First Acquaintance
Entrenched among thick forest, Bandhavgarh National Park is the locus,
where nature depicts the memoirs of the bygone times. Located within the
district of Sahdol in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, encircled
by cliffs, this park is nestled between the Vindhya hills. It is a compact
reserve, surrounded by a number of grass and reed covered wetlands where
Kingfishers dive and Egrets sit poised, hunch-backed, in the shallows. Up
above, vultures nestle in holes in the sheer cliffs
The
Bandhavgarh jungle, when it is large enough, becomes a living
self-sustaining organism providing its own climate, atmosphere, water and
nutrition through its recycling systems. It even has a sleep wake cycle. As
more light fills the sky, Bandhavgarh begins to awaken.
Saga of Bandhavgarh
Bandhavgarh is of prime importance for the history and mythology of india.
There is a fort dating back to the mythological era of Ramayana, it is still
owned by the Maharaja of Rewa. The oldest signs of habitation are the caves
dug into the sandstone, near the fort. Being a favorite hunting ground of
royal family and their guests, the negative aspect to this continued until
the Maharaja decided to hand it over, minus the area inside the fort, to the
government for the protection of wildlife.
Natural Life in Bandhavgarh
Blessed with a large variety of creatures; both animals and birds,
Bandhavgarh has the highest known density of tiger population in India.
Covered with sal trees, bamboo thickets and grasslands, the main wildlife
viewing is still done in the core of the park with its 32 picturesque,
wooded hills. The park is now home to 22 species of wildlife, including the
regal 'gaur', innumerable varieties of deer and carnivores such as the
striped hyena, jungle cat and sloth bear and over 250 species of birds.
Magnetism of Bandhavgarh
Once a hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa in more recent times,
Bandhavgarh was declared a park in 1968. This is also the site where the
fanmous White Tigers of Rewa were discovered.
Wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an Elephant Back, the
chances of seeing a tiger are quite good. Among the other wild attractions
include, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox
or Jackal. One gets to see some of the larger specimens of wild boar,
Sambhar Deer and Barking Deer found anywhere in the country.
Significant Perspective of Bandhavgarh
Bandhavgarh Fort : The Bandhavgarhpark area is hilly and is
dominated by the majestic Bandhavgarh fort, built in 14th century. The fort
and the adjacent hills have a large number of caves belonging to the
pre-historic period.
Kalchuri Archeological Remains : Beside the wildlife, Bandhavgarh is
also famous for the archaeological remains of the Kalchuri period that have
been found here.
Jeep
& Elephant Safari : One can enjoy viewing the wildlife by two ways
in Bandhavgarh - Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari.. Jeep safaris are
undertaken during the early morning hours till evening. Elephant safari
trips are organised for tiger tracking early in the morning.
Preferred Time to Visit - Bandhavgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
The visiting season of Bandhavgarh national park starts from Mid-November
to June, as the park remains closed during the monsoon months from July to
early November.
Tourist Information Centres :
- The Manager, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation
Ltd., White Tiger Forest Lodge, Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh.
- The Divisional forest officer, Divisional Tourist office,
Bandhavgarh N. Park, Umaria M.P.
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