Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh and it is one of the popular national parks in India. With an area of 105 sq. km Bandhavgarh National Park was declared a national park in 1968. The name Bandhavgarh means Brother’s Fort in Sanskrit. The park derives its name from the most prominent hillock of the area, which is said to be given by Hindu Lord Rama to his brother Lakshmana to keep a watch on Lanka.
Bandhavgarh National Park is very much famous for its tigers and this park is one of the most populated national parks with tigers in India. The park has a large breeding population of Leopards and various species of Deer. Bandhavgarh National Park is also famous for the highest density of Bengal Tigers known in the world. Charger (male) and Sita (female) were the most popular tigers here. Sita was considered the most photographed tiger in the world and she appeared on the cover of National Geographic once.
This park is considered richest in terms of biodiversity and tigers and tourists here are only allowed to roam and area of 105 aq. Km. Bandhavgarh tiger reserve is densely populated with other species like the gaur, or Indian bison are now extinct or have migrated elsewhere; sambar and barking deer are a common sight, and nilgai are to be seen in the open areas of the park. There have been reports of the Indian Wolf (canis lupus indica), hyena and the caracal the latter being an open country dweller. The tiger reserve abounds with cheetal or the spotted deer (Axis axis) which is the main prey animal of the tiger and the leopard.
How to get here:
By Air: Khajuraho Airport- 237 km
By Rail: Umaria Railway Station- 35 km/ Katni Railway Station- 120 km
By Road: Umaria- 35 km,
->Time:
This best time to visit here is from November to June and park remain closed 1st july to 31st October.