Total Coverage Area:
437 sq. kms / 44,884 hectares/ 168 sq. miles
Established: 1968 as
a National Park.
Extended In: Extended
in 1986.
Became A Tiger Reserve:
In 1993 .
Description (Bandhavgarh National Park):
A wildlife retreat where history and nature meet, Bandhavgarh
is too far away from Kanha. Set amidst the Vindhyan ranges, the park has
a series of ridges running through it. This park was the former hunting
preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub
for White Tigers. White Tigers, now a major attraction around the
world's zoos, were first discovered in Rewa, not far from here. The
terrain is broken, with rocky hill ranges, running roughly east west,
intersperse d
with grassy swamps and forested valleys.
Bandhavgarh National
Park(Attractions):
Much of the park is covered in Sal forest, replaced by mixed forests in
the higher elevations of the hills. There are extensive stands of bamboo
and grasslands. Generally the forests are less dense here, with less
undergrowth than in North India, thus offering better sightings of
wildlife, notably mammals, including the daylight sightings of Tigers in
the grassy 'maidans'. 40 + Tigers are estimated for the park.
Other inhabitants of the park
include the Muntajac, Jungle Cat, Ratel, Jyena, Porcupine, the Rhesus
Macaque and the back-faced Langur. The park also has numerous ancient
caves and rock shelters, with shrines and inscriptions. About 150
species of birds known from the Tala area are also found over here
including the Brown Fish Owl, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Malabar Pied
Hornbill and Shahin Falcon.
The National park
is dominated by the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, located
on a plateau and reached after a steep climb. The fort is now in ruins,
its monuments and tanks beings gradually reclaimed by the forest, thus
providing additional shelter for wildlife such as Black Bucks
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