Sanjay
11-23-2006, 06:25 AM
Once a hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa in more recent times, Bandhavgarh was declared a park in 1968. This is also the site where the fanmous White Tigers of Rewa were discovered.
Wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an Elephant Back, the chances of seeing a tiger are quite good. Among the other wild attractions include, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.
Initially just 105.40-sq-kms in area, Bandhavgarh with 25 resident tigers, was noted for its high-density tiger population. Today, it has been extended to an area of 437-sq-kms.The thick forest of Bandhavgarh National Park sits in a bowl encircled by cliffs and wooded Vindhyan mountains, and its plains have a number of grass and reed covered wetlands where Kingfishers dive and Egrets sit poised, hunch-backed, in the shallows. Up above, vultures nestle in holes in the sheer cliffs.
FactSheet
Park Area:437 sq km
Best Time: Dec - Feb (for overall visits) Mar - May (for wildlife viewing - be prepared for very hot day temperatures)
Nearest Towns: Umaria
Getting there: Best accessibility from Khajuraho, which is well connected by road, rail and air with the rest of the country. Umaria, which is only 30 km from the park is well connected by rail.
Accommodation: Many resorts outside park periphery.
Eating facilities: Restaurants at resorts, restaurants in town, and local roadside "dhabas".
Shopping Facilities: At neighbouring towns only. Tala (village at entrance) offers very basic facilities.
Communication: Most resorts offer communication facilities. Also available from local operators at Tala.
What to wear: Earthy coloured clothes (greens and browns). Can get extremely dry and hot in summer months. Cap with sunshade. Be extremely warmly clad for early morning drives into the park in the winter months.
Important to carry: Torch, any specific medicine you consume, any specialised batteries for cameras etc.
Main animal attractions: Tigers, leopards.
Temperatures: Winters (can go down to 2 degrees celcius) Summers(can go up to 47 degrees celcius)
Open: November to May.
Timings: 6:30 - 10:30am//2:30pm-5:30pm (winter main gate entrance/exit)
6am - 11am//3:30pm - 6pm (Summer main gate entrance/exit)
Must see: Sita mandup, Bandhavgarh Fort, Ancient caves, Shesh Saya, Meadows.
Note for Smokers: Smoking is NOT permitted within the park and this rule should be strictly followed as the smallest of sparks can cause devastating forest fires.
Alcohol and Non - Veg: Not permitted within the park boundaries but are served at the resorts outside.
Ways to travel within the park: Safari vehicles, own vehicles, elephant rides (for "tiger shows" as well as proper rides into the jungle)
Wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an Elephant Back, the chances of seeing a tiger are quite good. Among the other wild attractions include, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.
Initially just 105.40-sq-kms in area, Bandhavgarh with 25 resident tigers, was noted for its high-density tiger population. Today, it has been extended to an area of 437-sq-kms.The thick forest of Bandhavgarh National Park sits in a bowl encircled by cliffs and wooded Vindhyan mountains, and its plains have a number of grass and reed covered wetlands where Kingfishers dive and Egrets sit poised, hunch-backed, in the shallows. Up above, vultures nestle in holes in the sheer cliffs.
FactSheet
Park Area:437 sq km
Best Time: Dec - Feb (for overall visits) Mar - May (for wildlife viewing - be prepared for very hot day temperatures)
Nearest Towns: Umaria
Getting there: Best accessibility from Khajuraho, which is well connected by road, rail and air with the rest of the country. Umaria, which is only 30 km from the park is well connected by rail.
Accommodation: Many resorts outside park periphery.
Eating facilities: Restaurants at resorts, restaurants in town, and local roadside "dhabas".
Shopping Facilities: At neighbouring towns only. Tala (village at entrance) offers very basic facilities.
Communication: Most resorts offer communication facilities. Also available from local operators at Tala.
What to wear: Earthy coloured clothes (greens and browns). Can get extremely dry and hot in summer months. Cap with sunshade. Be extremely warmly clad for early morning drives into the park in the winter months.
Important to carry: Torch, any specific medicine you consume, any specialised batteries for cameras etc.
Main animal attractions: Tigers, leopards.
Temperatures: Winters (can go down to 2 degrees celcius) Summers(can go up to 47 degrees celcius)
Open: November to May.
Timings: 6:30 - 10:30am//2:30pm-5:30pm (winter main gate entrance/exit)
6am - 11am//3:30pm - 6pm (Summer main gate entrance/exit)
Must see: Sita mandup, Bandhavgarh Fort, Ancient caves, Shesh Saya, Meadows.
Note for Smokers: Smoking is NOT permitted within the park and this rule should be strictly followed as the smallest of sparks can cause devastating forest fires.
Alcohol and Non - Veg: Not permitted within the park boundaries but are served at the resorts outside.
Ways to travel within the park: Safari vehicles, own vehicles, elephant rides (for "tiger shows" as well as proper rides into the jungle)