Bandhavgarh National Park

Understand

History The state of Rewa owes its origins to the foundation of a state dating to 1234 by Vyaghra Dev, a descendant of the Vaghelas of Gujarat. He married the daughter of the Raja of Ratanpur, bringing Bandhogarh (now known as Bandhavgarh) into the family as her dowry. The legendary fortress of Bandhogarh fell into Mughal hands in 1597, almost by accident. At the death of Maharaja Virbhadra Rao in 1593, his minor son succeeded and was sent to Delhi for his own safety, the emperor took advantage of his absence to send one of his loyal nobles as a temporary governor. Once he had taken control of the fort, the Maharaja’s nobles and officials were expelled, and the fort was annexed by the Mughals. On his return to his remaining domains, H.H. Maharaja Vikramaditya was forced to establish a new capital at Rewa, from whence the state took its name. Times have changed. You now ride elephants to shoot tigers with your Nikon instead of your rifle, and there remains something very evocative about riding through the Jungle on the lookout for those black and orange stripes!

Landscape

The "jungle" is mostly sparse and dry undergrowth with large areas of woodland. The park is set around the "castle" - a huge outcrop of rock with a massive plateau top. The whole area is very dry and dusty. Covering 450 km2, Bandhavgarh is situated in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh among the outlying hills of the Vindhya range. At the centre of the park is Bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 m above sea level. The lowest point in the park is at Tala (440 m above sea level). Bandhavgarh is densely populated with other species. Bandhavgarh is surrounded by great cliffs and eroded rocks, and on its highest point stands "Bandhavgarh fort" thought to be some 2,000 years old. Around the fort are numerous caves containing shrines and ancient Sanskrit inscriptions.

Fauna Although Bandhavgarh is a relatively small park, in the last few years, this former game reserve has become one of India's mos

Getting there

The closest train station is Umaria. Sleeper trains run from Delhi and Agra. Umaria is a jeep ride from Tala, the village at the Main Gate to Bandhavgarh. Tala (Bandhavgarh) is well connected to Katni which is one of the major railway junctions nearby. Generally it takes 2-2½ hr and you can easily get vehicles to and from the station by jeeps or similar vehicles waiting at the exit of the Umaria railway station. The park is closed 1 July - 30 September.

Getting around

Tala is a tiny village at the entrance to Bandhavgarh with one or two shops and an internet cafe. The lodges are a few minutes walk to the village. Travel into the park is by Jeep, again normally provided in the price by the lodges.

See

The wild animals are not the only attraction in the park. On at least one safari your driver will take you up the mountain where there is a line of ancient caves, and a huge 10th-century statue of a reclining Vishnu. It is also possible to head to the far side of the park to the elephant enclosure where the elephants are kept. Often this is where the young elephants are and it is a great photo opportunity

Baghel Museum (100 m from the park). This museum houses many precious and beautiful belongings of the King of Rewa. The King maintained Bandhavgarh National Park as his destination for hunting. There is a stuffed white tiger in the museum amidst certain personal belongings of the King of Rewa. Bandhavgarh Fort. Bandhavgarh Fort is in the centre of 32 hills in the park. The fort's cliffs are 2625 feet (800 m) high, 1000 feet (300 m) above the surrounding countryside. There are many caves in the fort and in the hills adjacent to the fort. These caves belong to the prehistoric period. The fort still belongs to the Maharaja of Rewa and permission is required to visit it. Cheshpur Water Fall. This fall is 50 km from Bandhavgarh. This is a natural water fall in river Johila. This is ideal for picnic. Climbers Point. This point ensures the view of amazing natural beauty with the view of beautiful Sal trees. This is a wonderful place to take some rest and give peace to mind and body. Fossil National Park. Fossil National Park is 110 km from Bandhavgarh, This national park has plants in fossil form that existed in India anywhere between 40 million and 150 million years ago. The Fossils National Park is an area that spreads over 274,100 m². Such fossils are found in three villages, which lie outside the national park. The Standing, petrified trunks of trees have been identified as Gymnosperms and Angiosperms- Monocotyledons and palms. There are certain Bryophytes also. There is some doubt about whether the fossils are from the late Jurassic or the early and mid

Do

Jeep safari The Jeeps all head to the Main Gate before it opens to collect a guide who joins the Jeep for the safari and you then head off into the Jungle. Visitors to Bandhavgarh are allowed into the park twice each day for 3-hour Jeep safaris, once at dawn, and again in late afternoon. These are times when animal activity is most visible. The commonly used safari vehicles are open 4WD Gypsys. The Jeeps stick to well-worn tracks but the park covers a large area and you'll often end up on your own. Most of the wildlife is seen from the Jeeps, but the star attraction - the tigers - are tracked each morning by elephant. If they are found the Jeeps dash towards them. If they are visible from the track the Jeeps bustle around trying to get the best view or, alternatively, your driver enters you in a queue for an elephant ride to see the tigers in the bush. The safari lasts about 3 hours before the park closes at lunch time. There is a second slightly shorter Safari in the afternoon which lasts until dusk. You cannot travel in the park without a Jeep and a guide. Elephant treks Elephants are used every morning by the Forest Department for tiger-tracking. If a tiger is found, the elephant will take you directly to the tiger from a nearby area reached by Jeep/car. A Forest Department guide must always accompany you, or you may choose to pay for a naturalist, instead. This guide/naturalist will be able to direct you and point out wildlife.

Buy

Once you've paid for the Jungle Package at a Lodge you will struggle to spend anything at all in Tala. Elephant rides are extra but not expensive at all (2005: ₹300 per person per ride) and the only thing you buy in the lodges are those cool evening beer

Eat

Jain Bhojanalaya at Bandhavgarh - Serves pure vegetarian food. Golbro Tiger View Resort Campus in front of National Park, very near to Tala Gate No.1 and Petrol Pump. Cost is very economical.

Drink & nightlife

Always use packed drinking water. There is no nightlife here at all (thank goodness) but a cool beer after a day in the jungle is a wonderful thing! Remember to take plenty of water on every safari.

Sleep

Atulya Kanchi Camp, Bandhavgarh National Park (in Parasi village), ☏ +91 1145871493. An eco-conscious wildlife project, uniting conservation, communities and sustainable tourism. Private bungalow in the