For wildlife enthusiasts hoping to see the majestic Tiger, travel in India is an unforgettable experience. Under the guidance of an expert naturalist in one of the country’s top national parks, top Tiger travel tours have a 100% sighting rate. One of the best national parks in India, with an established reputation for sightings, is Bandhavgarh National Park in a historic setting in Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh Fort, atop the hill in the park’s centre, tells of the area’s long history, while its present role as a reserve provides wildlife enthusiasts with the opportunity to observe the majestic big cat in its natural habitat.
Bandhavgarh Fort
No extant texts tell of the fort’s construction, although the ancient books Narad-Panch Ratra and Shiva Purana refer to it. It is believed to be approximately 2,000 years old. Its name stretches into the legend of the Ramayana: the hill on which it is built and from which it takes its name, Bandhavgarh, is said to have been given by Lord Rama to his brother Lakshmana to keep watch on the land of Lanka. The name derives from the words “bandhav” for brother and “garh” for fort. The fort was held by numerous dynasties over the centuries, until it was deserted in 1935.
The fort’s ruins atop the hill dominate the centre of Bandhavgarh National Park: a landmark when driving through the park on Tiger travel tours.
Bandhavgarh National Park
Like many national parks, Bandhavgarh National Park began its life as the hunting reserve of a Maharaja. The most spectacular architectural evidence of its royal history is the fort atop the central hill.
The park was established in 1968, at a small size in the airy Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh, but it has since expanded to include tracts of the nearby Sal forest. The park has 694 square kilometres of core area, divided into the four regions of Tala (the most biodiverse), Magdhi, Khitauli and Panpatta, as well as another 437 square kilometres of buffer. The 105 square kilometres of park area that is open for tourists is considered one of the best places in the country to see the Tiger, with a reported population of 22. Encounters are frequent on morning and evening game drives.
The park offers the opportunity to see many other animals in addition to the Tiger. Travelling through Bandhavgarh, wildlife enthusiasts may see the Dhole (Indian Wild Dog), Golden Jackal, Wolf, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar and many species of monkey, antelope and deer. Bird watchers will be pleased by the park’s abundance of peacocks, raptors, bee-eaters and more. Tours in Bandhavgarh National Park are truly unforgettable.
