Heighten Safari at Bandhavgarh With Look At Its History

Most of the people visiting Bandhavgarh have no inclination of history that was carved in stone here. The fort and statues of Lord Vishnu besides many structures originally built by the Gonds were subject to additions by subsequent dynasties the came to rule here.

All across the forests on the mountains tops and slopes you will find structures like courts, horse stables, caves and rooms and of course you will see stone wall  encricling the mountain Bandhavgarh, it is home to the fort, shesh shaiyya and the zoomorphic idols of Lord Vishnu. Another striking feature of the place is twelve manmade impressivly large reservoirs.

Unfortunately the fort is out of bound for tourists as the tourism area has been curbed. But the safari jeep can still climb upto Sesh Shaiyya which is a twenty feet reclining statue of Lord Vishnu. From here you can get a good view of the forests and the little twisting revulets that originate in the mountain.

Sidh Baba Temple

Charanganga the life line of the park along with other rivultes emerges from Bandhavgarh mountain at 800 MSL. It twines around the mountain, forests and marshy meadows to create a picturesque spectacle. Incidentally the Tala Zone where this river flows is one of the most scenic besides offering good view of the steep cliffs and the sun that sets and rise to create a mesmerizing grandeur.

The Tala one is a prime tiger habitat with plenty of breeding females and dominent males each gaurding his territory. A number of deer species can be sighted on jeep safari including the antelope Nilgai. Bisons are making a recovery after having been transported from neighbouring Kanha National Park.

With luck you can see the elusive leopard or the sloth bear. Wild dogs make a frequent appearance and they are a challenge to the tiger. Birds are plentiful and this National Park is a birders paradise.

The park is divided into zones for tourism and all the zones are rewarding as far as wildlife watching is concerned. But for exotic sight of forests and human civilization a visit to Tala is a must.

Tiger – Monu Dubey

If you ever visit this enchanting destination take an all round tour. Though confined to small area Bandhavgarh National Park offers best tiger sightings. The whole tiger reserve is large contained in an area of more than eleven hundred square kilometres.

You can drive down to this magical kingdom from Khajuraho Temples or from Kanha Tiger Reserve. Those who wish to reach straight can fly down to Jabalpur Airport from New Delhi the capital city of India.

Ancient Architecture at Bandhvgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh is unique preserve which has stood testimony to existence of human civilizations deep in its inner recess. The tallest structure in terms of popularity is the Bandhavgarh Fort situated on the highest hill. The hill is about 800 MSL and named as Bandhavgarh after the fort.

The fort was supposed to be a gift from brother Ram to Laxman hence the name. An ancient Ram Janki Laxman resides on the edge of the hill. The statues of Lord Vishnu carved out of the rocks depict the Lord in zoomorphic form. A number of large reservoirs are situated in the precincts of the Fort which lies in  complete ruins.  The Fort was ruled by many dynasties that  came to rule this region. The last dynasty was that of the Baghels who turned this into a hunting preserve till it became a Government property after independence of India.

as you descend the mountain you are met with an amazing spectacle. Shesh Saiyya is a statue of reclining Vishnu about 20 feet long and an architectural marvel. It lies besides a man made pool that is fed by perennial springs from the mountain. It is surrounded by vegetation that comprises of ferns, vines, climbers and shrubs. The man grove shelters the pool and accords it a cool environment that must have been used by soldiers to escape the heat of  the simmering summer sun.

The horse stable carved out of the mountain wall offered rest to the weary horses of the soldier on the way up to the mountain.  These are scattered all over the park along with a number of small and big caves. Temples in ruins are also seen whence on tiger safari in Bandhavgarh. The Badi Gufa is a chambered cave and the largest. The purpose is of course shelter for soldiers and the travelers to meet the King.

Most of the caves appear to be primitive structures without any carvings of artifacts but some contain ancient Brahmi Script carved on the inner walls. Some of the popular caves are the Sandy Cave, King’s Horse Cave, Marwaha, Chatara, Yogi Koh and Sarthik.

Sita Mandap in the core area is a natural arch made of eroded rock with a perennial stream that flows underneath it. This is the favorite resting place of the tigers.  This is where the famous tigress of Bandhavgarh was first seen and perhaps took birth in the confines of this natural rock formation. Hence the legendary tigress was named Sita who grew up to populate the preserve with at least six litters.

History of Bandhavgarh accords an alternate dimension of tiger tourism in Madhya Pradesh. The fort and Shesh Shaiyya are must visit places in the preserve. A prior permission is required for visiting the fort. Contact the forest department or even the  hotels in Bandhavgarh National Park to organize this trip. So request the manager of your resorts for necessary arrangement.  Nearly a whole day is required to visit the fort so carry ample water and food during the visit.

The tiger reserve is accessible from New Delhi by overnight train to Umaria about 32 km from Tala Gate. It is about 170 km from Jabalpur Airport which is well connected with New Delhi by many overnight trains. The distance between Bandhavgarh and Khajuraho is about six to seven hours car ride.

Bandhavgarh Resort Hotels and Tiger Tourism

In the early seventies and eighties tourism at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve was limited. It was then an unknown paradise frequented by few who wished for a wild retreat. Tiger  sightings were the motive then as is it is now. Unlike Kanha, tourism at Bandhavgarh picked up late, the only accommodation then was the forest rest house (FRH) at Tala.  But very soon White Tiger lodge owned by MPTDC came into picture with fours rooms.

Accommodation was easily available at the Rest house in Tala and the White Tiger Lodge. But the nature preserve was getting its due share of publicity with photos of magnificent tigers here and there in newspapers and magazines.  The place was also known for white tiger that was discovered in the neighboring forests By HH Maharaja of Rewa.

It was the wildlife films made by BBC, National Geographic, Partridge Films etc that drew major attention towards this pristine tiger heaven in Madhya Pradesh in India. Tourists started to trickle in albeit slowly. Though many see tiger tourism with disdain and concern it has benefited the locals most.  It has also benefited the tigers and other animals by creating awareness and knowledge of our wonderful ecosystems. Tiger Tourism has aided in conservation and income generation for people who had no resource for making the lively hood except very poor agrarian practices.

The jobs came as park guide thanks to their knowledge of the forest and its animals. They found placement as beat guards in the forest department as conservation practices grew. Every one benefited from the safaris and hotel industry that was set to bloom.

Though trans location of human population did take place from the core zone  it was necessary. Paradoxically this has been the finest example of empowerment of  local communities especially the tribal.  The profit sharing and labor brought them sustenance and changed their mindset in favor of the heritage that we all have inherited. The tiger population as well as the prey species grew rapidly and the ecosystem become less fragile as floral density increased.

Bandhavgarh is one such example among many that was enriched by right policies. Up till now these forests were looked upon as hunting preserve and no benefit ever passed on to the locals. The tourism is much less damaging than modern industries which would have created havoc here if they were set up for employment generation here. One need not argue on this matter since it is obvious.

In spite of the brighter side tourism needs to be controlled such that it is less disturbing to nature. Proper steps have already been taken by the government by curbing vehicle entry to a limited number. The division of core  has also benefited by disbursing the safari jeeps into a wider area.

Many hotels and lodges offering accommodation in Bandhavgarh follow responsible tourism guidelines. This has helped lot on generating income for the locals. Although the number of hotels has increased dramatically the curb will naturally set as competition increases.

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the best tiger conservation center in Central India or MP.  It is a preserve that supports  impressive fauna and floral biodiversity which aids in balancing our environment for better.  Hopefully with constant protection measure such ecosystems will survive for posterity in India,

Bandhavgarh Tiger Safari

One of the finest places to see the tiger in the wild Bandhavgarh in MP India is now a larger park.  Since its inception as tiger reserve in project tiger program the conservation area has increased substantially.

The tiger safari operates from four gates now. Most popular gate is Tala of course and the gate fees is higher. Similarly gate fee at Magdhi, Khitoli and Panpatha varies. The timing remains the same but as word of advice one should book in advance. Advance booking assures your park drive as well as give you time to book your favored entrance. Wildlife is sighted in all areas of the park but the landscape and vegetation may differ. In my opinion one should enter from all gates and enjoy the changing scape along with the tiger safari.   Bandhavgarh is one of the most scenic preserves in India.

For visiting the Fort and Shesh Shaiyya one needs to tour from the Tala Gate. This entrance intersects the best meadows in the park. But more is waiting to be discovered at new entrances so go in for a more holistic experience by exploring every nook and corner of this picturesque paradise.