When you are at Bandhavgarh if you do not see a tiger your luck must have really run out on you. This park has the largest number of Tiger sightings of all the Tiger National parks in India. Bandhavgarh is truly a park for wildlife lovers and wildlife photographers. Tiger tourists and the wildlife tourists both are satiated well as the Bandhavgarh National Park. This park has the capacity to make both kinds of tourists happy.

The park is also full of archeological and natural splendor, which takes the visitor by surprise and is quite unimaginable. Bandhavgarh is a fort to be truly proud of and all those who visit the fort and the park also seem to fall in love with it.

Bandhavgarh Park is a comparatively smaller park but in recent years this earlier game reserve has become India's one of the most famous National Parks. The key basis for the attention is Bandhavgarh's high ratio of tiger fauna, which wanders in the diverse forests of bamboo and sal hunting for an easy prey. The strength of the tiger fauna has also increased the local population by successful breeding and has also drawn its attention from the international media towards the park and the pitiable condition of the Royal Bengal Tiger. The water and prey are plentiful at Bandhavgarh, which is quite more than the neighboring Magdhi and Khitauli where the prey and water are very scanty. The Tala range in Bandhavgarh helps the tigers to flourish and breed.

The Bandhavgarh Fort is located amidst the lovely pastures of Raj Bhera Chakradhara, and Sehra. Some of the unimaginable beautiful spots are also located nearby including Rampur Pahari, Climbers point, Sita Mandap that also attract tourists each year.

Safaris in Bandhavgarh!

Bandhavgarh National Park includes three ways to do the safaris. You can opt for your own transportation, which should be essentially a 4-wheel drive and is important that an authorized guide accompanies you. However, this is the least recommended option as your own vehicle can give you quite a bumpy ride. With all the windows rolled up, you may also miss the alarm calls of dangers nearby and the forest guide also cannot see the pugmarks to trace the tiger. Thus, it may turn out to be a complete waste of petrol, diesel and your vacation time.

The second option is of the 4-wheel drives driven by the localities along with local naturalists that can guide you through the park. You can hire them from your hotels or local residence where you are staying.

 One of the most exciting options is the elephant ride, which is the third option. You can book the elephant the same day depending upon the availability of the animal. Whenever the forest department inside a bush spots the tiger, it is known as the Tiger Show.

Elephant Safaris

Various national parks in India offer different kinds of facilities and activities to its tourists. Bandhavgarh also has its own unique selling proposition which is the controversial method commonly known as the “Tiger Show”. Most of the mahouts venture out in the park in the early hours of the day and track the whereabouts of the tiger. Once the tiger is located the word is spread around to everyone where the tiger is laying for the day after the hunt. All the visitors are then taken to the spot on elephants to view the tiger. This at least ensures that everyone gets to see the tiger and accomplish what they have come to the park for.

Although the visitors go back with happy memories but this kind of show does not give the sense of adventure of tracking down a tiger or feel the excitement of seeing tiger tracks. Not knowing the whereabouts of the animal and tracking it down can be quite interesting though.

General & Grocery Shopping

“Nathu Bihari”is the nearest all-purpose general store who is basically a general merchant. You can also find some nearest vegetable vendors, liquor store as well as cigarette shops. A fuel pumpt was opened in Tala in 2001, which was quite a welcome addition, which now saves the vehicles to drive 64 km to nearest petrol station in Katni. However, since the supplies can be erratic, it is quite advisable to keep your tank topped up. Do not expect high speed broadband as Tala is a very small village however making national and international calls is not a problem. The local hotels usually provide these facilities during your stay. Mobile network and cell connectivity is also limited to only BSNL and MTNL networks. Private operators have still not ventured in this area.

If you need medical assistance, it is located in Katni, 64km away from the park. You can expect to be treated for minor injuries or small accidents.

There are some small shops and resorts at Tala and a shop at the entrance of the park as well. You can buy t-shirts, key chains, ashtrays and small souvenirs. The shop also offers maps and books that can be helpful and interesting reads about wildlife of the park. You can also find few tiger pictures as well but most of them are not of high quality. The rates are fixed and it is not advisable to bargain. The WWF nature shop is another shop that stocks souvenirs and some articles of tourist interest. It is located near the museum at the park.

Best Time to visit Bandhavgarh National Park

The best time to visit Bandhavgarh is October to June, which defies the most common logic prevailing to see the tiger. It is commonly believed that it is better to see the tiger in the hotter weather or near the water hole. If you want to see the Sloth Bear, the most favorable time is from March to May, which is the flowering season for their favorite food – the Mahua flower. This flower is also collected by the locals to make alcohol. If you are interested in bird watching then the best time to visit Bandhavgarh is from November to March.

Worst time in Bandhavgarh

March is the only month when you should avoid visiting Bandhavgarh. This month is the season for the festival of colors – Holi in India. There are colors flying around everywhere in this region. Moreover, the park is also closed on the day of Holi. You should check the date before travelling as the date varies each year according to the Hindu calendar. It can be a little disturbing as the local drink and dance and play colors. They also play loud music and there is a complete cacophony. The park is usually open from 1 October to 30 June each year with national holidays on Holi and the Republic day i.e. 26 January. The park opens late on 26 January as there is flag hoisting ceremony in the morning in all offices and organizations. The forest department also hoists the flag in the National Park and the gates open around 8 am instead of the usually 6:30 am.


Climate in Bandhavgarh

There are some really good seasons to visit Bandhavgarh that compliment your visit to the National Park. The park is usually closed from July to September and re-opens from October till June. It is not a good idea to visit in the first week of October as the monsoons may be delayed or the roads may still not be open for the tourists. It is good to visit in the latter half of October. Although the tiger sightseeing is available throughout the open season but apart from first half of October, there are other times when you should avoid visiting Bandhavgarh. New Year and the Christmas time is also not so good as there are just too many tourists including lots of Indian visitors as well. Moreover, if you are visiting in December make sure you choose a hotel that has heaters as the temperature drops down to 1 degree Celsius and the climate can be extremely chilly at nights. Similarly, if you are visiting during May and June, choose a hotel that has air-conditioning as Indian summers can be scorching.

Moreover, it is advisable to carry some protection for yourself and your camera from the rain. Bandhavgarh experiences around 1200mm of annual rainfall and the downpour is expected anytime during the year and before any prior warning. These rains are usually good as they bring pleasant respite from the blistering heat. A single rain can bring the down the temperature to 30 degrees from the scorching 45 degrees Celsius. You can also expect showers during second week of December, January end or early weeks of February as well. There is usually heavy downpour from second week of June, which continues till September when the park is closed. According to the local beliefs there are 9 days of blistering sun called as “Nautapa” which determines the expected rainfall. It is believed that hotter are these 9 days, heavier will be the rainfall.
So pack your bags to explore this wonderful land of the Big Cat and experience the paradise.