Bandhavgarh National Park
From Wikitravel
Contents
Bandhavgarh National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh district of India. This park is among the best national parks of India where Asian tigers can be easily viewed. Area of this park is of around 448 sq km.
Bandhavgarh Hill, at the height of 811 meters above the sea level, is located at the centre of the park. This hill is surrounded by sloping valleys.
[edit] History
Times have changed. You now ride elephants to shoot tigers with your Nikon instead of your rifle, and there remains something very evocative about riding through the Jungle on the look out for those black and orange stripes!
[edit] Landscape
The "jungle" is mostly sparse and dry undergrowth with large areas of woodland. The Park is set around the "castle" - a huge outcrop of rock with a massive plateau top. The whole area is very dry and dusty.
[edit] Flora and fauna
The Star Attraction is the tigers but there is a host of other wildlife. Leopards and sloth bears are the other two extremely rare animals, seen only by chance. Other wildlife includes spotted deer, samba deer, langur monkeys, red faced monkeys, mongoose, jungle cats and of course, the "domestic" dlephants.
The birds are equally amazing and include storks, eagles including the oddly named "Changeable Hawk Eagle", brown fish owls, brown faced owls, bluejays and lapwings.
Bandhavgarh National Park was the preferred hunting place for the Kings of Rewa. This park is now a natural hub for white tigers which are, nowadays, a major attraction around the world. These white tigers were first discovered in Rewa, which is not very far away from Bandhavgarh National Park.
[edit] Climate
Central India gets very hot during high summer. By March the Park is open for the year and the weather is very warm and pleasant.
[edit] Get in
The closest train station is Umaria. Sleeper trains run from Delhi and Agra. Umaria is a jeep ride from Tala, the village at the Main Gate to Bandhavgarh and, if you've booked with GTV Resort in advance, a jeep will be waiting for you at the station.
Tala (Bandhavgarh) is well connected to Katni which is one of the major railway junctions nearby. Generally it takes 2-2.5 hrs and you can easily get vehicles to and from the station by jeeps or similar vehicles waiting at the exit of the Umaria railway station.
[edit] Fees/Permits
There is a park permit fee on top of the cost of hiring a jeep, and any elephant rides are extra. Any safari organised with your lodge normally includes all the jeep and park fees although elephant rides are still extra. You don't have to pay in the jungle but normally pay at your lodge later, although taking a little cash to tip the elephant rider is a good idea. Park Entry Fees - Rs. 500.00 Guide Fees - Rs. 150.00 Booking Charge - Rs. 30.00 Total Rs. 680.00 per trip for Indian Tourists, and Rs. 2180.00 for Foreign Tourists. This cost is per trip for one jeep for 6 persons.
[edit] Get around
Tala is a tiny village at the entrance to Bandhavgarh with one or two shops and an internet cafe. The lodges are located within a few minutes walk of the village.
Travel into the park is by Jeep, again normally provided in the price by the lodges.
Baghel Museum: Baghel Museum is round 100 metres from the park. This museum houses many precious and beautiful belongings of the King of Rewa. The King maintained Bandhavgarh National Park as his destination for hunting. There is a stuffed white tiger in the museum amidst certain personal belongings of the King of Rewa.
[edit][add listing] See
Bandhavgarh Fort:
Bandhavgarh National Park is located in a hilly area inside the park. It was built in the 14th century. There are many caves in the fort and in the hills adjacent to the fort. These caves belong to the prehistoric period.
Bandhavgarh fort is located in the centre of 32 hills, present in the park. The fort's cliffs are 2625 feet (800 meters) high, 1000 feet (300 meters) above the surrounding countryside. The fort still belongs to the Maharaja of Rewa and permission is required to visit it
Climbers Point: This point ensures the view of amazing natural beauty with the view of beautiful Sal trees. This is a wonderful place to take some rest and give peace to mind and body.
[edit] To Do
Safari:
The Safari is by Jeep. The Jeeps all head to the Main Gate before it opens to collect a guide who joins the Jeep for the safari and you then head off into the Jungle. The Jeeps stick to well worn tracks but the Park covers a large area and you'll often end up on your own. Most of the wildlife is seen from the Jeeps, but the star attraction - the Tigers - are tracked each morning by elephant. If they are found the Jeeps dash towards them. If they are visible from the track the Jeeps bustle around trying to get the best view or, alternatively, your driver enters you in a queue for an elephant ride to see the Tigers in the bush.
The Safari lasts about 3 hours before the park closes at lunch time. There is a second slightly shorter Safari in the afternoon which lasts until dusk. You cannot travel in the Park without a Jeep and a guide.
Other Attractions:
The wild animals are not the only attraction in the park. On at least one safari your driver will take you up the mountain where there is a line of ancient caves, and a huge 10th Century statue of a reclining Vishnu. It is also possible to head to the far side of the park to the elephant enclosure where the elephants are kept. Often this is where the young elephants are and it is a great photo opportunity.
[edit] Eat and Drink
Meals are served at your lodge and are included in a standard package price. There is no nightlife here at all (thank goodness) but a cool beer after a day in the jungle is a wonderful thing! Remember to take plenty of water on every safari - not only is it hot but also very dry and dusty.If you are visiting in the October-February period,do not forget to carry warm clothes because it gets pretty cold her in winter,lowest has been 0 degrees Celsius.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
The lodges vary in price and therefore quality. Remember to check what the price includes.Generally,the higher the price,the better the service.It would be better to spend a bit more cash on hotels than be inconvenienced.But never forget to bargain,because generally the prices are inflated,and if you haggle,you might save some money.
It is possible to do Bandhavgarh on a shoestring budget by staying in a guest house and trying for a Jeep each morning.Tala is not very difficult without the arranged pick up by the hotel you have booked from the train station. Umaria (the closest train station) is a very small place itself.
[edit][add listing] Buy
Once you've paid for the Jungle Package at a Lodge you will struggle to spend anything at all in Tala. Elephant rides are extra but not expensive at all (2005 = 300 Rupees per person per ride) and the only thing you buy in the lodges are those cool evening beers.
A Jungle Package includes room and food and two Safaris per day. This is by far the cheapest way of staying at a Lodge, although it would be possible to do Bandhavgarh on a shoestring budget by staying in a guest house and trying for a Jeep each morning.
[edit] Stay safe
Bandhavgarh is an oasis away from the hustle of India. There are no beggars or any other disturbances from peace and quiet. Today Bandhavgarh, in Madhya Pradesh, India, has the highest density of tigers in the world making it just the best tourism destination. Bandhavgarh National Park is one place where you certain of seeing a tiger in its natural habitat. It is in this valley where white tiger was found.
[edit] Get out
Jeeps can easily be booked through the respective hotel you have booked to travel to which ever train station you need. Umaria is the closest. Katni is two hours by car and has good rail connections to Kolkata.
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