Big Cat in Highlands of Central India

Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh is situated in the Vindhya Range but its tail ends at the confluence of Vindhya and the Satpura Range. This region is called Maikal Hills where Achankmar in Amarkantak Hills and Kanha National Park near Mandla all tiger havens, converge here. 

Tribal Architecture

Bandhavgarh is one of the most picturesque tiger havens in India and is home to ancient tribal architecture. The zoomorphic idols of Lord Vishnu, Fort in ruins, Man-made caves, horse stables and shelter, courtrooms, Hindu temples, reservoirs, and dome-shaped shelters date back to more than two thousand years. The Fort finds are mentioned in ancient Hindu annals chiefly in Skand Purana.

The fort complex witnessed internecine battles that led to conquests and subsequent rules by many dynasties. The Baghels were the last rulers before they shifted their capital to the Rewa District. Tiger rules the fort complex now, and the grove at Shesh Shaiyya inundated by trickles from the looming Bandhavgarh Hill is an enchanting spectacle with the twenty feet statue of reclining Vishnu beside a fairy pool. 

The White Tiger Land

Mohun the world's first and only white tiger was found in Sanjay Dubri National Park. Barley over an hour's drive from Bandhavgarh the park is home to a number of big cats and the number is on the increase.

Tourism at Sanjay Dubri is at a nascent stage but the park holds promise as it is extended into the neighboring state of  Chhattisgarh. The jungles comprise a large area for breeding big cats. The white cubs grew up under the care of Maharajah of Rewa HH Martandsinghji at Govindgarh Palace in Rewa. The white predator multiplied in zoos all over the world and it survives in captivity.

The Protected Areas

This region constitutes one of the finest tiger landscapes in India. Untouched and unspoiled for centuries this large tract of forest stands fragmented today. Well-preserved isolated patches have been designated PAs or protected areas. Most of these PAs have been constituted lawfully as tiger reserves.   

The Maikal Hills at Amarkantak incidentally is where River Narmada originates besides Son. Son moves towards the Ganges basin and merges into the Ganges River. Narmada traverses almost seven hundred kilometers to merge into the Arabian Ocean at Bharuch in Gujarat.

Throughout its journey, Narmada flows between amazing geological formations the forest-clad hills and valleys, and between some magnificent gorges like Bhedaghat in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. Once the lifeline of contiguous forests, Narmada and its tributaries now inundate fragmented forests in the Highlands of Central India. 

Pachmarhi & Satpura Tiger Reserve

The Hill Resort Pachmarhi and Satpura Tiger Reserve too are part of these magnificent hill ranges and are home to the big cats as well. The forest-clad hills make Madhya Pradesh the most forested in India as the Tiger State.  Amarkantak Bio Reserve and Satpura Bio Reserve constitute a large area covering sanctuaries and reserves that is accorded protection from commercial interests. These are an incredible hub of diversity and habitats of some of the unique flora and fauna in Central India.   

Highlands of Central India

These highlands' once-perfect ecosystems teeming with wildlife have been vividly described by Capt. Forsyth in his book named “Highlands Of Central India”. He was a pioneer in discovering many geological formations and wilderness that prevail during his time. His notes on the wild animals stand out as remarkable records of natural history. Much still remains fragmented but well preserved. Bandhavgarh, Achanakmar, Kanha, and Pench are the prime tiger reserves that have been turned into protected areas for tiger conservation. Pench and Kanha once contiguous were the settings for Kipling’s Jungle Book a story of Mowgli the wolf child. This is a wonderful tale woven by Kipling creating a classic using both facts and fiction.  

The majestic animals still roam in the reserves albeit in reduced numbers, and the panoramic features described by Forsyth can still be witnessed here albeit in bits and pieces. Much subjected to biotic and abiotic pressures the reserves are holding grounds thanks to the management and the conservative initiatives supported by Madhya Pradesh And Central Governments under the aegis of Project Tiger Program. 

The Big Cats Tours

Tigers are the prime attraction and the keystone species of these realms. Their numbers after years of depredation are thankfully increasing year on year. This is attracting a lot of wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and filmmakers to visit the reserves on safari and expeditions. Holidaymakers make a beeline for these destinations in Central India for safari holidays. The main attraction is the tiger but the biodiversity supports enchanting mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. The floral diversity is extravagant with amazing botanical evolution and the tall stands of Sal and Teak are the main hardwood. The mixed forest species and bamboo abound intermixed with the hardwood, shrubs, and herbs. 

The reserves support unique niche habitats and creatures that have lost ground in areas taken over by man for commercial forestry, settlement, and agriculture. One of the most important biodiversity hubs a part of Satpura Biosphere Reserve is Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary home to incredible species of herbs and shrubs that are classified as flora of medicinal importance.  Incidentally, Pachmarhi is a holiday destination due to its panoramic surroundings, amazing natural formations, and salubrious climate.

While Bandhavgarh, Kanha, and Pench National Parks are most visited due to easier sightings of the tiger Satpura excels in biodiversity and pristine forests. Satpura Tiger Reserve encompasses Bori Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to the finest teak forests in Central India. The population of big cats is increasing in these wild havens thanks to the protection accorded and the conservative initiatives. 

Sanjay Dubri though at a nascent stage as far as tourism is concerned is an upcoming National Park bound to become popular due to its proximity to Bandhavgarh, Allahabad, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Thus Central Indian Highlands are the focus of big cat tours in the State of Madhya Pradesh. The popular reserves are Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench, and Satpura. These tours can be extended further to other reserves near and far.