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Bandhavgarh National Park - A Traveler’s Guide

Madhya Pradesh

Table of Contents

About Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park is rightfully called the Land of the Tiger. A famous hunting reserve for the Maharajas who ruled these lands, this area has to this day been preserved for shooting wildlife – with cameras. Come take a Tiger Safari in India with us at Bandhavgarh National Park.

An almost isolated park, it has a very few migration routes for dispersed male tigers looking to find a home for themselves, hence, along with suitable habitat and prey-base, it has retained a high density of tigers. Around 60 or so wild tigers are in this area.
Various dynasties have ruled the fort, for example, the Maghas from 1st century A.D. and Vakatakas from 3rd century A.D., Ever since then Bandhavgarh has been ruled by a succession of dynasties including the Chandela Kings of Bundelkhand who built the famous temples at Khajuraho. The Baghel Kings (direct ancestors of the present Royal family of Rewa) established their dynasty at Bandhavgarh in the 12th century. It remained their capital till 1617 when the center of court life moved to Rewa, 75 miles (120Kms) to the north. Without royal patronage Bandhavgarh became more and more deserted until forest overran the area and it became the royal hunting reserve. This helped to preserve the forest and its wildlife, although the Maharajas made full use of their rights. Each set out to kill the auspicious number of 109 Tigers.
At independence Bandhavgarh remained the private property of the Maharaja until he gave it to the state for the formation of the National Park in 1968. After the park was created poaching was brought under control and the number of animals rose dramatically.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Safari Tours

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Tigers at Bandhavgarh National Park

Its fame is owed to one of the most enchanting Tigress, Sita, and the most aggressive Tiger, Charger. Every wild Tiger has a short life span for which it remains dominant in the park; though Charger, was something different. He lived an unusually long life and ousted every male Tiger who tried to take over the reins in Bandhavgarh. However, it was only a matter of time when his age gave in. Two other Tigers B1 and B2, cousins to each other, tried to ambush his territory as he grew older and the latter succeeded. B1 died an uncertain death while B2 ruled as King for the next few years. He became the poster boy for Indian wildlife and put Bandhavgarh at a pedestal for wildlife tourism in India. BBC, Discovery, National Geographic and even Icon Films could not resist but share the stories of these true legends. Their anecdotes continue to resonate the park’s silence.

Types of Safaris at Bandhavgarh National Park

If you’ve decided to pay a visit to a national park, you know pretty well that you aren’t leaving without embarking on a wildlife safari tour. Lucky for you, the Bandhavgarh National Park has one of the most engaging tiger safari experiences among all national parks in India.

Canter Safari in Kanha

Canter Safari

Canter tiger safari in Bandhavgarh National Park happens in all zone. This has encouraged tour operators to set up canters that can hold larger groups of people for longer tiger safari tours.

Jeep Safari in Kanha

Jeep Safari

Jeep tiger safaris in Bandhavgarh National Park are considered to be the best way to truly experience the flora and fauna of the landscape. You can choose a solo tiger safari tour or go with a small group in an open-air jeep. The tiger safari experience happens throughout the day and lasts for about 3 hours on each occasion. These tiger safaris  in India can either be a full day or a half day. Full-day tiger safaris entail you spending the entire day within the park and half-day safaris are regular morning and afternoon jeep tiger safaris in India.

Zoning in: The Bandhavgarh National Park Experience

Every park is divided into 3 kinds of zones: Core, Buffer ad Reserved. Core zone is the protected area of the jungle. It acts as a referral point on the natural state of the ecosystems represented by the biosphere reserves. Wildlife and natural resources are strictly protected by the forest department. Buffer zone is where animals and a percentage of human life co-exist peacefully. Lastly, reserved forest acts as a virtual boundary for the forest. That being said, animals don’t know what a “zone” is. They roam around freely in the entire forest for it is their home.
Bandhavgarh has 3 core zones, Tala, Maghdi and Khitauli. Tala is the oldest zone. Bandhavgarh Fort, Badi Gufa, Shesh Shaiya and Chakradhara Hide are a few places that make this zone extremely special. Maghdi and Khitauli lie opposite each other, with excellent Tiger sightings as well. They are referred as Gate no.2 and Gate no.3 respectively. With excessive tourist foot fall in Tala, Maghdi and Khitauli act as a breather, with a completely different perspective of Bandhavgarh. Tala provides great landscape and picturesque views, while Maghdi and Khitauli give you true jungle chills.

Reasons to Visit Bandhavgarh National Park

It is often said that it is the best place to see tigers in the wild in the world. The Tiger Reserve is spread over 1100 sq.km with a core area of about 440 sq.km.

A tiger safari tour in Bandhavgarh, with enthusiastic guides and drivers, is a thrilling experience – the routes taken by the tigers of old are taken to this day by their offspring and one can learn about tracking these tigers through the eyes of the locals.

Though many might scoff at the idea of bird watching, Bandhavgarh National Park is an excellent birding destination with good visibility of birds. It has a very good population of vultures such as the Indian Vulture, White Rumped Vulture which roost along the cliffs. The Asian paradise flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Indian Pitta as well as the sight of the not so common White-capped Bunting.
bandhavgarh national park
Kanha Bird - Scarlet Minivet
Bandhavgarh Tiger Male Cub

Best Time to Spot Tigers at Bandhavgarh National Park

Planning a visit to Bandhavgarh National Park is a crucial step, as small details like date, season and lodging can make or break your vacation. When it comes to deciding when to visit, there really isn’t the best option. It entirely depends on your preference and what the park has to offer at that time of the year.

  • Visiting the park in winter (October – February): While being an ideal time to visit Bandhavgarh, we would recommend reaching Bandhavgarh not before 15th November. Sudden post monsoon showers could affect your tiger safari experience here.
  • Visiting the park in monsoon (July – September): The park remains closed due to heavy downpour of the monsoon season.
  • Visiting the park in summer (March – June): The park is open during this season and is also regarded by many tour operators as the ideal months to visit. This is mainly due to the fact that the flora and fauna of the park are in full display during the summer. Yes, it gets scorchingly hot, however, that gives an opportunity to the big cat to rest closer to the few and far in between water holes.

Things to Do in Bandhavgarh National Park

Tiger Safari Tours

Tiger Safari Tours: When in Bandavgarh, the most activity to do is taking a tiger safari tour. The tour can comprise of jeep safaris, walking tiger safaris, canter safaris and even birdwatching safaris in various zones of Bandhavgarh national park. A driver and an expert naturalist will be accompanying you through these safaris and imparting ample knowledge about wildlife present in this park.

tiger-sighing-in-bandhavgarh

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Bandhavgarh National Park

Like most National Parks, this park has neighboring luxury lodgings. Some of them are:

Mahua Kothi

Mahua Kothi or homestead is named after the Mahua tree which is prized and revered in the region. The resort has 12 standalone luxury cottages blend into a 45 acre private forest on the periphery of the national park.
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Tree House Hideaway

On and among the trees in our five tree houses there is a route to hide away of fantasies. In the 21 acres area of land lies an option of experiencing the snug life inside the rooms or venture out in the tiger-infested wild.
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Samode Safari Lodge

The inspiration is the colorful vernacular architecture of the region, the decor and setting is distinctly Indian. Return to unmatched hospitality and luxury.
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King's Lodge

The lodge is environmentally sensitive, harmonious with the natural features of the site and accentuates natural daylight to all facilities. Local knowledge and art has been incorporated in its development.
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Places to Visit Near Bandhavgarh National Park

Come for the tiger safari experience of a lifetime, Bandhavgarh is India’s top national park for tiger safari & unique medley of nature and cultural experiences on offer. Bandhavgarh National Park is a neighbor to some of the most breathtaking landscapes, man-made monuments and natural vistas.

  • Baghel Museum: Embark on a royal journey by visiting Baghel Museum near Bandhavgarh National Park. The place is a storehouse of the personal belongings of Maharaja of Rewa that have been kept on display here. One of the most striking attractions here is the stuffed body of the first white tiger that was spotted in Bandhavgarh National Park by Maharaja of Rewa.
  • Khajuraho: Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval temples that are adorned with numerous sculptures of extraordinary grace and delicacy, celebrating the stylized and refined courtly accomplishments of beauty, love and creative arts. Once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs, the temples of the city date from 950-1050 AD. A wall with eight gates encloses the entire area and two golden palm trees flank each of them. Originally, there were over 80 temples, of which only 22 are now remarkably preserved.
  • Panna National Park: One can easily call Panna the land of the biggest predators and waterfalls thumping the ground from dizzying heights. A diamond mine to India, this park has the amazing superpower to both thrill you and calm you. A boat ride on the Ken is all it takes to discover that the forest is indeed a gem hidden, harboring diversity in its belly, and protecting its land since the recent past of 2008. Due to its closeness to one of the best-known Indian tourist attractions in India, Khajuraho, Panna is slowly becoming a major tourist attraction. For those interested in history, the Fort of Kalinjar is a little over an hour drive.
  • Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve: Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve, located in the northeastern part of Madhya Pradesh, is a hidden gem of Central India’s wildlife landscape. Spread over an area of 1,674.5 sq. km, the reserve comprises Sanjay National Park, Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary, and adjoining buffer zones from Sidhi and Shahdol districts. Part of the larger Bandhavgarh–Sanjay–Guru Ghasidas–Palamau landscape, the reserve is an important tiger habitat and one of the four potential tiger meta-population landscapes identified for focused conservation efforts. The terrain is a mix of plains, gentle mounds, undulating hills, deep gorges, and water bodies, ranging in altitude from 200 to 500 meters. Several perennial rivers flow through the area, supporting rich biodiversity. Dominated by moist deciduous forests, especially Sal (Shorea robusta), the reserve remains green even in summer. This lush sal forest is interspersed with species like saja, salai, mahua, bija, semal, gurjan, and bamboo, providing ideal habitat for a variety of wildlife. The area is rich in faunal diversity and supports species such as tigers, sloth bears, chinkara, nilgai, wild boars, chital, sambar, and barking deer. The park’s limited human presence makes it an excellent destination for those seeking undisturbed wilderness. With growing interest and its proximity just 100 km or 2–3 hours from Bandhavgarh, Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve is emerging as an exciting new destination for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike.

Trip to Bandhavgarh National Park: FAQs

We recommend hot summer months to visit the park. The months from March – May are the most fruitful months when it comes to tiger sightings. The big cat sits for long hours close to water holes that are only few and far in between. The prey concentration along such water pools is also high during summer, therefore one might just catch the cat in hunting action.

The nearest railway station to Bandhavgarh is Umaria Railway Station, which is approximately 32 kilometers away. Katni Railway Station is also relatively close, about 100 kilometers away.

The nearest airport to Bandhavgarh is Jabalpur Airport (also known as Dumna Airport), which is about 160 kilometers away. Khajuraho Airport is another option, located approximately 230 kilometers from Bandhavgarh.

Leave this to the experts. Contact us by dropping in an email on info@tigersafariindia.com with all your requirements and we will be able to book the perfect tiger safari experience for you!

Yes, night safaris are available in Bandhavgarh National Park. These safaris operate in the buffer zones of the park, such as the Panpatha buffer zone. Night safaris offer a unique experience as they allow visitors to observe nocturnal wildlife and behaviors that are not visible during the day. This includes spotting animals like leopards, civets, porcupine, honey badger and various other nocturnal creatures. While the chances of seeing tigers during a night safari are lower compared to daytime safaris, the experience of the park at night and the opportunity to see other wildlife can be quite rewarding.

Whether it is worth it depends on interests of an individual. If you are keen on experiencing the forest at night and observing nocturnal wildlife, a night safari can be a memorable addition to your visit. As it operates after dark, it is not good for photography.

Though all the zones of tiger reserve are beautiful but the Tala Zone in Bandhavgarh is the most famous and picturesque. Known for its scenic beauty and rich biodiversity, it features lush forests, open meadows, towering mountains and a variety of wildlife. The Tala Zone also contains historical ruins and the Bandhavgarh Fort, adding to its charm and making it a popular choice for visitors seeking both natural beauty and cultural heritage.

One should spend a minimum of 03 nights in the national park. This gives you ample opportunity and enough time to visit all zones and do all kinds of safaris in the park.

After the implementation of new tourism guidelines, Bandhavgarh Fort is now located outside the designated tourism zone, making it generally inaccessible to visitors. However, on special occasions such as Janmashtami and Kabir Jayanti, the fort is opened to the public, allowing them to visit the temples situated within the fort. On these occasions, travel to the fort is permitted on foot only.

White tigers are not found naturally in the wild today and are often selectively bred in captivity. White tigers are associated with Bandhavgarh National Park in India. The park has a historical significance as it was the place where the first white tiger in the wild, named Mohan, was captured in 1951. Mohan became the progenitor of most white tigers in captivity today. While white tigers are not a separate subspecies but rather a genetic mutation of Bengal tigers.

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