About Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park

About Bandhavgarh National Park Bandhavgarh is a Tiger reserve spread at Vindhyachal hill in state of Madhya Pradesh with a declared area of 448.55 sq.km. It was included in Project Tiger Network in year 1993 as very soon it gained publicity as a Tiger Reserve with highest density of Tigers in India. It is counted among highly appreciated tiger reserves of Central India after Kanha National Park. As it is a Tiger Reserve (under Project Tiger), it is based of core-buffer strategy: core area of 105sq. km.(Tala range) and buffer area of approximately 400 sq.km.. Park ride is conducted in core zone area and most of the resorts and villages are situated in buffer-zone area. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India. Bandhavgarh is a National Park since 1968 and is included in Project Tiger Network in 1993. More than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds found in Bandhavgarh National Park. Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaque represent the primate group. Carnivores include the Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Gray Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard and Tiger. The artiodactyls frequently sighted are Wild Pigs, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Chausingha, Nilgai(Blue-bull), Chinkara. Mammals such as Dhole, the smallIndian Civet, Palm Squirrel and Lesser Bandicoot Rat are seen occasionally. Gaur(Indian Bison) was found here before 1998 and now forest dept. is trying to reinstate them. Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968. It was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. This is also White Tiger country. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for many years. The last known was captured by Maharajah Martand Singh in 1951. This White Tiger, Mohan, is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajahs of Rewa. The last known White Tiger was captured by Maharajah Martand Singh in 1951. At the center of the park is the bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 meters above sea level and surrounding it are a sloping valleys. At the top of the bandhavgarh hill, we can see Bandhavgarh Fort. There is no records remain to show when Bandhavgarh Fort was constructed. It is thought, however, to be some 2,000 years old, and there are references to it in the ancient books.the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Siva Purana. Various dynasties have ruled this fort: for example, the Maghas from the 1st century AD, the Vakatakas from the 3rd century; the Sengars from the 5th century and the Kalchuris from the 10th century. In the 13th century AD, the Baghels took over, ruling from Bandhavgarh until 1617, when Maharajah Vikramaditya Singh moved his capital to Rewa. The last inhabitants deserted the fort in 1935. About 39 ancient caves are also present in park territory.