Why Bandhavgarh National Park is best for Tiger Safari in India

by Natue Safari India Tiger Safari and Wildlife Tours in India

Introduction

One of the 5 best national parks for Tiger Safaris in India 2021, Bandhavgarh is located in the heart of India, in Madhya Pradesh. The state has maximum tiger numbers at 526 in the wilderness compared to any other state. Bandhavgarh has a high density of tigers, and it acts as a source of dispersing tigers to neighboring protected areas, like, Sanjay Dubri, Achanakmar, Kanha and as far as Palamu Tiger reserve. It is also the erstwhile home of the White Tigers, which can now be seen in Mukundpur White Tiger Safari near Rewa state.

A former hunting ground of the Maharaja of Rewa, Bandhavgarh takes the credit for starting tiger tourism in India. Interestingly, it has been two years since some 45 wild elephants including breeding females and calves have made Bandhavgarh their home. They have come from the neighboring state of Chattisgarh. Elephant sightings on tiger safaris are not so good currently as they are not used to tourism yet. But “presence of wild Elephants in a forest is huge respect for the forest, we must bow down to the elephants for they create and protect the forest”…The Jungle Book.

Bandhavgarh National Park, one of the most popular parks for tiger safaris in India, was also home to the Indian Gaur which disappeared in 1997, but due to continuous efforts of the forest department were reintroduced in 2011. Today, there are about 200 Gaurs roaming free in Bandhavgarh National Park. Lately, sightings of Indian Leopards and Sloth Bears have also improved in Bandhavgarh.

There are three core and three buffer tourism zones in Bandhavgarh. Tiger sightings in the core zones of Tala, Magdhi, and Khitauli are good. They say that if you do not see a tiger in Bandhavgarh it means you were sleeping during the safari.

Area : 1536 sq kms
Number of tigers: 104 (2018-2019)
Tiger density : 5.83 tiger per 100 sq km (2018-2019)
Chances of tiger sighting on tiger safaris in India: Very high
Closest Airport : Jabalpur- 200kms, Khajuraho-275kms
Best time to visit : October-June
Park closed : July – September, on festival of Holi, Diwali, and Wednesday afternoons
Core tourism zones / entry gates Magdhi, Tala, Khitauli
Buffer tourism zones / entry gates Dhamokhar, Johila, Panpatha

History

Bandhavgarh has been a center of human activity and settlement for over 2000 years, with references of it in the ancient texts of the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Shiva Purana. The oldest sign of habitation that can be seen here are caves dug into the sandstone to the north of the fort including several Brahmi inscriptions dating from the 1st century CE. Various dynasties have ruled the fort, for example, the Maghas from the 1st century CE, the Vakatakas from the 3rd century CE. From then onwards, Bandhavgarh was ruled by a succession of dynasties including the Chandela Kings. After independence from the British Raj, Bandhavgarh remained the private property of the Maharaja until he gave it to the state for the formation of the National Park in 1968. As the park was established, poaching and hunting was brought under control and the number of animals rose dramatically. The Tigers in particular prospered and the 1986 extension provided much needed forest to accommodate them.

Fauna

The national park is mainly known for high density of tigers. This is the place where famous White Tigers of Rewa were first discovered. The other wild attractions in the park include Leopards, Blue Bulls, Indian Gaur (Bison) Chausingha (Four Horned Antelopes), Spotted Deers, Sambar Deer, Wild Boar, Sloth Bears Fox, Jackals, Wild Dogs, etc. There are at least 22 mammal species and about 250 bird species in the Park. The other animals found in Bandhavgarh are Ratel, Porcupine, Small Indian Civet, Palm Squirrel, Lesser Bandicoot Rat, the Jungle Cat, and the Striped Hyenas. The reptile population in the park includes Cobras, Kraits, Vipers, Ratsnakes, Pythons, Monitor Lizards and turtles. The two-primate species - the rhesus macaque and the Hanuman langur - inhabit Bandhavgarh.

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