Bandhavgarh National Park

Introducing Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh may be smaller than Kanha but it claims to have the world’s highest-density tiger population – offering day-trippers a 99.99% chance of spotting a big cat. In addition to its tigers (27 in the 105-sq-km core area), the 448-sq-km park is inhabited by some 40 leopards, 250 species of bird and some 35 species of mammal, including nilgais, wild boars, jackals, gaurs, sambars and porcupines.

The park takes its name from the ancient fort atop the 800m-high cliffs of the escarpment, part of the Vindhyan mountain range. The ramparts of the fort, reached by a one-hour uphill hike, provide a home for vultures, blue rock thrushes and crag martins.

Bandhavgarh owes its existence to the Maharajas of Rewa, who preserved it as their hunting ground; on the other hand they endangered many species with rampant slaughter – Maharaja Raman Singh dispatched 111 tigers.

Last updated: Sep 18, 2008