Bandhavgarh
is a compact and small National Park located at Shahdol district among the
outlying hills of the Vindhya mountain range in Madhya Pradesh, India. This
park has full stock of opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts. Sprawling in
an area of 448 sq km., Bandhavgarh National Park is famous for its tiger
population, which is known to be the highest in India.
Bandhavgarh National Park also houses white Tiger, found in the old state
of Rewa. The last known white tiger was caught by Maharaja Martand Singh in
1951. Named Mohun, the tiger is now stocked and displayed in the Palace of
the Maharajas of Rewa.
In addition to tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park is also inhabited by
several other species, such as - the great gaur, or Indian bison, can be
found easily, sambar and barking deer are a commonly seen and nilgai are
also found in the more open space of the park.
The terrain of Bandhavgarh is formed of
scrubby and rocky hills, sharply moving upward from the marshy and thick
forest valleys. The most alluring of these uprising lands is Bandhavgarh,
sided with great ridges and crumbled rocks and Bandhavgarh Fort stands on
its highest point. The fort is believed to be about 2,000 years old.
Numerous caves containing shrines and ancient Sankrit inscriptions are found
sprinkled throughout the park, and especially near the fort.
Bandhavgarh hiss is located at the heart of the park, rising 811 metres
above MSL. Enveloping it are a many number of hillocks disjoined by soft
slanting valleys. The valleys finishes in small, dingy grasslands, commonly
known as 'bohera' . The lowest point in the park is at Tala (440 metres
above MSL).
The terrain is mostly covered by sal trees in the valleys and on the lower
slopes, slowly transforming to mixed scrubby forest on the hills and in the
hotter, drier parts of the park in the south and west.
Before being recognised as a National Park, the forests around Bandhavgarh
had long been managed as a Shikargah (game preserve), of the Maharajahs of
Rewa. Hunting was done by the Maharajahs and their guests, otherwise the
wildlife was comparatively well-protected.
