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Wildlife
Sanctuaries
---------------------- Elephant Safari ---------------------- Western Wildlife ---------------------- Eastern Himalayan Mangrove Tigers ---------------------- Bird Watching ---------------------- Tiger Tours ---------------------- Nepal/Bhutan Tour Packages ---------------------- Southern India Packages |
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Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh
lies in the heart of Madhya Pradesh- traditional tiger country. This is
where Rudyard Kipling found inspiration for his famous Jungle Book
(remember Mowgli?), and this is where the tiger still roams- although now
protected by dozens of laws, some effective, some not.
Once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Rewa, where an alarming number of tigers were hunted down in pre-independence India, Bandhavgarh was mercifully declared a National Park in 1968. Today, the Bandhavgarh National Park is a compact reserve (448 sq. km) of sal trees, bamboo thickets and grasslands, teeming with birds
Located in the Vindhya Hills, Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh encompasses 32 hills covered with a mixed forest of sal, dhobin and saga and large stretches of grasslands with bamboo groves. Dominated by a large fort said to have been built by Lord Rama the hero of the Indian epic Ramayana, Bandhavgarh is famous for its tigers.and animals and the highest population of
tigers anywhere in India. The park is now home to 22 species of wildlife,
including the regal ‘gaur’, umpteen varieties of deer, and carnivores such
as the striped hyena, jungle cat and sloth bear and over 250 species of
birds. Within the park itself is the Bandhavgarh Fort, now in ruins and
largely overrun by the surrounding forest.
Although Bandhavgarh is in the area where
the famous white tigers of Rewa were first found, don’t expect to see any
of the exotic beauties around. What you will see, however, is an
amazing diversity of flora and fauna which can certainly make a trip to
this wildlife preserve utterly worthwhile.
Entry Requirements
All visitors to Bandhavgarh need a permit to enter the wildlife national
park; this can be obtained at the entrance to the park. Entry fees for
foreigners are Rs 200; for Indians and members of SAARC countries, Rs 20.
Additional charges are levied for the entry of vehicles, for cameras and
for elephant rides.
Access
If you’re looking to sight the
majestic tiger in his natural habitat, head for Jabalpur by jeep, bus,
plane or train and from there onwards to the
Bandhavgarh National Park,
165 km northeast. The nearest airports are in Khajuraho (210 km away) and
Jabalpur. Buses from Khajuraho to Bandhavgarh do the trip in about five
hours.
The closest railhead is the town of Umaria, which is 30 km from Bandhavgarh; it’s linked by train to cities in Madhya Pradesh and other states, including Delhi. Private and state owned bus services operate regular buses to Bandhavgarh from Umaria, Jabalpur, and other towns in Madhya Pradesh. Taxis too can be hired to get to Bandhavgarh. The wildlife park’s entrance is at a tiny settlement called Tala, which has facilities- although limited- for accommodation.
Within the bounds of the Bandhavgarh
National Park, vehicles may be hired at the entrance to drive around; in
addition, private vehicles are allowed in. You could also ride through the
jungle on elephant-back -- and if you kept completely quiet and are very,
very lucky, you could even spot a tiger!
Best time to visit
Like many of India’s other wildlife preserves, national parks and
sanctuaries, Bandhavgarh National Park too closes for visitors during the
monsoon months, July to October. Between November and June is the best-
and only-time to visit the park.
Accommodation
The Madhya Pradesh Tourist department has a forest lodge in Bandhavgarh;
the PWD and the Forest Department also have guest houses within the park,
where the accommodation, though not the height of luxury, is adequate.
Rooms range from some interesting cabins on stilts to individual cottages.
Besides this, there are hotels and forest
lodges at Tala (at the entrance to Bandhavgarh).
More information on Bandhavgarh may be obtained from
the Director, Bandhavgarh National Park, P.O. Umaria, District Shahdol,
Madhya Pradesh. Reservations for the MP tourism lodge can be made
at the MP State Tourism Development Corporation in Bhopal
Visit
this Sanctuary with us, Click Here for Tours...
Suggested Itinerary :
Day 01: Depart by train from Delhi to Umaria (travel in air
conditioned second class sleeper). Spend overnight on the train.
Day 02-06: Early morning arrive Umaria station (06.00 hrs approx).
Transfer to Bandhavgarh National Park (30 minutes driving time
approx.) at your resort for five nights. Enjoy your morning and afternoon
jeep-safaris and elephant-rides in the Bandhavgarh National Park.
Spend overnight at the Resort.
Day 07: Morning depart by surface to Jabalpur railway station (170
kms. - 05.00 hrs driving time approx.) to board your train at 15.40 hrs
(travel in second class air conditioned sleeper) for Delhi. Overnight on
board the train.
Day 08: Arrive Delhi at 07.20hrs. Transfer to a hotel for day use.
Later in the evening transfer to the International airport to connect your
flight for your onward destination.
Wildlife Tours
Bird Watching Tours
Birding Tour of Rajasthan | Himalayan Birding Tour | Birding Tour in Kerala | Birding Tour in South India & Goa | Birding Trails of North India | Bird Watching Tour of Goa | Birds Watching Tours of Sikkim | Birds Watching Tour North Bengal | Weekend Birding Jimm Corbett | Birds Watching Tour of North India | Birding Tour in Nepal & Bhutan | Weekend Birding Bharatpur | Weekend Birding Harike National Park