Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park used to be a former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa which is presently famous for its heritage and white tigers. This place is legendary and owns an abundance of historically abundant landmarks within the park. The city of Bandhavgarh has been demolished and flourished through several ages since the age of Ramayana, and thus reasons or its copper tinted air and stone wind fragrances. The National Park was given the name of Bandhavgarh because of an ancient fort in a hillock in Umaria along the Vindhya ranges. The name Bandhavgarh is derived from the word 'bandhav' which means brother and ‘garh’ meaning fort. The legend has it that Lord Rama was passing the forests of Bandhavgarh after defeating Ravana and decided to build a fort. It was to symbolise his love for his brother Lakshman.

Bandhavgarh boasts the highest number of tigers regarding density. Compared to other national parks, the probability of spotting a tiger is way too high here. The park has three gates, which are - Tala, Magadhi and Khitauli.Out of these three, Tala gate is the most select and expensive gate. The ones who are keen on watching birds can opt for the Magadhi entrance. Being an absolute adventurer's delight, this park never disheartens its visitors because it offers a wide variety of flora and fauna. 

October to May is the ideal time for visiting the national park. Unlike any other national park, there are three types of safaris offered by the authorities - jeep, canter and elephant. Jeep and canter safaris are more popular among the tourists because it is easily available and cheaper than the elephant safari. 

Elephants are typically used in Bandhavgarh to take you to the spot where tigers get tracked. Available only in the morning shift, these elephant safaris are on first come first serve basis and charge around INR 500 per head to take one to a spot where one can see a tiger in its most natural form. Four passengers are typically allowed on an elephant, and there is a mahout and a naturalist on this trip too.

Jeep Safaris operate in two shifts, one in the early morning at the time of sunrise (Around 5.30 AM) for 4 hours and then starts again at 2-3 PM and goes till the sunset. Since Bandhavgarh is very popular, its advisable to book a jeep in advance, as only a limited number of jeeps are allowed in each shift. Each jeep can take up to 6 travellers other than a driver and one naturalist. Visitors typically prefer Tala region to spot tigers. Afternoon shift is typically closed on Wednesdays.

Canter Safari: Canters with a seating capacity of 12 people can be booked on the spot. However, prior online booking is recommended. They charge INR 1200 for Indians and INR 2400 for foreigners.

Note: The cost may vary from zone to zone.

Tips: Carry your sunglasses, hats and water bottles. Also, carry one ID Proof for the reservation. Children under 5 years of age are allowed along with the adults free of cost.

The list of fauna in Bandhavgarh is - White Tiger, Royal Bengal tiger, Rhesus monkeys, spotted deer, barking deer, sloth bears, leopards, jackals, mongoose, wild pigs, jungle cats, etc. The flora is typically dry and deciduous type with mostly sal and bamboo trees being dominant in the forest. A lot of resorts are there in Bandhavgarh, making the stay memorable and comfortable. It also hosts a primate species of birds including Dove, Parakeet, Serpent Eagle, Black Vulture and common Peafowl. Several species of reptiles such as python, turtle, viper, and ratsnake are commonly found in the area. 

On the east end of Bandhavgarh national park lies the Bandhavgarh Fort. It is the height point of this national park. Among the oldest forts of India, Bandhavgarh was built more than 2000 years ago though the history around it is not very clear yet. A one hour trek is required to reach here from Tala zone and visitors must take a guide to visit this place. There are numerous caves in this fort area and some of them have inscribed paintings and scripts written in Brahmi. There are also a few temples here. The whole area is deserted, but it is still visited frequently by locals. According to Ramayana, it is believed that Rama's army built this fort and handed it to Lakshmana and hence Lakshmana is the main god of this temple. The trek is totally worth it to this 800 m high fort as it gives a breathtaking view of the surroundings. There is also a giant 35 feet sleeping statue of Vishnu here. This statue is believed to be dating around 10th century A.D. and Vishnu is shown reclining on the bed made by coils of the Seven Hooded Serpent, called Shesh Naag. The statue is locally known as Shesh Shaiya.

With not too many options available, you can find typical Indian cuisine in this area along with popular items of Continental and Chinese cuisine. The local delicacies of Madhya Pradesh that you might find here include Dal Bafla, Biryani, Kebabs, Korma, Poha, Rogan Josh, Jalebi, Ladoos as well as beverages like Lassi and Sugarcane Juice.

Day 1: Reach Umaria station (closest to Bandhavgarh) early morning. A 30-minute drive will take you to the land of tigers. Upon arrival, check into the resort. Relax in the morning. After lunch, take an evening safari to explore the wildlife and stay overnight at the resort.

Day 2: Gear up for morning and afternoon safari into the wildnerness. See the bandhavgarh fort, 3 cave point, shesh shaiya etc. Overnight stay at Bandhavgarh.

Day 3: Take an elephant safari in the morning and enjoy the forest in its absolute and pure form. After lunch, you can visit the nearby tribal village for leisure.