Bandhavgarh National Park :

Bandhavgarh (The ancient Name is Bandhogarh) National park Village-TALA, Taluka-Bandhavgarh, District-Umaria, (Madhya Pradesh),  INDIA - Paradise Regained

Although Bandhavgarh is a relatively small park in the last few years this

Former game reserve has become one of India's most prominent National Parks. The major reason for all the interest is Bandhogarh's high density of tigers (The Bagh), which roam the mixed forests of sal ,bamboo and ambilica officinal in search of an easy kill. The tigers (The Bagh) have not only bolstered the local population by breeding success sfully, they have also brought international media attention to the park and the plight of the Royal Bengal Tiger.BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK Compact, yet full of game. The density of tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India. 60 Tigers at 450 Sq. k.m. area in Bandhavgarh National Park. This is also "WHITE TIGER" country. The last known as captured by Maharaja Martand Singh in 1951. This White Tiger "Mohan", is now stuffed and display in the place of Maharajah of Rewa.

Bandhavgarh is densely populated with other species. Bandhavgarh is sided with great cliffs and eroded rocks and on its highest point stands "Bandhavgarh fort" thought to be some 2,000 years old. Around the fort, are numerous caves containing shrines and ancients Sanskrit inscription.

Covering 450 Sq. k.m., Bandhavgarh is situated in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh among the outlying hills of the Vindhya range. At the center of park is Bandhavgarh hill rising 811 meters above MSL. The lowest point in the park is at Tala (440 meter above MSL).

The vegetation is chiefly of sal forest in the valleys and on the lower slopes Bamboo is found throughout the park. Bandhavgarh forest, as a Shikargah, or game preserve, of the Maharajas of Rewa. H.H Maharaja Shri Martant Singh Ji Ju Deo shoot 109 Tigers. H.H Maharaja Shri Venkat Raman Singh Ji Ju Deo shoot 111 Tiger by 1914. The great Singer "TANSEN" (Tansukh Manget Pandey) and The Great Adviser Raja BIRBAL  was there in the Darbar of H.H Maharaja Shri Raamchandra Ji ju deo the ruler of Bandhogarh in the same time two more great singer were there i.e. TANI ( The lover of TANSEN who only knows the Raga MEGA-MAHALAR only other than TANSEN) and Pandit Baijnath  who was called as Baiju Bawara ( The Mad Singer). "Tansen" was a friend of H.H Maharaja Shri Raamchandra Ji ju deo. There after Tansen and Raja BIRBAL gone to Delhi Darbar as a "Navratan of Samrat AKBAR". Bandhogarh areas were constituted as a National park by 1968.

WHERE TO STAY:-
Golbro Tiger View Resort (GTV Resort), Bandhavgarh is best option to Stay in Bandhavgarh National Park. This resort is a 3 Star Resort having Swimming Pool, Indoor Games, AC and Non AC Rooms with Restaurant Facility. You can book your Jungle Safari through this Resort, Phone No. of Resort is 094 24 338319, See Details in web Site – www.gtvresort.com

WHAT TO SEE:-
The Fort - Bandhavgarh fort is thought however to be some 2,000 years old and there are reference to it in the ancient books. Various Ruler ruled the fort. The "Kalchuries" from 10th century. in the 13th century AD, the "Baghelas" took over, ruling from Bandhavgarh until 1617. When Maharaja Vikramaditya Singh moved his capital to Rewa.

The Shesh Shaya :- The statue of Lord Vishnu in laying position with umbrella of "Shesh Nag" along with "The Shivling" and " The Brahma" are situated there. The origin of River "Charan Ganga" is also from the foot of "Lord Vishnu". That is of 10th century.

Wildlife :- There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Common languor’s (Monkey) include the Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, sloth bear, rattle gray mongoose, striped hyena, jungle cat, leopard and TIGER. Frequently sight are wild boar, spotted dear, sambar, barking dear, Nilgai, Chausingha, chinkara, Indian bison. Mammals such as dholes, the small Indian civet, Palma, squirrel and lesser bandicoot rat are seen occasionally.

The vegetation along streams and morasses is rich in bird Life. The common ones are little grabe, egret, lesser teal, white eyed buzzard, black Kite, crested serpent eagles, black vulture, Egyptian vulture, common peafowl, red jungle fowl, dove, parakeet, king-fisher, Indian roller and the Indian National bird Indian peacock. Repetition fauna include cobra, krait, viper, ratsnake, python, turtle and number of Lizard varieties including varuns.

 Wildlife Viewing: -
There are two main ways of getting about in the park either in a motor  vehicle or on the elephant back. Jeeps safari are best under taken from the down about 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. until dusk as the animals are most active during this period. Elephant  are used every morning by the forest department for Tiger - tracking. If a Tiger is found then the elephant will take you directly to the Tiger from a near by reached by jeep/car.

A forest department guide must always accompany you with a naturalist from our side (optional). This guide/naturalist will be able to direct you and point out wildlife.

Safaris in Bandhavgarh:-

 Park entry time is according to season, depending mainly on the sunrise and sunset, To travel into the lush green jungle of Bandhavgarh.

Traveling within the park is by three ways.

The first is your own vehicle, preferably a 4-wheel drive. (It is   however necessary to take along an authorized guide and your vehicle that should be petrol.)

 The second option is the numerous authorized 4-wheel drives run by the locals, which are available from the Resort. This option being a very exciting one, as most visitors prefer an open a safari into the jungle and being accompanied by a professional naturalist who will guide them through the forest.

 The third is sane elephant ride. These are booked the same day depending upon the availability. Elephant Safaris All the national parks in the country differ in the activities and the facilities that they offer to their visitors. Likewise Bandhavgarh too has certain unique selling point. The elephant rides are distinct in some ways although there is a common factor of paying the fees and then taking up a ride for a few hours. There are primarily two ways.

The traditional way is you pay for a minimum 1-session ride but this is purely depending upon the tracking skills of your mahout and your luck. This is done only in the afternoon. Booking for this is done the same day morning depending on the availability.

The second way is a and slightly more controversial method is what is called "Tiger Shows". For these shows, the mahouts head out in the wee hours of the morning and track down a tiger. Once the tiger settles down in a spot, the word is spread and all visitors are taken for short rides from the jungle track.

This, although it ensures that almost all visitors to the park go back with happy memories of a "sighting", is novenas exciting as chance sightings from tech tracks. Not knowing what one has in store sometimes is no doubt more challenging than knowing the whereabouts of the animals.

Best Time to visit Bandhavgarh National Park

The best time to visit the park, keeping all aspects in mind, is between December and February but it is the warmer months of April, May and June that are best for tiger sightings. During the summer months, most of the animals are seen around the few precious water bodies not yet vaporized by the intense heat.

Climate in Bandhavgarh

 Bandhavgarh experiences climatic conditions that vary to opposite extremes. In winters, the bitter cold forces the visitors to pur on multiple layers as protection against the biting cold. Early morning rides can be in temperatures that dip about four, once you take the wind chill factor into consideration. In the summers, it changes drastically to the opposite. It now fee is uncomfortable to even sometimes put on the cotton t-shirt.

 The temperature in the winters varies from 4 to 20 degrees centigrade between November and February. In the summers, the temperatures move to the other extreme and can go up to 48 degrees centigrade. Towards late summer, it is also advisable to carry some protection, for yourself and for your cameras, from rain. Bandhavgarh has an average annual rainfall of 1200 mm. The rains here give very little prior     warning and it is preferable to be prepared for your own protection, as well as for your equipment. These rains, however, bring good respite from the blistering heat. A single shower can make temp erasures fall from 45 degrees to 30 degrees centigrade. The main monsoon season mostly begins only once the park is closed from 1st July to 15th October.

To discover this wonderland of the big cat, you have to pack your bags and come to this paradise.