Bandhavgarh National Park offers various retreats to its guests when it comes to enjoying a jungle vacation and various recreational activities are organized within the campus of the Tiger Inn as well and also visitors can get to go for birding tours, nature walks and safaris from the place itself. The wild haven resort at Bandhavgarh National Park is another pocket friendly place to stay that is located in serenity amidst the beautiful flora of the place and the place is surrounded by the lush greenery and there are 14 cottages at the Wild Haven resort that include 6 cottages, a villa with 3 rooms and 5 safari tents as well to enjoy a comfortable stay around the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park.
It can be mentioned that Bandhavgarh National Park is not just a very important National Park of the country that is known to be a wild haven for all the nature and wildlife lovers, it can also be mentioned that Bandhavgarh National Park is a complete vacation land of the visitors who come here to spot the flagship species viz. the Tigers of the Park. The vast natural surroundings at the place makes it an ideal retreat for the city dwellers who would want to come here to get rid of the pollution and noise of the city and spend their time in peace and calm at the place and enjoy their wildlife safari rides and get the opportunity to sight the tigers and various other wildlife species of the park and also take the opportunity to check into one of the many deluxe resorts and Hotels of Bandhavgarh National Park that speaks of the luxury and high end facilities and services to its guests. Though we have mentioned about certain of the resorts that are to be found around the Tala village across the Bandhavgarh National Park, there are various high end resorts as well that offer some of the best in class hospitality and jungle stay experiences when you are here in Madhya Pradesh. One among these in the Taj Mahua Kothi that is a very luxurious resort that owned and operated by the Taj Group of Hotels who are known to operate some of the very deluxe 5 Star properties across the country under its parent group the Tata enterprise.
The Mahua Kothi is spread across an unbelievable area of 45 acres and this can be said to be one of the largest private jungle resorts in the country and it is considered to be one of the best jungle stay options in the country that is known as the haven for guests who want to pamper themselves on a luxury vacation. The Taj Mahua Kothi offers accommodation to its guests on 12 standalone cottages or Kutiyas that are fully furnished and air conditioned and there is a private courtyard from where one can access their cottages. The Taj Mahua Kothi at Bandhavgarh National Park offers its guests with unique amenities like that of high ceilings, fire place, private balcony, terracotta tiles, etc. The restaurant at the Taj Mahua Kothi serves some of the best cuisines in the country and the food is cooked with fresh local produce of vegetables and meat and also home-made accompaniments. The kitchen follows and adopts the ancestral cooking and ding customs that have been followed in village traditions and guests have an experience of delight when they come to dine at the restaurant here.
The Taj Mahua Kothi also offers its guests who come to visit Bandhavgarh National Park an option to dine by the pool and enjoy a meal by the pristine courtyard as well. What is very savoury about the meals at the Taj Mahua Kothi is the Indian bread or ‘Roti’ that is cooked on the traditional local Chulhas (stone and mud stoves) that imparts a unique smoky flavour to the food. The place offers a traditional garden, swimming pool, safari shop and the kitchen is an interactive one that serves as a major attraction to guests who come to stay at the Taj Mahua Kothi at Bandhavgarh National Park, and guests get to enjoy a view of the cuisines that are prepared in a traditional way to its guests. The place also offers an outdoor pool, spa centre, gym, Wi-Fi and much more. The Taj Mahua Kothi also offers pickup and drop, power backup, safari shop, private butlers, attached bathrooms, toiletries, front desk, etc.
Another of the prime properties for the stay of guests who come to travel to Bandhavgarh National Park is that of the Maharaja Royal Retreat that is again located in the Tala village and this is also considered to be one of the best stay options around Bandhavgarh National Park and the place was owned by the Maharajas of Rewa. This resort was once the hunting lodge of the Royal family and it is spread across a sprawling campus of 16 acres of land and today this is converted to a heritage hotel and visitors come here to get a true royal experience and also the learn about the rich cultural heritage of the place and also enjoy a very comfortable and luxurious stay as well. The Maharaja Royal Retreat offers 15 luxurious rooms to its esteemed guests that have beautiful interior decors that also has the display of the royal armoury and the rooms have all touch of modernity as they come equipped with twin beds, TV, intercom, attached bath with 24 hours hot and cold running water, etc. The Maharaja Royal Retreat at Bandhavgarh National Park also offers its guests facility of a library, historic museum and front desk as well.
There is a separate dining area as well and this offers a multi cuisine restaurant and serves some of the very delicious cuisines across Bandhavgarh National Park. Another popular stay option around the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park is that of the Nature Heritage Resort that is a very luxury stays option here at Bandhavgarh. The Nature Heritage Resort has 25 luxury cottages that are fully air-conditioned and the place offers a private verandah across each cottage as well from where guests can view the sprawling mountains of the Vindhyachal Mountains of Madhya Pradesh. The Nature Heritage Resort is said to have some of the very deluxe architecture and elegant interiors that are known to be found across any of the deluxe stay options at Bandhavgarh National Park. The 25 deluxe cottages at the Nature Heritage Resort are having en-suite bathrooms that have 24 hours hot and cold running water and the restaurant here is a multicuisine restaurant that serves some exquisite and flavourful cuisine to its guests.
After you enjoy your luxurious stay at one of these premier stay options around Bandhavgarh National Park and you have completed your visit across the other three popular National Parks of the state and also the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho, do not forget to visit many other places of historic interest that are to be found across this state in Central India. The capital city of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh is one of the very historic places in the country and has history of the various ruling dynasties being present across the place and at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh you can take a day’s time to explore the various places of interest like the Upper Lake, the Lower lake, the Birla Museum, Laxmi Narayana temple, Kihol Park, Moti Masjid, Sardar Manzil, Taj-ul-Masjid, Vidhan Sabha, Tagore memorial, etc. and you can see that these places are a mix of the Hindu and Muslim architectures that speak of the ancient glory of Bhopal that were under the rule of the Mughals as well and the Kings of Madhya Pradesh. Around Bhopal there are two important places of tourist interest as well and these are the village of Bhojpur and the World Heritage Site of Bhimbeta.
The beautiful country village of Bhojpur is located along the banks of the River Betwa and here you can find the remains of the Shiva temple and also a cyclopean dam that dates back to the 10th century and Bhimbetha ate ancient rock shelters that are believed to be the earliest traces of existence of human life and stone age paintings on the rocks at Bhimbetha are around 9000 years old making these the oldest in the World. After exploring these places around Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh and Bandhavgarh National Park you can travel to the town of Panchmarhi that is home to the beautiful Bee Falls. The pristine falls provides the source of drinking water for the village of Panchmarhi and is known to have spectacular landscapes around Madhya Pradesh and also various bathing pools. At Panchmarhi, visitors can get to witness the beautiful landscapes of the Satpura mountain range and also the Dudhi plateau. Across the place there are two sanctuaries namely the Bori and Panchmarhi sanctuaries that form a part of the ‘Panchmarhi Biosphere reserve’ and the Satpura National Park is a part of this reserve that covers an approximate area of 4501 sq. km. an the forest reserves here are covered with thick forests of teak and Sal trees.
After exploring these places you can travel to Khajuraho is Madhya Pradesh that is a famed UNESCO World Heritage Site that is renowned for the various temple shrines that date back to hundreds of years. Few of the temple shrines that are present at the UNESCO Heritage Site of Khajuraho are the Tarai temple, the Kandariya Mahadeo temple, Chitragupta temple, Viswanath temple, Laxman temple, etc. Another very important place to explore in Madhya Pradesh is that of Gwalior and also Orchha that was the kingdom of a powerful ruling dynasty. Gwalior is a major city and historic as well and you can visit the Gwalior fort, Man Mandir, Gujari Mahal, Saas Bahu temple, etc. and from Gwalior you can wrap up your visit of Madhya Pradesh to head to New Delhi or even Agra.
When it comes to the conservation of the Royal Bengal Tigers of Bandhavgarh National Park it can be said that the forest authorities at the place are very hard working and they play a very active role in keeping the tiger count inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park in check and ensure that poachers do not find an easy way in. Various success stories of tiger relocation have been found in the Bandhavgarh National Park and not only here but across the other National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh, there are certain stories to be heard of say for example the case of Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh where the forest authorities have initiated relocation and rehabilitation measures for the tigers and their number has gone up from 0 to 50 recently. Another of the success stories is that of the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary where various camera trap pictures showed a mother tigress with her three cubs and this is great news for the state and the country as well. These big cats were spotted at the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary a few years ago and to allow a successful conservation story of the place, forest authorities introduced a female tigress from Kanha National Park and a male tiger from Bandhavgarh National Park and they were let out in the wild reserves of Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and after spending a few months in separate enclosures they both met and today these are seen roaming around the forest of the sanctuary.
The Nauradehi sanctuary is spread across an area of 1197 sq. km. across four districts of Madhya Pradesh and is considered to be among one of the largest Wildlife Sanctuaries in the country. This sanctuary is home to varied species of flora, fauna and avifauna and with the introduction of the tiger species here it can be considered that this will be another attractive tourism destination in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Besides your visit to Bandhavgarh National Park, you can also take the opportunity to explore the forest reserves of the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary as well and this will provide you an opportunity to sight some rare animal and bird species as well. This place remains opened for public viewing to its guests from the months of November to June just like the other National Parks of Madhya Pradesh and similarly the best time to visit is the winter season when the weather remains favorable.
The tigers of Bandhavgarh National Park are not only a pride for the state of Madhya Pradesh but also for the country as well and what comes as great news for the state is that the place is now home to highest count of tiger population in the country with 526 tigers to be found in the natural habitat in the wild. India is home to the highest population of the tigers in the World and these species are protected mostly across the National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and the protected forests and Tiger Reserves across the country. As per the latest tiger census, there are around 2967 tigers in the wild across the country that is a very good number across the country. The population has grown to be 526 from 308 just in Madhya Pradesh and along with it, the population of tigers are second in Karnataka and then in Uttarakhand. This come as great news to the forest authorities of the place who along with other conservation agencies like WWF, Project Tiger and Save the Tiger foundation have worked round the clock to fight against odds like poaching to successfully raise the tiger count not only at Bandhavgarh National Park but across the National parks of the state that have the population of Tigers.
Today Madhya Pradesh is the top tiger state in the country and this brings and draws a lot of tourists to the state that come to the heart of India to spot these majestic Royal Bengal Tiger species in the Wild. Today Madhya Pradesh has six tiger reserves including Bandhavgarh National Park, Pench National Park, Panna National Park, Kanha National Park and Sanjay Dubri and with the growing number of tigers, these big cats are also migrating to other habitats of the state at Shahdal and Katni as well that are close to the famed Bandhavgarh National Park. With such population conservation methods in place and the numbers in the tiger population rising, it can be said that it won’t be long when the tiger population at Bandhavgarh National Park and the other National Parks of not only in Madhya Pradesh but across most of the tiger reserves across India will become a healthy one. The forest authorities of Madhya Pradesh have to be credited with keeping the tiger count growing across the state and various controlled relocation measures have ensured that the tigers find a good natural habitat to spend their life and also sufficient hunting grounds as well. Recently a tigress at the Bandhavgarh National Park was relocated to the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary that already has a mother Tigress named Radha along with her three cubs.
Similarly various tigers have been relocated back to the Bandhavgarh National Park as well and one such example is that of Tigress Sunari who was initially relocated to the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Orissa. The tigress was decided to be transported back to Bandhavgarh National Park as she had been ferocious in the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary and she even killed a cow and an elderly woman as well and so the Orissa government had decided to relocate tigress Sundari back to the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park. Certain news of the animal kingdom that are very striking are also heard inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park and one such news is that of a mother tigress abandoning here 4 month old cub. Forest authorities while patrolling inside the forest reserves of Bandhavgarh National Park found the cub wandering across the forest in a starving state as the mother had abandoned the cub mostly as the cub was weak and it is a practice among the tigers to abandon the cub that are not found to be physically fit. The authorities of Bandhavgarh National Park brought the cub for treatment at an enclosure within the forest premises but unfortunately, the health of the cub deteriorated and the cub passed away bringing grief to the authorities of Bandhavgarh National Park.
Such cases if tiger dying of various natural causes are often heard about not only at Bandhavgarh National Park but across various tiger reserves across the country and such deaths are inevitable because these are as per the laws of nature and there is not much to be done by the authorities of these tiger reserves. Poaching however needs to be controlled and authorities work round the clock putting their own lives at risk to protect these glorious Bengal Tiger species. Madhya Pradesh is known for its various tiger conservation programs across the tiger reserves in the state and no wonder it has achieved the top spot of being the top tiger state in the country with 526 of them in the wild as per the census of 2019. But tiger deaths are often reported and these deaths are not only due to natural causes and poaching but also due to poisoning and electrocution as well. Poisoning because many times tigers stray out to reach fringe villages around the protected reserves and so the villagers often se out food laced with poison that causes the death of these cats and also the fences are electrical are certain areas and this is to prevent animals from crossing the protected forest reserves and so the tigers and also other animals get caught on these electric fences that lead to their death as well.
Natural deaths of tigers are also reported across the various tiger reserves across the country where the tigers die of old age and Bandhavgarh National Park is no exception as the tigers of the place die of old age as well. One news of this incident is that of tiger T-23 who was a 17 year old tigress and she left for her heavenly abode and T-23 was one of the oldest tigresses of Bandhavgarh National Park. Such deaths due to natural causes of the tigers due to old age become inevitable and this is also one main reason for the tiger deaths not only at Bandhavgarh National Park but across the various tiger reserves of the country as well. But this natural death of the tigers is to be noted because news of tiger deaths were reported in quick succession with the death of T-23 as three cubs and three tigers were reportedly dead in quick span of time. These tigers were also reported to be killed by another male tiger and whether or not all the tigers were killed by one particular male tiger needs to be ascertained. Territorial fights among tigers are common at Bandhavgarh National Park and due to these fights deaths are often reported and this is a cause of concern among the forest authorities who are always trying their best to maintain a healthy population of the tigers.
The tiger deaths be it due to old age, fighting among tigers, poaching, etc. are always a cause of concern for the authorities of Bandhavgarh National Park and even the state government as well because in this age of social media such news are often somehow reaching the massed and people take these deaths as a way of criticizing the authorities and the government and Madhya Pradesh being the tiger state of the country has to ensure to always keep its tiger count at a top level as the number of tigers inside the protected tiger reserves of the state rose from 318 to 526 in a span of just four years and this was a matter of great pride for not only the authorities of Bandhavgarh National Park, state forest department but also of the state and central governments as well. The Hon. Prime Minister of the country took pride in releasing the tiger census of 2018 and if the tiger count decreases is comes as a matter of pride of the nation as well. Madhya Pradesh has always taken pride of a healthy tiger population since the introduction of the tiger reserves in the state and from the count of 257 in 2010 the number had almost doubles in the past eight years with an increasing trend and so such news of tiger deaths comes as a disappointment to the forest authorities who put in so much of effort and even put their lives at risk as well.
To conclude, Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the very famous tourist destinations of India that attracts visitors from all across the World who come here to get the opportunity to sight the flagship species of the Royal Bengal Tigers along with the various other species of fauna and birds as well. Bandhavgarh National Park had an unmatched charm and charisma that makes it one of the most desired National Parks of the country where visitors come to spot the majestic tiger species and learn about the conservation story of this park that boasts of healthy number of this endangered species in the natural habitat in the wild. The remains of the Bandhavgarh fort that dates back to several hundred years ago is also a popular tourist destination that draws tourists and the temple remains of Khajuraho of Madhya Pradesh is also why visitors come to visit this jewel of central India and coupled with Bandhavgarh National Park they go for safari rides at the other National Parks that are tiger reserves as well. What had started out as a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Rewa where the kings were allowed only to hunt the tigers after being declared a game reserve, Bandhavgarh National Park has come a long way today in being the most sought after tiger sighting destination in the country.
The game sanctuary was handed over to the government in 1968 and the sanctuary was declared as a National Park and today Bandhavgarh National Park boasts of a decent population of the Indian Tigers and the successful conservation story here is all credited to the local government and conservation agencies along with the hard working forest authorities of the place. The threats of poaching of this majestic Bengal tiger species have been significantly reduced and the tiger population continues to be on a rise inside the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park. The authorities of Bandhavgarh National Park have taken several measures to improve the living conditions of the wild animals inside the forests of Bandhavgarh National Park and several steps have been taken to ensure that poaching of animals inside the National park is brought down to almost nil. A visit to Bandhavgarh National Park is a must for any wildlife and nature lover and in case you are travelling from abroad to India then it is a must visit experience to come and explore the forests of this famed National park of the country. Enjoy your stay is some of the most luxurious wildlife resorts in the country that will pamper you and provide you with World class hospitality services where you can come to the famed tiger reserve of the country and enjoy your wildlife safaris and carry a bouquet of memoirs of your visit to Bandhavgarh National Park.
