The safest abode for white tigers and leopards
The Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Umaria District of Madhya Pradesh. It is renowned as the reserve for the rare white tiger along with leopards. Rocky, hilly terrain combined with dense forests forms the landscape of this national park. In fact, around 32 hills are present within the park. Bandhavgarh is also known for offering the best probability of spotting a tiger due to its high tiger density despite being a comparatively small park. Its name originates from the prominent hillock called Bandhavgarh, where Lord Rama is believed to have asked his younger brother Lakshmana to keep watch over Lanka. The famous tigress Sita, widely photographed for National Geographic, was one of the well-known inhabitants of this park.
Before being declared a national park and tiger reserve, the region served as the private hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Rewa. Hunting tigers was once considered auspicious in their tradition. For instance, Maharaja Shri Venkat Rama Singh once held the record of hunting 111 tigers. Maharaja Martand Singh shot the last tiger here in 1951. Even today, visitors can see the ruins of ancient forts scattered across the park. Bandhavgarh was officially declared a national park in 1968. It lies in the Vindhya Ranges.
Following are the main attractions of the Bandhavgarh National Park
Flora: The flora of Bandhavgarh National Park primarily consists of dry deciduous forests. One can also find meadows, plateaus and cliffs. The lower slopes are dominated by bamboo vegetation, while the valleys feature extensive Sal forests. High grasslands add to the park’s ecological richness, along with nearly 300 varieties of flora. Common trees include Saj, Dhaora, Palas, Bamboo, Madhuca, Khair, Babul, Banyan, Palas and Amla. 
Other species include Neem, Kakera, Khejda and Mohua. The park boasts 18 species of rare plants, 50 species of aquatic plants and around 600 varieties of plants. The diversity is enhanced due to the mix of soils and landforms.
Fauna: The park is home to more than 22 species of mammals and over 250 species of birds. Rhesus macaques and langurs can also be commonly spotted. The fauna list of Bandhavgarh includes white tigers, leopards, sambars, barking deer, chinkara, chausingha, sloth bears, grey mongoose and wild pigs. Common bird species include the Plum-headed Parakeet, House Crow, Common Snipe, Pond Heron, Little Egret, Spotted Dove, Lesser Kestrel, Common Tailorbird and Common Myna.
Excursions from Bandhavgarh National Park:
Tourists can explore the following locations to add more thrill and excitement to their Bandhavgarh experience:
Bandhavgarh Fort: This exquisitely designed fort sits atop the Bandhavgarh hill at a height of approximately 811 m above sea level. Believed to be around 2000 years old, it is one of the oldest forts in India. According to mythology, Lord Rama is said to have rested here while returning victorious from Lanka and gifted the fort to his younger brother.
Baghel Museum: Located close to the national park, this museum preserves important belongings of the Maharaja of Rewa. It also displays old hunting equipment used by the military and the Maharaja.
JawalaMukhi Temple: Located 11 km from Bandhavgarh National Park, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Jwalamukhi.
Best time to go:
Bandhavgarh National Park is open to tourists from 15th October to 30th June. The ideal time to visit is from October to March.
How to Reach:
Air: The nearest airport to Bandhavgarh National Park is in Jabalpur, approximately 200 km away.
Rail: The two railway stations closest to Bandhavgarh are Umaria (35 km) and Katni (100 km).
Road: Nearby towns connected to Bandhavgarh National Park include Katni, Jabalpur, Umaria, Khajuraho, Varanasi and Nagpur.
