Bandhavgarh Hill

About Bandhavgarh Hill

Bandhavgarh Hill rises to 807 m above sea level, making it the highest hill in the Bandhavgarh reserve. The range is formed from sandstone, and water permeates into the rock rather than running straight off it. That single property explains much of what the hill does for the landscape around it: the water held in the stone emerges lower down as a large number of springs and streams.

Rivers frame the hill on both sides. The Son and the Johilla pass along its eastern side, while the Umrar flows on the west. The hill range itself is mostly flat on top, and the meadows that sit on that flat ground are marshy. Bamboo and Sal trees cover the plain tract of the hill, giving way as the ground begins to slope. The height and the cool climate are what the hill is best known for, and the range can be seen from as far away as about 30 km.

Geology, water and plant life

Sandstone and the springs

The range is formed from sandstone, and water permeates into it. Because the rock takes water in instead of shedding it, many springs and streams originate from this hill. It is the reason the hill matters hydrologically to the reserve around it.

The three rivers

The Son River and the Johilla pass along the east side of the hill, and the River Umrar flows on the west side. Between them they drain the ground on either flank of the range.

The flat top and marshy meadows

The hill range has a largely flat top. The meadows on it are marshy rather than dry grassland, a direct consequence of water held in the sandstone below. Bamboo and Sal trees cover the plain tract, thinning as the hill begins to slope.

Drosera peltata and Acorus calamus

A rare insectivorous plant, Drosera peltata, is found on this hill, growing alongside Acorus calamus, known locally as buch. The pairing is unusual enough to be worth looking for if you have an interest in plants.

Planning your visit

The hill sits inside the Bandhavgarh reserve, so reaching it means entering the park on a permitted safari rather than approaching it independently. The ground is wetter than it looks from a distance, and the marshy meadows on the flat top are part of why.

• Access is through the park on a permitted safari, so arrange the permit in advance.
• The park closes seasonally, so check the open dates before planning a trip to the hill.
• Expect marshy ground on the flat top and wear footwear you do not mind getting wet.
• The climate on the hill runs cool, so carry a light layer even if the plains are warm.

Best time to visit

Bandhavgarh Hill is visited while the park is open, and the park closes for part of the year, so confirm the open dates first. The hill is known for its cool climate, and the long views across the range, visible from as far as 30 km, come through best on clear days. The meadows on the flat top stay marshy, which is worth allowing for whenever you go.