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Bandhavgarh
Bandhavgarh National Parks is in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central
India, the park is 448 square kilometers. It is situated in the Umaria
district among the outlying hills nestled among the picturesque Vindhya
and Satpura ranges. At the centre of the park is the Bandhavgarh Hill,
rising 811 meters. The park claims to have the highest tiger density in
the world. The vegetation is chiefly of sal forest in the valley and
slowly changing to mixed deciduous forest on the hills which is typical
of central India.
Besides the royal Bengal tigers, large mammals such as the Gaur (Indian
Bison), Nilgai, Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, can be spotted in the park.
Other Carnivores animals include Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear,
Jungle Cat and Leopard. There are more than 22 species of mammals and
250 species of birds recorded within the park. The vegetation along the
streams, ponds and marshes is rich in bird life. The common birds
sighted are Little Grebe, Little and great Egrets, Lesser Adjutant
Stork, Black Ibis, Owls, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black and Egyptian
Vultures, Parakeets, Green Bee-eaters, Kingfisher, Indian Grey and Pied
Hornbills, and Indian Roller.
No record shows when the fort was constructed, the Bandhavgarh Fort is
believed to be about 2000 year old, and it sits atop the sheer cliffs of
Bandhavgarh Hill. Various dynasties have ruled the fort from the Maghas
in the 1st century AD, the Vakatakas from the 3rd
century, the Sengars from the 5th century and the Kalchuris
from the 10th century. In the 13th century, the
Baghels took over until 1617 when the Maharajah Vikramaditya Singh moved
his capital to Rewa. The fort was deserted in 1935. In the northern part
of the park, there are 35 sandstone caves bearing Brahmi inscriptions
dating from 1st century BC.
How to get there:
The nearest airport is Jabalpur about 200 km a way. An 18 hour train
ride from New Delhi will be the easiest way to reach this remote
reserve. The nearest railhead is Umaria, about 32 km away.
Best time to travel: The
Park is closed from July to October for the monsoon season. The months
of November to March will be a good time to see tigers in very pleasant
cool temperature. However, take note that December and January are the
peak holiday periods in India.
Attraction:
Besides having a very good chance in
spotting tigers, Bandhavgarh offers good bird watching opportunities
with unique historical backdrop that spans almost 2000 years. There are
two main ways to explore the park; on jeep or on elephant’s back. Jeep
safari is done in the morning at 6 am and the evening at 4 pm until dusk
where most animals are active. Elephant ride for tiger tracking is done
only in the morning by the Forest Department.
Accommodations: White Tiger Forest Lodge (www.mptourism.com),
Tiger Safari Lodge (www.indiansadventures.com),
Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge (
www.tiger-resorts.com), Mahua Kothi by Taj Hotels and Resorts (www.tajsafaris.com)
Online information: Photographing
tiger is a real challenge. The best way to see tiger is from the back of
an elephant. For tips on how to photograph tigers visit John Arifin’s
web site at:
www.johnarifin.com |
Photos by John Arifin
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