Bandhavgarh National Park situated in Madhya Pradesh is well known for its outstanding setting. This park is one of the best national parks where freely roaming Asian tigers can be easily spotted.
The valleys of Bandhavgarh are covered with thick flora complimented by rocky hills. The hills are at a height of 811 meters above sea level. An ancient fort stands erect on the high cliff looking magnificent. The total area of this park is about 448 square kilometers; however, only 105 square kilometers of it is open to visitors. Apart from tigers you can also catch sight of sloth bears, mongoose, jungle cats jackals, spotted deer, samba deer, langur monkey, red faced monkeys, leopards as well as several varieties of birds. The fun part is that you get to view all these animals sitting on the back of tames domestic elephants.
In older times this park was the hunting ground for the rulers of Rewa.
Location: This national park is situated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is at a distance of about two hundred kilometers from Jabalpur in the north east direction. Tala village is the nearest dwelling to the park, it is also the entry point of the national park.
How to reach: the closest airport is at Jabalpur with few direct flights from Delhi. It takes approximately four to five hours from Jabalpur to reach Bandhavgarh.
The nearest railway station is at Umaria. Train to Umaria can be taken from Delhi or Agra. It takes about forty five minutes to reach Tala from Umaria.
Climate: March and April are the best months for tiger viewing. During these months the temperature rises and forces the tigers to come out for water or shady areas. In may and June you will also get to see lot of tigers, however, the temperature is quite high during these months. The winters are very cold and the animals are usually tucked away to beat the harsh winters. The peak tourist months are December, January and March. April is the best time of the year to visit as the whether is moderately hot and the park is less crowded.
Timings: The best time of the day to be inside the park is early mornings or after 3pm. This time is best for animal viewing. The park remains closed due to heavy downpour in the months of July and September.
Cost: It will cost you approximately Rs 1000 to hire a jeep safari along with a guide per person. A single jeep can accommodate six tourists. If you are a foreigner then be prepared to spend at least Rs 3000. The cost of the elephant ride is extra. It also costs extra to see the ancient fort. The road leading to the fort is quite narrow and difficult, hence, only few limited jeeps are allowed on that road. The jeep safari can be easily hired from the Tala village. You can also ask with your hotel to arrange a safari trip beforehand.
Bandhavgarh Fort: This fort is situated amidst thirty two hills. The fort is still a property of Ruler of Rewa, however, visitors are allowed at small fees. Adjacent to the fort there are many caves belonging to the prehistoric times.
You must also tell your guide to take you to a huge 10th century statue of a leaning back Vishnu and the domestic elephant enclosures.
Happy Travel!
