Bandhavgarh National Park

About Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park lies in the Vindhya Hills of Umaria district in Madhya Pradesh and was declared a national park in 1968. It covers 105 sq km and takes its name from Bandhavgarh, the most prominent hillock in the area. The park is among the most visited in India, largely because of how reliably its wildlife is seen.

The park holds the highest density of tiger population in India, along with the largest breeding population of leopards and several species of deer. Tiger numbers here have risen over the years, which is why tiger tours draw so many visitors to the area. The vegetation is mixed, running from tall grasslands to thick Sal forest, and that range, together with the varied topography, makes it good habitat for a wide spread of animals and birds. The same variety is what gives visitors a realistic chance of spotting not only tiger but also leopard and sloth bear, which are rarely seen elsewhere.

Zones and wildlife

Tala zone

Tala is the zone that attracts the largest number of visitors, mainly because of the tiger sighting opportunities it offers. It is the best known of the three divisions of the park. Demand for it is correspondingly high.

Magdi zone

Magdi is one of the three major zones into which the park is divided. Like the rest of the park it carries a mix of grassland and Sal forest. It is used as an alternative to Tala when visitor numbers are heavy.

Bamera zone

Bamera is the third of the major zones. It shares the same mixed vegetation and varied topography that make sightings possible across the park. Deer species and the other resident mammals are seen here.

Tiger, leopard and sloth bear

The park holds the highest tiger density in India and the largest breeding population of leopards. Sloth bear is also present, and several species of deer are resident. The varied terrain is what makes these animals findable.

Planning your visit

The park is entered on a permitted safari rather than on foot, and the zone you are allotted shapes what you are likely to see. Because Tala takes the greatest share of visitors, arrangements for it are best made well ahead.

• Movement inside the park is by permitted safari, so a permit has to be arranged in advance.
• The park closes seasonally, so confirm that it is open for the dates you have in mind.
• Decide early whether you want Tala, Magdi or Bamera, as the three zones are allotted separately.
• Carry binoculars and a long lens if you are photographing, since sightings can be at a distance across grassland.

Best time to visit

The park operates in an open season and closes for part of the year, so the first step is to check the current open dates before fixing travel. Within the open season, the mixed grassland and Sal forest means sightings are possible throughout, and the thinner cover of the drier months makes animals easier to pick out at a distance.