Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park

With one of the highest densities of tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in India. With excellent chances of spotting the wild creature in its natural habitat, it is no wonder that many people visit the sanctuary. The reserve covers an area of 1536 square kilometers, including the core zone of 716 square kilometers and the buffer zone of 820 square kilometers. The altitude of the National Park ranges from 400 meters to 800 meters above sea level. This enchanting land of tigers is found in the Satpura and Vindhya Mountain Ranges in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh is considered to have the highest Royal Bengal Tiger density in the world. In addition to the tiger population, the area is also rich in terms of biodiversity. Over 30 mammal species, 260 bird species, 70 butterfly, reptile and insect species are found in the area. The region's flora consists mainly of evergreen, mixed forests and grasslands. In the forest area there are more than 500 species of plants. With its abundant flora, this park is home to a variety of birds, and with a little help from a trained naturalist, it is easy to spot some of this region's most common species. Besides the safaris, the Bandhavgarh Fort, is one of the other sights of the park. The fort is situated in the middle of the 32 hills in the park, with rocky outcrops reaching heights of 800 meters. There are several caves of prehistory in and around the fort. It is the oldest fort in India and the name "Bandhavgarh" is derived from the combination of two words: 'Bandhav' means brother and 'Garh' is the fort.