Bandhavgarh National Park is set among the Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168 square miles. This national park contains a wide variety of habitats and high density of game, including a large number of tigers. Over half the area is covered by sal forests and there are stretches of bamboo and grassland.

In this park there is an ancient Bandhavgarh fort and caves, dug into the sandstone of the fort, have inscriptions dating from the 1st century BC. In the recent past, the fort was last occupied by the Maharaja of Rewa until it was designated as a National Park in 1968. In addition to tigers, also seen are chousingha (small four horned) antelope, chinkara (Indian) gazelle, nilgai (blue bull) antelope, wild boar, jackal, muntjak (barking) deer, sambar deer, chital (spotted) deer, jungle cat, striped hyena, porcupine, ratel, rheses macaque, black-faced langur monkey and more. In March and April, gaur (Indian bison), move down from the higher hills to the southeast of the park and make their way to the central meadows. As this park is relatively new, there is still a good chance of adding birds to the checklist of some 150 species already compiled.

Bandhavgarh National Park is dominated by the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, located on a plateau and reached after a steep climb. The fort is now in ruins, its monuments and tanks beings gradually reclaimed by the forest, thus providing additional shelter for wildlife such as Black Bucks.

The park can be entered on elephant back and / or in a jeep or by car. In these safaris a forest department guide always accompanies you. He will direct and tell about the flora and fauna of the park. The best time to visit the park is early in the morning or after 4 p.m.It is during this time that the animals are most active and are easily spotted.

Visitors can visit the park during the time period of Mid November to mid June, still the best period to come is January-April. Park is open from 1st of October to 30th June only. After that it is closed.

Major Wildlife Attractions - 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.

Other attractions in Bandhavgarh

• Kalchuri Archeological Remains
  Beside the wildlife, Bandhavgarh is also famous for the archaeological remains of the Kalchuri period that have been found here.
• 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.
• Jeep & Elephant Safari in Bandhavgarh
  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. A forest department guide is always their with the visitors on these jeep trips taken inside the park. Elephant safari trips are organised for tiger tracking early in the morning.
• Best Time to Visit Bandavgarh National Park
  The visiting season of Bandhavgarh national park starts from October to June, as the park remains closed during the monsoon months from July to early November.

How to get there

• Air
  Khajurao at 230-kms is the most convenient airport connected by various domestic airline services with Agra, Delhi, Varanasi.
• Rail
  The nearest railhead Umaria at 30-kms is on the Katni-Bilaspur section of South-Eastern Railway. Another convenient railhead Satna (117-kms) is on the Bombay-Howrah main line of the Central Railway.
• Road
  Bandhavgarh National Park is situated on the Satna-Umaria & Rewa-Umaria highway. Some of the important road distances are: Khajuraho (via Satna)230-kms, Varanasi (via Rewa) 340-kms, Katni 75-kms, Rewa 115-kms, Umaria 30-kms, Kanha 250-kms. Madhya Pradesh State Transport Bus Services are also available from Rewa, Satna, Katni and Umaria.

General Info / Tips
Note : Visitors are advised to reach the gate half an hour in advance to complete the formalities for entry into the park.

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 National Park, Umaria M.P.