NATIONAL PARKS OF INDIA

Bandhavgarh National Park is situated in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. It is almost 197 km away from north-east Jabalpur. The sanctuary is surrounded by Vindhyan mountain ranges.

History of the park
This forest was previously a reserved hunting ground for the royal family of Rewa. However, it was declared a national park in 1968 by the Indian Government. It was in this forest that the first white tiger of the region was captured by Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa in 1951. According to the Hindu mythology, during the battle between Lord Rama and Ravana, Lord Rama instructed his brother Lakshmana to keep a watch on Lanka from one of the hillocks of the region which incidentally was located close to this sanctuary. The Bandhavgarh National Park derives its name from this hillock itself. Bandhavgarh in Sanskrit means Brother's Fort.

Flora
Sal is the most prominent and popular tree of the forest. Grasslands and bamboo can be found in northern side of the park.

Fauna
This park is believed to have the largest population of tiger in the country. Other animals of the park include Chausingha, Nilgai, Jackal, Chital, Wild Boar, Fox, etc.

Avian fauna
Several colourful birds such as Egrets, Kingfishers, Vultures, etc. can be sighted here.

Tourist Visit
The most convenient way to reach this park is through flights. The nearest airport is at Jabalpur (200 Km) & Khajuraho (250 Km). The nearby railhead is at Umaria (35 Km) and Katni (100 Km). The park lies on the Rewa-Umaria and Satna-Umaria highway and is well connected with different parts of Madhya Pradesh.

General Information
Quality lodging facilities are available at Tala, a small village located at the entrance of Bandhavgarh. Daily elephant and jeep safaris are organized for the tourists. The ideal time to spot animals is during the early morning hours or after 4 pm in the evening.

Tourist information
Address: Bandhavgarh National Park, Village and Post Office Tala, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Umaria, Madhya Pradesh, 484664, India
Phone: +91-92127-77223, +91-92125-53107
Ideal time to visit: February to June. Remains closed from July to mid-October.