Wednesday, July 5, 2023

A Holiday Trip to Bandhavgarh

 Bandhavgarh is the land of the tiger. It is located in Umaria District in the State of Madhya Pradesh. It is a National Park and a tiger reserve declared as a protected area by the State Government. A part of the reserve is slated for tourism.

The reserve encompasses fifteen hundred thirty-six kilometers. The current core area is 716 sq. km while the rest is the outer limit or the buffer zone. Tourism is conducted in 20 percent of the core area while some forest patches are reserved for tourism in the buffer area.

Bandhavgarh is a paradise on the Earth. It is home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, bison, deer, rhesus macaque, Hanuman Langur, jungle cats, rusty spotted cats, jackals, foxes, and small predators. The antelope family comprises four-horned antelope and the Nilgai.

Bandhavgarh is also a place that comprises ancient ruins. These ruins are over two thousand years old and comprise zoomorphic idols of Lord Vishnu, idols of Shiva, manmade caves, temples, stables, reservoirs, and an ancient fort completely in ruins.

Over 170000 visitors arrive at the reserve for holidaying, photography, and filming. Before finalizing the trip to Bandhavgarh one should book a permit issued by the forest department of Madhya Pradesh. The next step is to book a luxury hotel for accommodations. There are also budget and deluxe hotels outside the reserve most of them are situated near the Tala Village.

The trip usually begins from Jabalpur Airport which is at a distance of 175 km. You can travel Jabalpur via Shahpura and Umaria. The latter is just 32 km from the park. The road is good and you can cover it in four hours. There are other routes to the reserve but they are longer.

You can drive in your car or go for a taxi-booking as there are plenty available. For overseas visitors booking a taxi is the best option. Air-conditioned taxis are available from Jabalpur. While going for a holiday in Bandhavgarh you should carry all the essentials as the reserve is situated in a remote place.