Welcome to the land of tigers. Today Bandhavgarh, in Madhya Pradesh, the very heart of India, has the highest density of tigers in the world making it just the best jungle adventure tourism destination. Bandhavgarh National Park is one place where you can be almost certain of seeing a tiger in its natural habitat. It is in this valley where the world's first white tiger was found.
Total Coverage Area : 437 sq. kms / 44,884 hectares/ 168 sq. miles
Established : 1968 as a National Park.
Extended In : Extended in 1986.
Became A Tiger Reserve : In 1993
Bandhavgarh National Park:
In 1217 A.D. a young adventurer departed from his native Venice on a voyage of discovery. Among the other incredible stories he related in his "Book of Marvels", he spoke of a wondrous land filled with curious animals, like elephants, rhinos and the great striped cats. That land was India. The man was Marco Polo.For long, Africa has been regarded as the Mecca of Wildlife. Justifiably so, but in the recent years the natural wealth of the Indian Subcontinent has begun to offer naturalists, tourists and researchers a fascinating alternative to the once dark continent.Now, imagine yourself in an open Gypsy slowly and silently cruising along a dense forest trail, listening to the alarm calls of a Langur warning the presence of a Tiger. You feel a tingling sensation in the nape of your neck as the forest floor quietens, and you silently watch, through the early morning mist, a faint image of yellow and black stripes crossing the trail ahead. You move on, as the early rays of the sun make an array of magical shapes through the trees across the forest floor, and your lungs revel in the fresh morning air.Such is the experience at Bandhavgarh National Park; one of the few remaining havens for the pride of Indian Wildlife - the Royal Bengal Tiger.Bandhavgarh is a new National Park with a very long history. Set among the Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168sq miles (437sq kms) it contains a wide variety of habitats and a high density of game, including a large number of Tigers. This is also the White tiger country. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for many years. The last known was captured by Maharaja Martand Singh in 1951. This white Tiger, Mohun is now stuffed and on display in the Palace of Maharaja of Rewa.
Prior to becoming a National Park, the forests around Bandhavgarh had long been maintained as a Shikargarh, or game preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. The Maharaja and his guests carried out hunting - otherwise the wildlife was well protected. It was considered a good omen for Maharaja of Rewa to shoot 109 tigers. His Highness Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers by 1914.
Tourists Attractions in Bandhavgarh National Park :
The Fort
No record remain to show when Bandhavgarh fort was constructed. It is thought, however, to be some 2,000 years old, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the Narad Panch Ratra and the Siva Puran. Various dynasties have ruled the fort: for example, the Maghas from the 1st century A.D., the Vakatakas from the 3rd century; the Sengars from the 5th century and the Kalachuris from the 10th century. In the 13th century AD, the Baghels took over, ruling from Bandhavgarh until 1617, when Maharaja Vikramditya Singh moved his capital to Reva. The last inhabitants deserted the fort in 1935.
Flora and Fauna
The forest of Bandhavgarh can be classified as moist deciduous, and the National Park holds all those animal species which are typical of this habitat in Central India. Certain areas of the Park (particularly the south and west) are drier in character, and hold such species as the nilgai and the chinkara.
Sal forest occurs throughout the valleys, giving way to mixed forest which occurs where the soil is of relatively poor quality on the upper hill slopes, on rocky outcrops and in the south and west. Grassy meadow patches occur in the valley and along the nalas.
Bandhavgarh National Park Wild Life :
There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Common langurs and rhesus macaque represent the primate group. Carnivores include the Asistic Jackal, Bangal fox, sloth bear, ratel, grey mongoose, striped hyena, jungle cat, leopard and tiger. The artiodactyls frequently sighted are wild pig, spotted deer, sambar, chausingha, nilgai, chinkara and gaur. Mammals such as dhole, the small Indian civet, palm squirrel and lesser bandicoot rat are seen occasionally. Among the herbivores, gaur is the only coarse feeder. The vegetation along streams and marshes is rich in birdlife. The common ones are little grebe, egret, lesser adjutant, sarus crane black ibis, lesser whistling teal, white-eyed buzzard, black kite, crested serpent eagle, black vulture, Egyptian vulture, common peafowl, red jungle fowl, dove, parakeet, kingfisher and Indian roller. Reptilian fauna include cobra, krait, viper, ratsnake, python, turtle and a number of lizard varieties, including varanus.
Wildlife Viewing in Bandhavgarh National Park :
There are two main ways of getting about in the park-in a motor vehicle or an elephant back. Many of the animals are by now accustomed to both; even so, it is best to talk quitely and not make rapid movements.
Jeep safaris are best undertaken from dawn until about 10 am and from about 4 pm until dusk, as the animals are most active during these periods. A forest Department guide must always accompany you. This guide will be able to direct you and point out wildlife.
