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Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is located between the Vindhyan hill range and the esstern flank of Satpura hill range, and falls in the Shahdol and Jabalpur districts of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

The Reserve gets its name from the highest hill, Bandhavharh (807m),located in the center of the Reserve.. A chain of smaller hills, thirty -two in all, surround this hill forming a number of valleys and spurs in between. Bertica cliffs are more prominent around number of grassy meadows, such as Chalradhara, Rajbsahera, is of sandstone, water percolates through it, forming a number of perennial streams and springs. The western parts of the Reserve and Panpatha Sanctuary area are more of less plain. The hills are mainly flat- topped. The meadows in certain areas ate marshy.

Sal trees cover low, undulating and plain tracts and degenerate in growth and quality as they ascend he hill slopes, giving place to mixed forest on the upper slopes, mainly due to edaphic factors.

Gregarious flowering of bamboo in year 1984-85 has resulted in profuse regeneration all over, which is giving good cover to all animals.

A few rare species such as the insetivorous plant Drocera peltata and medicinal plants such as Buch (Acorus calamus are found in some isolated patches of Tata range of the Reserve.

The rivers Johilla and Son flowing on the eastern side, the river Umrar passing through the western fringes and the landmarks of the Reserve.

Bandhavgarh has been an excellent habitat of the tiger and is Known for its highest density of tiger population in the world.

Archaeological Richness :

Bandhavgarh was the seat of ex-rulers of Rewa State and its dates back to 3rd Century A.D.Mythologically, the fort on Bandhavharh hill is said to have been built by Lord Rame for his brother Laxman ,during the Ramayana period. There are a number of man-made caves(35) in Bandhavhaharh with inscriptions and carvings, which date back to 129-168 A.D. Statues of various incarnations of all and attracts every tourist. There statues date back to 10-11 century A.D;


Flora of Bandhavgarh
Sal (Shorea robusta)
Saj (Terminalia tomentosa )
Dhaora (Anogeissus latifolia)
Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon)
Arjun (Terminalia arjuna)
Amla (Emblica officinalis)
Palas (Butea monosperma)
Salai (Boswellia serrata)
Bhirra (Chloroxylon sweitenia)
Camar (Gmelina arborea)
Dhaman (Grewia tilifolia)
Mango (Mangifera indica)
Jamun (Syzygium Cumini)
Bamboo (Dendrocalamus Strictus),etc.


Fauna of Bandhavgarh
The faunal assemblage of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is of typical Central Indian species. The Gaur population of 30+ animals was never a viable population. Most of them seem to have migrated out of the Reserve in 1995 and are hardly to be seen now.


Wildlife Conservation in Bandhavgarh
The Bandhavgarh Fort, in the center of the Reserve, atop the Bandhavgarh hill, was the seat of the rulers of erstwhile Rewa State until they shifted to Rewa town in 1617 A.D. the area of the Reserve, with its surrounding forests were the favorite hunting grounds of the erstwhile rulers and were zealously protected as such.

After independence and the abolition of the princely States, the process of degradation of forests accelerated due to lax control. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa was deeplu moved by the destruction of forests. On his proposal, an area of 105 sq. km. was declared a National Park in 1965. the area of the Park was increased to 448.84 sq. km.in 1982 .The area of the 105sq.km.old National Park was finally notified in 1968. the remaining part of the National Park i.e. 343.842sq.km. is yet to be finally notified.

Considering the importance and potentiality of the National Park, it was included int the Project Tiger Network in 1993.The adjoining Panpatha sanctuary, which was crated in 1993 with an area of 245.847sq.km.was also declared a part of the Reserve.

Project Tiger - Bandhavgarh :


Suggested Tours : Indian Wildlife Tour : Wildlife Tour of India and Nepal : Special Birding Tour with Bird Guide : Tiger Safari Packages in India India : Extensive Tiger Tour of North India : Tiger Safari Packages in India with Taj

Bandhavgarh National Park : Flora of Bandhavgarh : Fauna of Bandhavgarh : Map of Bandhavgarh : Wildlife Conservation in Bandhavgarh