Bandhavgarh National Park is among the best places to spot Royal Bengal Tigers in their natural wilderness. The national park is multiplied with different natural life and shifted geography that exposes the ideal wild territory. The best part of this national park in India has quite a lot more to experience from its wildlife sighting.

Every year, the national park has a huge number of visitors that come here to encounter the wilderness. The park has various facilities to increase the experience of the guests. While some are extravagance high-end resorts and some are budget inns and there are a few resorts that have jungle theme accommodation facility. Enjoy the best wildlife tours in Bandhavgarh!

Since Bandhavgarh National Park is a standout amongst the most prominent natural wildlife escapes in India, it offers various activities. But, aside from the wildlife tour, there are a few things that you should do when you visit Bandhavgarh which are outside the national park.

Bandhavgarh isn’t simply restricted to its wildlife conservation yet, in addition, offers an open door for shopping also. There are various shops outside the reserve from where you can get little stuff or souvenirs like; shirts, wildlife storybooks, and that’s just the beginning. You can also purchase real photos of tigers which were taken inside the national park. To purchase souvenirs and books, a shop is situated behind the museum of Bandhavgarh which is an incredible alternative. Shopping in Bandhavgarh is the must-do activity for tourists. There are a lot of shopping options!

Shopping in the Tala village
Tala Village is one of the major attraction of Bandhavgarh after the national park. It is additionally one of the main gateways to the national park. This small village with mud houses mirrors the simple life of the general population living here are following till now from many generations. In addition, the vast majority of the resorts are also situated close to the Tala Village alongside the various souvenirs shop, since the village is in a short distance from the many luxury resorts in Bandhavgarh, you should definitely include during your visit to the national park.

Shopping just outside the park
There is a little shop simply outside the national from where you can purchase shirts, books on wildlife, and so forth. A few pictures of tigers seen in the reserve are marked down here. The WWF wildlife shop, situated alongside the historical center is a good option to purchase souvenirs and books.
If you want to bring home a knickknack, Bandhavgarh National park is a good alternative. There are not many shops in this part of Bandhavgarh. The Bandhavgarh School of Art provides you with this option.

It is no doubt the best shop in Bandhavgarh. It offers some amazing hand-painted craft pieces that are of high value presenting the cultural life of the people of Bandhavgarh. There are many local shops offering hand-made items made by the ladies.
Do whatever you love most with the best wildlife tours in Bandhavgarh!

Bandhavgarh National Park is well-known for its white tiger populace, however now it has turned out to be popular for the highest number of Bengal tigers in India as well. In case you’re arranging a trek to Bandhavgarh National Park and searching for the best wilderness resorts around the city, then you should opt for the accompanying choices.

Kings Lodge- Bandhavgarh
Kings Lodge is settled between 2 Sal forested slopes of Bandhavgarh National Park in a largely forested bequest of 14 hectares in Ranchi town. The hotel is in the core of wild countryside and just ten minutes’ drive from the Tala gate number 1 of the national park. The visitor’s advantage from the unfathomable area, a remarkable friendly staff, and luxury accommodation.

The dedication towards the preservation and conservation of the local community. This luxury hotel in Bandhavgarh has 10 house rooms and 8 stilt bungalow rooms with modern washrooms spread across the natural habitat.

10 minutes’ drive from the main gate of the Bandhavgarh National Park; Kings Lodge is the ideal place for the nature lovers. With beautiful cottages made of local materials and sewage treatment plan introduced for safe water, the camp tries to embrace eco-accommodating facility. Additionally, make a point to go for a jeep safari to Bandhavgarh National Park, which is acclaimed for the biggest populace of tigers in India. The lodge has a natural ranch, from where you can pick vegetables for your feast. One of the best Bandhavgarh National Park Hotels!

Junglemantra Resort
Junglemantra is a resort situated in Ranchi of Umaria District. Junglemantra offers a settlement through beguiling extravagance air cooled bamboo huts and extravagance Swiss tents all with washrooms and 24 hours running water both warm and cold.

Junglemantra has very much outfitted and comfortable staying facility with all the fundamental convenience. Every one of the bungalows is pleasantly outfitted, roomy and are packed with present-day courtesies. All the serene private verandahs overlooking the serene vast wilderness. Bamboo Huts, Rustic segregated family rooms with suite facility as well. Discreetly mixing with the encompassing forest while giving all solaces. Beautifully designed cane and wood furniture with a complete feeling of inside-outside.

Aranyak Resort
Each bungalow is embellished by town craftsmanship and planned interior designing. You will discover Bamboo Furniture in your rooms. Additionally, Handcrafted furniture from Bastar of outlandish Indian timber in the dining area will astonish you without a doubt. For the genuine town feel, the houses are mud shaded and have rafters. Every suite has a room, isolate dressing zone, shower, and an open rooftop washroom. Simply unique and amazing.

Swimming pool, meditation room, Yoga room, and Amphitheatre are available with a modern facility for the convenience of the people. For a better view, wake up early in the morning and have a glimpse of the beautiful fog covered Vindhya Mountains from your balcony or window.

Mahua Tiger Resort
It is a three-star property, Mahua Tiger Resort famous for wildlife experience in Bandhavgarh National Park. If you’ve been searching for an excellent place to stay and appreciate the best of nature. The resort has an arrangement for a fine dining experience. Mahua Tiger Resort offers a great mix of recreation and business courtesies as well. It is a decent choice for facilitating meetings, events, and conferences.
Know more about the best jungle themed Bandhavgarh Hotels!

 

Bandhavgarh National Park is a wildlife haven in Madhya Pradesh spread over than 100 square km and is home to more than 50 tigers who roam around the national park with ample food to feed on.

There are 3 railway stations to reach Bandhavgarh National Park.
•Umaria Railway Station (37kms)
•Katni Railway Junction (100kms/02:30hrs)
•Jabalpur Railway Station (200kms/04:30hrs)
The code for Umaria Railway Station is Railway Code UMR. It is the nearest railway station to the reserve. Trains are available from Agra and Delhi to Umaria. Here 2 trains are mostly used by the tourists: Kaling Utkal and Vishakhapatnam Express. From Umaria railway station, you have to hire a taxi or use the bus service to reach Bandhavgarh. It is advised to use the bus or taxi service during the day-time and also it is rarely available during late night hours.

Katni Railway Station
The code for Katni railway station is Railway Code KTE. It lies on the Mumbai-Howrah railway line. It is located at a distance of 100 km, the second nearest station. But it is only convenient for tourists coming from Agra, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Varanasi and so on.

From here many important trains pass. Also, the traveling time between Katni and Bandhavgarh is only 2hrs and 30 minutes with good highways. From Katni railway station to Bandhavgarh, you have to hire a taxi as no direct bus service is available. Experience observing the wildlife in Bandhavgarh in its natural form.

Jabalpur Railway Station
This railway station is located at a distance of 200kms from Bandhavgarh. As it is located on Mumbai – Howrah railway track, all important trains pass from this station connecting Eastern India to Western India, South India to North India. Tourists from Gujarat usually prefer Jabalpur station, as it’s easier for them to reach here.

Additionally, because of the source point of Mumbai-Jabalpur Garib Rath train, which is a complete AC train, travelers from Mumbai and Pune prefer Jabalpur to reach Bandhavgarh. To travel further, you have to hire a taxi, as buses are not available here.

Umaria Railway Station
From Delhi/Agra to Umaria railway station there is a direct overnight train. It is around 37kms only to reach Bandhavgarh from Umaria.
Trains like Mahakaushal Express, Nizamuddin-Jabalpur Super Express, Kalinga Utkal Express, Mumbai-Howrah Express, Dayodaya Express are the common trains used by travelers from Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata and so on.

 

The Tala village is close to the Bandhavgarh National Park gate number one and near to the town of Umaria which is 32 km away. Most of the luxury resorts are located near the Tala region. Because of tourism, Tala region has shops catering to the essential necessities of tourists like the mineral water bottle, telephone booths and so forth. There is even an alcohol store and a petroleum pump nearby.

For those who want to eat the local food, you can enjoy eating in the roadside restaurants. The White Tiger lodge run by the government has a restaurant for the tourists. The majority of the resorts provide the fundamental necessities on your tour. Enjoy your Bandhavgarh Tiger Safari without any stress.

Bandhavgarh- by Road
Approximately 6 hours’ drive from Khajuraho which is 280 km. Between 3 to 4 hours from Jabalpur which is 170 km; from Katni 2.5 hours’ drive which is 95 km; from Satna 3.5 hours’ drive which is 112 km and 7 hours from Kanha which is 240 km.

Bandhavgarh- by flight
There are 2 nearest airports for reaching Bandhavgarh i.e. Jabalpur and Khajuraho.

Jabalpur Airport
It is around 200 km i.e. 03:45hrs from the national park. Jabalpur city has non-stop flight availability from Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Every real visitor’s entry is recorded from Delhi and Mumbai city. As it is the closest air terminal for Kanha National Park additionally, it is used for Central India Wildlife Tours. From Jabalpur to Bandhavgarh, you need to hire a taxi. There isn’t any direct bus service from Jabalpur to Bandhavgarh, so it’s better to hire a taxi.

Khajuraho Airport
It is around 260 km i.e. 05:30 hrs drive from the airport to Bandhavgarh. Khajuraho is a famous tourist destination, World Heritage Khajuraho temple known worldwide for its erotic rock carvings. Khajuraho Airport has flights from Delhi and Varanasi. From Khajuraho to Bandhavgarh taxis are available, as there are no buses available from here.

Umaria Airstrip
The tourists who are traveling by charter planes can come up to Umaria Air-strip which is only 37 km i.e. 45 mins away from Bandhavgarh National Park only. From Umarai it is better to hire a taxi, as no direct bus services are available. Bus services are available between them, but for your convenience, it is better to hire a taxi. Other choices for reaching Bandhavgarh could be by flight from Nagpur Airport which is 490kms i.e. 09:00hrs and Raipur Airport which is 500 km i.e. 10:00 hrs; however tourists rarely take this route due to its long distance.

Bandhavgarh- by train
There are 3 railway stations to reach Bandhavgarh National Park- Katni Railway Junction (100kms/02:30hrs), Umaria Railway Station (37kms) and Jabalpur Railway Station (200kms/04:30hrs).

Bandhavgarh is an eminent place in Madhya Pradesh having its own mythical history. It is even mentioned in the epic Ramayana that Lord Rama gifted Bandhavgarh to his younger brother Lakshmana. So the name of this national park is derived from Bandhavgarh Fort. The history of Bandhavgarh can be even found in books like Shiv Puran and Narad Panch Ratna.

Bandhavgarh was recognized as a national park in 1968 covering an area of 105 sq. km, which was later stretched out to include two connecting Sal forest area in 1986. Prior to turning into a national park, it was the game reserve of the Maharajas of Rewa.

No conservation measures were taken by the Government until 1968. The Wildlife protection act came into existence in 1972 when it was realized that this reserve preserves some of the best flora and fauna and that it needs protection from extinction. It was then decided that the area should be extended from 105 square kilometers to 437 square kilometers, the whole area became a tiger reserve.

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the reserves in India with the highest number of tigers. It is basically popular for the rich populace of white tigers. So it is additionally prominently called the white tiger domain.

Bandhavgarh is additionally well known for its huge verifiable significance. A total of 39 caves have been found in the Bandhavgarh fort. These caves are situated at Bandhini hills inside the tiger reserve of Bandhavgarh national park. On the highest point of the hill, you can see eleven lakes that serve water for human survival on Bandhavgarh fortress. These slopes and hillocks are viewed as holy places of worship by the local people and the tribes living in the area.

Bandhavgarh has been ruled by many dynasties. First, it was ruled by the Mauryans till 3rd century BC and later by Vakataka from the 3rd century to 5th century. Strikingly, Bandhavgarh was ruled by many rulers, the last ruler who abandoned the fort was Maharaja Vikramaditya in 1935.

How to reach Bandhavgarh?
Bandhavgarh is connected by all means of transportation so it is effortlessly open by means of road, railways, and air. Bandhavgarh is situated at the same distance from the city, Jabalpur and the world acclaimed tourist spot Khajuraho. It is around 170 Km and takes 6 hours to reach from these spots. The closest airports are Khajuraho and Jabalpur, you can book direct flights to Jabalpur from Delhi. By means of railways, the nearest railway stations are Jabalpur, Katni, and Umaria. Enjoy a Bandhavgarh Tiger Safari!

The population of tigers started dropping around the time period of the 1940s when due to the increase in human population and hunting and poaching practices, there was an immense threat to their existence. The natural habitat of tigers was taken away by humans for the commercial and personal purpose.

India was a rich habitat for tigers. But the areas where the Tigers used to prowl and rule, was used by humans for agriculture, infrastructure, and other development projects. This led to a decrease in loss of habitat for other animals like deer and antelopes, leading to the reduction in prey population too. The large territories that were home to all the animal, was now used for transportation, hydel projects, factories, and theme parks. This made the Tigers enter the villages and attack humans since there was no prey to feed on and thus the supply chain was disturbed.

The old sport of hunting down tigers, lions, boars, and other majestic animals was not only a sport but also a status symbol to boast about for the royal families. The skins of tigers were hanged on the wall or used as floor carpet. Later in the 1990s, the tiger was also used in trade. The bones of tigers were traded to make traditional Asian medicines of that time. This made poaching as one of the reasons for declining numbers of tigers in the forest areas.

The government had soon noticed that the Tigers would soon become an endangered species and thus Project Tiger was launched in 1973 with Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand being declared as one of the National Tigers Reserve. Project Tiger resettled the people who were living in the Tiger Reserve areas and gave them jobs in the National Parks so that people don’t lose their livelihood.

With the 2006 amendment in The Wildlife Protection Act,1972, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Tiger and Other Endangered Species, Crime Control Bureau was introduced. After this step, there has been no turning back. The population of tigers rose from 1,411 in the year 2006 to 2,226 in 2014.

Madhya Pradesh was known as the Tiger State of India till 2017. But after the death of 98 tigers in 2017, and 26 were from Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka got the title of the Tiger state. Currently, the wildlife in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh have 49 and 60 tigers respectively. The wildlife in Bandhavgarh has the largest biodiversity for tigers and other animals like leopards, Indian wolf, hyena, caracal cat and varied species of deer.

Development of these National and Wildlife parks have led to an increase in tiger’s population and today, India has 70 percent of the Tiger population in the world.

 

 

Planning an outing to Bandhavgarh will take you to the lavish greenery of the forested region that is unbelievably the home to the wild species. Getting a glimpse of these wild animals is simply a unique experience and exploring with an open jeep safari you get a chance to see the wild animals up close.

Learn the lifestyle of the local people

The Tala village is one of the chief attractions to visit in Bandhavgarh, located at the lowest point of the reserve. This region has the main entrance to the national park. The villagers living in this area has mud houses and represents the lifestyle that they are following until now. Most of the resorts are located in this region and the local market comprises of many souvenir shops. Hundreds of tourists come to experience the wildlife and the beauty that this place presents. The Tala village is not very far from this resorts, you can definitely include it in your tour.

Only around 20 families are living here and their occupation primarily consist of bamboo crafts making, providing furnishing and decorative items for the resorts and the tourists who would like to purchase some small bamboo items. Watch the villagers weave these items!

At night, you can spend your time relaxing in one of the luxury resorts in Bandhavgarh with independent cottages near the Tala main gate. The Tala village is worth visiting, if you want to see the tribal life of the people and also have a glimpse of the wildlife in Bandhavgarh, this is your chance.

For a peaceful holiday experience, this could be your chance to get away from the bustling city life and enjoy a vacation in a serene and peaceful location where nobody can disturb you.

Before visiting the village, enjoy an open safari ride to Bandhavgarh National Park

But before you take a trip to the village, visit the Bandhavgarh national park which covers an area of 105 sq km and has a buffer zone extended to around 400 sq km. Here, the topography comprises the hilly terrain, forest, lakes, and open wilderness. This national park is popular for the Royal Bengal tigers and comprises of the highest number of tigers in India.

This reserve is actually the former hunting ground of the Maharaja of Rewa and home to the white tigers. The first white tiger was discovered in Rewa, not very far from here. It is indeed a wide area to explore which includes a fort at the top of a hilly terrain and undulating topography of rocky hills, grass swamps, lush green forest, and lakes. Enjoy the wildlife in Bandhavgarh!

At the beginning of 20th century, India was home to 10,000 Tigers. But the numbers started dropping as humans outnumbered the tigers and improved their survival skills. Numbers progressively improved after Project Tiger, which was Government of India’s initiative to help save the wild beast and the ecosystem on a greater level.

India saw the number of Tigers drop to 1,411 in 2008 as the commercial demand for Tigers increased. But vigilant measures by the Tigers Protection task force were taken to fight the poachers and illegal cross-border trades. Now the country is celebrating the success of saving the tigers.

Apart from Forest Department and local employees, the Wildlife tourism sector should also get its credit. If not for the tourists living in the resorts and hotels inside the national parks, it would have been easy for poachers to attack or poison the Tigers. Nature Tourism also helps the state economically and culturally. It has been reported that wildlife heritage has been increased up to 25 percent, with more than 3 million people involved in the industry.

A renowned tiger scientist and enthusiast, Dr. Raghu Chandawat had said that it shocked him when he got to know a small area like Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh hold such huge density of wild tigers. Thus, he concluded that national parks where Tiger and Tourism both go hand in hand, have a great density of tiger population in India. Otherwise, poaching, villager’s attack, use of tiger bones for Chinese medicine, pelt sales, increase in human population, infrastructure and deforestation would have killed the Tigers.

Since a huge industry is depended on the Tigers, the government also allocate money to Project Tiger in order to promote tourism. It has not only attracted the state and central government, but also international funding which motivates the forest department and management to improve further.

The constant interest shown by conservationists, naturalist guides, visitors and hotel owners concerned over ‘their’ invaluable wildlife resource, ensures park staff and management are kept on their toes. Bandhavgarh National Park Hotels always provide their guest with a well-guided tour apart from hotel services. Bandhavgarh Hotels host many visitors who opt their hotel preferences as per the safari package selected by them. Since the national parks deserve more than a one-day trip due to its vastness and also because they are situated far from the city and airport or railway station, the hotels offer maximum four to five-day trip. A family, an individual and photography groups get the experience of a proper forest life in Bandhavgarh hotels in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

The national parks also take in account the health and lifestyle of the tigers. Thus, the national parks stay close from July to August i.e. in monsoon season since it’s the breeding season for the Tigers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tigers are a crucial part in the ecosystem and unfortunately, also one of the most endangered animals on Earth. They are the main predators and keep their prey who are mainly herbivores in balance with the ecology. If the Tigers are not there to eat the herbivores, then the herbivores would feed on the forest and slowly consume the trees and plants. This along with humans destroying the forest would cost a lot to our environment.

India started their Tiger conservation programme called Project Tiger in 1973. This was an essential measure since the population of the famous Bengal Tiger was decreasing. So, the project recognized few Tiger Reserves as the breeding ground and from where the Tigers would migrate to nearby forests.

The government had also formed a Tiger Protection Force to catch the poachers before any harm is done to the Tigers. The villagers whose land was taken under the Tiger Reserve areas where also funded for relocation and to avoid the interaction between humans and Tigers in the future.

But a gradual increase in Tiger’s population was seen after the 2006 amendment in the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. A committee was constituted under the act called National Tiger Conservation Authority to provide a legal framework for saving the Tigers from poachers.

Some new measures like analysis of the density of tigers in a particular area, their prey, and co-predators, geo-tagging the tigers to track their movement, were considered. Data helped in surveying the numbers of Tigers and also keep a track of their health and lifestyle. This project helped in the improvement of the lifespan of the Tigers and their population increased to 2,22 by 2015.

Forest land comprises only 26 percent of the land in Asia and Pacific today. This means 70 percent of the Tigers population in India have to reside in less than 26 percent of land area. This puts a lot of pressure on the National Tiger Reserves in India.

Thus, it becomes essential for the government and the environment activists to save the tigers and increase the forest reserves and national parks. National Parks helps not only in contributing to the tourism sector of the state but also in generating awareness among the people about Tigers and their survival issues. There has been a tremendous loss of their species in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka where most of the tigers reside in India. Tigers death are happening due to commercial demand of their bones and skin in China.

But MP has taken various steps to increase its Tiger population and save them from villages and illegal poachers. The stories that are heard in Wildlife Tours in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Panna Tiger Reserve, and Kahna National Park are famous in the state and thus attract more tourists from different countries.

Many corridors are being constructed to help the Tigers move from one source area to another. This helps in the gene flow and also help them in expressing themselves as territorial beings. With our support through tourism and appropriate Budget allocation for salaries of people working in and around the Tiger Project, for expansion of reserves and corridors for Tigers, for measures against poacher and illegal traders, India can sustain and provide for its Tigers.

Every year the Bandhavgarh National Park is open for guests to enjoy tiger safari from the 15th of October to 30th of June. According to the climate of central India, the peak season is during the cooler months from October to March. After the monsoon is over, you can see the lush green forest and the rocky hills clearly. However, during the summer months, most of the vegetation gets dried and tiger sighting is easier, but you just need to beat the heat.

How to explore?
Open jeep safari is one of the best experience here especially for the adventure lovers and wildlife photographers. The fun and excitement it adds to the journey to explore the 

flora and fauna. An enthralling experience to get a glimpse of the tigers in their natural habitat and the flexibility to explore those places where other modes of transportation are not possible.

Most visitors set out towards Tala and Magadhi zones of the Bandhavgarh National Park, which is believed to comprise some of the highest wild animals and lush green vegetation. At Bandhavgarh, daily jeep safari is done twice a day. The morning shift starts at sunrise and continues for 4 hours and the evening shift starts at 2 PM to 3 PM till sunset.

In each Open Jeep, only 6 travelers are permitted to explore accompanied by a driver and a guide. They are permitted to enter the premises of all the 4 zones of the park. But before that, you need to fill up the form for reservations with all your details and ID proof. You are also required to carry the original ID card for entrance into the main gate of the park.

Note: It is best guided to make your reservations early for wildlife tours in Bandhavgarh since limited jeeps are allowed to enter the park during each shift to avoid overcrowding inside the park.