Tourist Places

Bandhavgarh Guide

Bandhavgarh is a small national park, but with the highest known density of tiger population in India. This is also known as White Tiger territory. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for many years. The other species found in abundance in Bandhavgarh are the gaur or Indian bison, the sambar, the barking deer and the nilgai.

This is a small National Park; compact, yet full of game. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India. This is also white Tiger country. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for many years. The last known was captured by maharaja Martand Singh in 1951 . This White tiger , Mohun, is now stuffed and on display in the Palace of the Mahrahahs of Rewa.

Bandhavgarh is densely populated with other species: the great gaur, or Indian bison, can be seen with ease, as they come onto the meadows to graze at dusk; sambar and barking deer are a common sight and nigai are to be seen in the more open areas of the park.

The terrain is of great rocky hills rising sharply from the swampy and densely-forested valley bottoms. The finest of these hills is Bandhavgarh, sided with great cliffs and eroded rocks and on its highest point stands Bandhavgarh fort, thought to be some 2,000 years old. Scattered throughout the park, and particularly around the fort, are numerous caves containing shrines and ancient Sankrit inscriptions.


Places of Interest in Bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh Fort
No records remain to show wen Bandhavgarh fort was constructed. It is thought, however, to be some 2,000 years old, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Siva Purana. Various dynasties have ruled the fort: for example, the Maghas from the 1st century A.D.. the Vakatakas from the 3rd century; the Sengars from the 5th century and the kalachuris from the 10th century. In the 13 century A.D., the Baghels took over, ruling from Bandhavgarh until 1617, when Maharajah Vikramditya Singh moved his capital to Rewa. The last inhabitants deserted the fort in 1935.


Bandhavgarh National Park
The Park is spread over an area of 437 sq. km.The terrain is made of rocky hills, sal forests and grazing areas, formerly agricultural land. The finest of these hills is the Bandhavgarh hill, and on its highest point stands Bandhavgarh Fort. Though no records remain to show when the fort was constructed, it is believed to be about 2000 years old. Several dynasties have ruled the fort: for example, the Maghas from the 1st century A.D, the Vakatakas from the 3rd century; the Sengars from the 5th century, and the Kalachuris from the 10th century.


The oldest signs of habitation, are the caves dug into the sandstone, near the fort. Several of these contain Brahmi inscriptions dating from the 1st century B.C. Prior to becoming a National Park, the forest range around the region had been maintained as a Shikargarh, or game preserve, of the Maharajahs of Rewa. It was only in 1968, that the area was declared as a National Park. Since then, stringent steps have been taken to retain it as an unspoilt natural habitat.