Approach
This compact park with a core area of 105 sq. km and a buffer zone
of 437 sq. km.is in the Vindhya hills (Alt. 800m). The main entrance and park
office is at Tala to the North of the park.
Best time to visit: Feb.-June
Closed: 1st July to 31st Oct.
Temp range: 42? C to 2?C
Rainfall: 1,500 mm
Background
Bandhavgarh (pronounced Bandogarh) is not very far south of Rewa,
famous as the place in which the (albino) white tiger originated. Now it is
only found in zoos. Before becoming a National Park in 1968, it was the game
preserve of the maharajas of Rewa. Though it involves quite a journey, you
may be rewarded with sighting one of the few tigers. The management has embarked
on a programme of conservation. Protection from disease, fire, grazing and
poaching have all been factors in its recovery as a wildlife area. The park
is set in extremely rugged terrain with many hills. The marshes which used
to be perennial now support a vast grassland savanna. There are also interesting
cave shrines scattered around the park, with Brahmi inscriptions dating from
the 1st century BC. You can visit the archaeological remains of a fort believed
to be 2,000 years old where you may spot crag martins and brown rock thrush.
Wildlife
The park has a wide variety of game and has a longer `season’
than Kanha. Its main wild beasts are tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, sambar,
chital, muntjac, nilgai, chinkara, wild pigs. In 1990, a census revealed that
the tiger population had grown from nine in 1969 to 59, sambar from 111 to
over 4,500 and spotted deer from 78 to over 7,000. The tigers, whilst elusive,
are increasingly seen. The flowering and fruit trees attract woodland birds,
which include green pigeon, Jerdon’s leaf bird, crested serpent eagle
and variable hawk eagle.
Viewing
Jeeps are available from dawn to 1000 hrs. and 1600 hrs. until dusk
when the animals are most active. Visitors must be accompanied by a Forest
Dept. guide. The short round is 18 km., the long, 37 km. The Fort, 18 km away,
requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Forest Dept. elephants are available from
1600. Viewing machans are available during the day; Bhadrashila Watch Tower
attracts gaur..
