Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve a Veritable Paradise

Quaint and sublime, the forests of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve are a veritable paradise on Earth. Hidden deep inside in remote access of Central India - the park is an amazing biodiversity hub.

Known more for its tigers, one can experience India's enchanting wilderness at best here. Every year thousands of overseas and local visitors arrive here for a tiger safari.

The scattered ruins enhance the esoteric charm of Bandhavgarh suggesting history that dates back 2000 years. A game round takes you way back into a turbulent past of Maharajahs amidst teeming wildlife.

The diverse flora changes landscapes with startling fervor as you move into the bush country, dense forests, and rolling grasslands. The marshy landscape accord immense beauty and it is here that you can see the tiger in the wild.

Known for Sal (Shorea robusta) trees and the moist deciduous types abound along with mixed canopy. Though the reserve encompasses a large area of about eleven hundred km the tourism zone is restricted to four hundred plus km. This is a big enough window to peek into the magnificent wilderness.

Deer, bison, leopard, sloth bear, and wild dogs share the kingdom of magnificent tigers. Birds abound and are a treat to watch as they emerge from the dense canopy in resplendent attire. Bandhavgarh is a bird-watching hot spot in India sadly neglected and suppressed by the enigma of big cats. More than two hundred species can be sighted albeit in different seasons. Migrants arrive in winter and depart before the summer peaks.

The visitor profile changes with the seasons, and nature lovers and holidaymakers arrive in the winter and festive seasons. Wildlife photographers prefer extensive sunlight in the summer months despite the heat. The park is busy throughout but holidays and weekends should be avoided.

The fort is in ruins now, and out of bounds for the visitors but one must drive up to Sesh Shaiyya on the way. This is an enigmatic statue of Lord Visnu carved out of a twenty feet long igneous rock. The ensemble or ruins consisting of temples, stables, caves, and zoo-morphic idols enchant the visitors on a jeep safari.

The reserve is a National Park and a conservation unit, declared a protected area for saving the tiger from the brink of extinction. The efforts have been successful despite many hurdles. You can see the transformation yourself on safaris. Tigers and other mammals are sighted with a greater degree of frequency.

A set of rules apply for tourists which one must follow. A limited number of jeeps are allowed to enter the tourist zones every day. Hence you must book the entry in advance.

Located in the Umaria District of Madhya Pradesh, the connectivity for easy access is excellent. The nearest airport and rail hub is Jabalpur City. The drive from Jabalpur is about 175 km.

At this amazing Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, luxury hotels abound for accommodation. The tourism infrastructure is proper and a good degree of comfort prevails making the destination tourist-friendly. If you are planning a holiday in India do experience the exotic wilderness at its best

here.

Bandhavgarh Hidden Jewel of Central India

The peaks rise startlingly from the horizon as you drive towards Tala Village, an astounding view...and more has to come. Bandhavgarh is a land of surprises and a charismatic destination. An eerie feel hangs around, and chilly air of expectation runs down your spine, and your mind is in a state of fantasy. This is tiger land, India's primal forest home to many of these magnificent animals. 

Tiger

Encapsulating diverse habitats and amazing biodiversity the tiger reserve is also a National Park.  It is managed under the aegis of Project Tiger a GOI initiative. Situated in the remote confines of Central India or the State of Madhya Pradesh the tiger land keeps its promise. Expect a safari exciting and soul-stirring as never before experienced in the hinterlands of the long-stretching Vindhyan Mountain Ranges.  

Bandhavgarh Meadow

The reserve comprises marshy grasslands, dense Sal and mixed forests, bamboo slopes, and rivers that twist and turn agonizingly all over this ecosystem eventually draining out of the park into chaotic human civilizations.  

Jeep Safari

The salient feature of this paradise is the steep cliffs covered with dense canopy scarred with scarps and protruding spurs at many places. In between the cliffs, the safari vehicles move steeply uphill and then slide tortuously downhill in between the deep glens. The drive is strenuous with bumps and jerks, and negotiating sharp bends on the incline and slippery slopes tests the driver's skill no end.  

All this makes the safari exciting especially whence you climb up the hill at literally an obtuse angle. A chance meeting with a tiger and other exciting animals like the leopard, gaur, sloth bear, and wild dog is always on cards to keep the adrenalin pumping and the heart missing a few beats.  

Bandhavgarh Mountain

From the top of the mountains, the panoramic grandeur unfolds. The landscape changes correspondingly as the angle of view changes and your gaze is mesmerized. The tree tops, marshy grasslands, and surrounding cliffs with rivulets and pathways snaking in between are a sight to wonder at from the dizzy heights.       

A tiger safari at Bandhavgarh is truly stupefying and thrilling on an open jeep. The sightings of tigers and other megafauna are very high in this little paradise and tourists flock around the open season to film and photograph these amazing creatures, some of which are endangered and nearly on the verge of extinction. 

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Whence you enter the park from the Tala Gate across the meadows the steep cliff encapsulating the fort wall on the ascent and the Ram Janki Temple accords an exotic view. The distance plays around with dimensions and the ancient temple appears as a tiny speck.  

In midst of pristine forests, the telltale signs of human architecture is an esoteric experience. The stone wall stretches long for more than a mile and was used to prevent intrusion into the Gond Fort at the height of 800 MSL. This hill is named after the reserve and is the tallest.  

In the Tala Zone at Sesh Shaiyya or reclining Vishnu time stands absolutely still. After an unnerving climb up the hill, the twenty feet idol lying adjacent to an ancient pool shaded by a grove is a mesmerizing sight. The grove shelters the pool and the idol trickles like a misty curtain flowing down the walls covered with ferns and shrubs. The curtain of tiny falls literally sliding down towards the idol through eroded walls covered with a slippery carpet of moss and lichens extols the creativity of ancient tribes it enhances the age of the edifice which could be around two thousand years ago. The situation is a fairy tale setting, and cool brisk air from the grove invites slumber even in the torturous heat of the summer.   

Silence and serenity prevail transporting you back in time, a moment whence a troupe of soldiers came to rest here before climbing up to the fort. The intruding roar of the tiger awakens you from a fantasy daydream and fetches you back into the reality of the contemporary. 

The climb up to the fort passes through numerous horse shelters, courtrooms, and caves entrenched in the mountain wall. The grand stone arch after a strenuous climb is welcoming, from here you enter the fort complex. The fort itself is in ruins but the zoomorphic idols of Lord Vishnu are spectacular and well-preserved. So are the huge reservoirs meant to sustain the large entourage of soldiers and royal households.    

Langur Monkey

The large vacant spaces also contain numerous ancient architects in form of run-down structures. On one end as you climb up, the temple manned by old priests sits isolated but accords a magnificent view of the whole reserve.  

The whole park is an ecosystem that supports more than fifty tigers and they can be seen during the safari in the tourism zones. Herds of Gaur or bison and chital can be seen in the company of langur monkeys, sambar, and the peacock in the grasslands. 

Hindu Priest

The leopard is elusive but is seen often along with the sloth bear and the wild dog. Barking deer and saunders of wild boar are often encountered near the waterholes. In open areas herds of Nilgai antelope can be seen peacefully grazing in the grasslands. 

Tiger safaris are organized during the day and in the evening. Tourists can also book full-day safaris especially wildlife photographers.  

The best way to reach Bandhavgarh tiger park is via Jabalpur Airport which is a four hours drive, and also from Kanha Nationa Park which is a more five hour's drive. Overseas visitors should book the holiday through the tour operators and opt for the jungle plan which is all-inclusive.  

Destination Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Esoteric Abode of  Vibrant Life Amid Serenity 

Reclining Visnu - Sesh Shaiyya

From unknown to worldwide popularity has been the saga of this verdant paradise on Earth. Bandhavgarh National Park was the erstwhile kingdom of Maharajahs of Rewa. Successive dynasties have ruled this forest kingdom. The ruins are witness to this historic upheaval of centuries of conquests. Temples, forts in ruins, stables, idols, and manmade caves are creations of the warring dynasties.    

Leopard

Conquerors made their marks before being vanquished by the victors, but the forest lay unperturbed by the turbulence in its premises. The ecosystem is nurtured and protected, the wilderness ruled by the tiger. No more a fiefdom of the usurpers, the destination is home to an impressive biodiversity. People of all walks of life from near and far arrive here to witness the exuberant growth of its flora and the enchanting fauna. 

Tiger

Bandhavgarh first came to light whence the white tiger was discovered nearby. Since then this esoteric recessive gene has not been discovered in the wilds of tiger lands.             

Declared a protected area, a park is a conservation unit that nurtures critically endangered animals. Tiger rules supreme as a tertiary carnivore accompanied by the leopard and the wild dog.

Other carnivores found are the jackal, fox, hyena, and wolf. The last two I have not seen for many years and they are probably on verge of extinction. Deer and antelope form the prey base while numerous life forms complete the web of life to form an ecosystem with niche habitats.    

Tiger

Park is home to more impressive avian species albeit few birders arrive here to watch them. The major share of popularity has been taken over by the big cats. After the films by NGC and BBC, paradise gained wide publicity and witnessed a sudden surge of tourists from all over. 

Peacock

Situated at the edge of the reserve at Tala Village the Kothi of Maharani is reminiscent of a lonely past. Protected as a hunting preserve, the Maharajahs of Rewa were avid hunters and conservationists as well. The hunting privilege was accorded to a few dignitaries and the woods were well protected. 

The Kothi along with the scattered ruins are now frozen in time. In the early days of tourism post-independence, a rest house at Tala provided accommodation to the few who visited this preserve. Then the White Tiger Lodge was established followed by a plethora of lodges once tourism mushroomed in this remote quarter of Central India.  

Crested Serpent Eagle

Bandhavgarh National Park now a tiger reserve is regarded as a major conservation center. Tourism flourishes alongside to extol the nature’s bounty and the saga of preservation.   

Brown Fish Owl

The ideal access point is Jabalpur City in MP. Connectivity by air and overnight rail is preferred while local arrivals drive from the satellite towns like Khajuraho, Katni, and Satna.  Accommodation can be availed at luxury hotels in Bandhavgarh near the main Tala Gate. 

Albeit wildlife can be experienced throughout the open season, overseas travelers prefer the winter season. Wildlife photographers prefer the extensive sunlight of the scorching summer. Park is closed during the monsoon from July to September.      

When planning a tiger safari fetch along books on birds, binoculars, cloth as per the seasons, and personal necessities. 

Image Courtesy Kamaljeet Hora

MP: Monuments & History

Madhya Pradesh the center of India is a state with large area under forest cover. It is hence referred as a tiger state with highest tiger population in India. But not withstanding forests it is an ancient hub of civilization with interesting and colorful history. Substantial revenue is generated from tourism industry.

The state faced conquests and wars from within and from brute overpowering forces of Mughals and  ruling British. The state was under tribal domination for centuries but migrant war lords and ruling class from other states changed history. The tribal domination is very well mirrored in rule of the Raj Gonds like Rani Durgawati in Mandla & Jabalpur. 

During the Mughal conquest lot of upheaval took place with constant struggle against their forces. There was lot of plunder and loot during that period. Ancient Hindu architecture - temples, forts palaces where ruthlessly plundered and destroyed partially or wholly. The domination continued in form of chieftains who ruled on behalf of the Mughal Sultanate.  From Mughals the Marathas took over followed by the Raj and eventually freedom. 

The migrating Baghels from Gujarat settled in parts of Madhya Pradesh and carved out their own kingdoms. There were many dynasties like Maurya, Satvahanas, Saka, Culchuri, Baghel, Chandels and many more. The ancient or contemporary dynasties struggled through internecine wars to take their piece of cake. By the time the country got independent the state was divided in number of kingdoms, small and big, of rulers of various denomination,clans, descendants, chieftain who became rulers and what not. Every human endeavor left its tell tale mark.     

The union of Indian ended years of rule of pleasure seeking bigots, idolaters and many just rulers. But with independence democracy came to rule and the past slipped into annals of history - scarred and weather beaten.   

The historical ruins lie more as plundered and neglected than in a state of preservation. Nevertheless re -instituted and preserved monuments, places of worship, forts and palaces stand erect in modern Madhya Pradesh. These are some of the most interesting sightseeing elements in the state that withstood a hundred thousand tempest to make MP the most important tourism destination. They are a living testimony to a past ravaged by feudal lords and kings and queens of yesteryear. They exhibit on the other side colorful culture,  ancient architecture and arts & crafts of a burgeoning civilization.  

In the historical eras the state became a pot pourii of cultures which is more evident in its urban hubs. The rural MP is more of tribal communities inter mixed with migrants.  

The most important monuments of the state are:  

Gwalior:

Fort & Palaces

Temples

Chhatris

Indore

Rajwada Palace - Holkars

Temples

Bhopal

Shaukat Mahal

Mosques & Temples

Ujjain

Mahakaleshwar Temple - Jyotir Linga

Kalideh Palace

Vedhashala Observatory

Jabalpur

Madan Mahal - Gonds

Temples

Gwarighat Temples

Shankar Shah Temple

Gurudwara Gwarighat Saheb

Chausath Yogini - Nr. Marbel Rocks

Rani Durgawati Museum - Ancient artifacts. 

Shivpuri

Madhav Vilas Palace

George Castle - Madhav National Park confines

Chand Patha lake monuments 

Marble cenotaphs

Chanderi 

Kirti Durga Fort 

Koshak Mahal

Deogarh Fort

Jama Masjid

Badal Mahal

Mandu

Jahaz Mahal

Hindola Mahal

Hosang Shah Tomb

Ashrafi Mahal

Chitrakoot

Ram Ghat 

Kadam Giri

Sati Anushya 

Janki Dhara

Hanuman Koop

Sanchi 

Supas - Buddhist 

Nilkantheshwar Temple

Orchha

Raj Mandir 

Jehangir Mahal 

Chaturbhuj Temple

Sawan Bhado Mahal 

Chhatris 

Lakshmi Temple

Khajuraho Temples

Other places of historical interest are Bandhavgarh, Pachmarhi, Maihar, Rewa, Maheshwar, Omkareshwar Bhojpur and Panna. There are lot of ancient temples venerated by locals hidden from the tourist eye. While traveling through the state it is worth inquiring about local tourism places.     

There are many more monumental jewels in Madhya Pradesh in deep recess of the state. The state is mostly unexplored and scattered palaces, temples and forts go unheard. There is much more to the state than wildlife safaris and birding. The best means of travel is on  package tours in MP by tour companies in the state. Tourism in the state is picking up for historical and spiritual travel. The infrastructure is sound with safe roads, hotels and lodges for accommodation and rail and road transportation. Flights operate in major towns mostly connected to Delhi, Nagpur and Mumbai.    

There are many tour operators in Madhya Pradesh for affordable package travel. The best season is winters as summers are hot. Monsoon travel is not possible due to inundating rains. Tourism in the state peaks during X'mas and Diwali holidays.   

The language spoken is Hindi but English is quiet popular. There are many travel services and tourism information guides that disseminate information about travel and places of interest.