Located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh derives its name from the mythology of Ramayana. It is believed that Hindu god Ram gifted it to his brother Lakshman on their return from victory over Lanka. The name, Bandhavgarh, roughly translates to ‘Brother’s Fort’.
Today, it is known for its highest density of the tiger population along with large breeding population of leopards and various species of deer. Experts record roughly 40 species of mammals, over 300 species of birds, 80 species of butterflies, besides reptiles. The richness of the grasslands invites rare, migratory birds to flock here, especially in the rainy season.
Spread across the area of 446 sq km, Bandhavgarh National Park, with its captivating landscape showcasing hills, cliffs, plateaus, and meadows, has rich flora. With sal trees and bamboo stretching out to cover most of the forest, the area boasts of mixed species, including high grasslands, which are the major specialty of the Bandhavgarh jungle.
Given the extremely fertile region, it’s no surprise that 300 species – and counting – species of flora can be found at both the core and the buffer region of Bandhavgarh. The beautiful streams and rivulets that flow in different zones of the national park add to the beautiful scenery, urging tourists and nature lovers to visit this national park.
It’s 50 years since Kailash Sankhala took the helm at India’s Project Tiger - and his family wildlife lodge is still doing a roaring trade, finds Tamara Hinson. MTEN minutes into a stroll along Bandhavgarh National Park’s boundary when I start questioning my keenness to see the wildlife. My companion is naturalist Simranjit, whose stories amuse and terrify in equal parts. He chuckles when he realises I mistook the flimsy fence for some kind of barrier.
Alarm calls from monkeys grew increasingly shrill, the shrieks of peacocks ever louder. The jungle was on red alert. Such animal warnings about predators are just what you want to hear if you’re searching for a big cat in India: in this drum roll of agitation, our 4x4 rounded a corner and came to an abrupt halt. In front of us, a tiger had stepped out of the undergrowth.
Poner Singh is a stubborn man. When India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) invited him to swap his hand-to-mouth existence in the teak forests of the Satpura Tiger Reserve for a free house and five acres of farmland on the outside, the father of two declined.
Sankhala is certain I’ll see a tiger. He tells me this as we bump along the dirt roads of Bandhavgarh National Park, India’s tiger country – 1,540km2 of swaying grassland and tropical forest where the mighty Bengal tiger roams freely.
Tamara Hinson heads to Bandhavgarh National Park, one of India’s best conservation success stories, in search of big cats.
From the moment I enter Bandhavgarh National Park, it’s clear the wildlife is never far away.
