Bandhavgarh National Park India rests proudly in the heart of the nation, the incredible Madhya Pradesh at an approximate distance of 200 km (124 miles) from the North-East of the city Jabalpur. It is one of the top ten National Parks of India with a great population of tigers. Here, Tala is the nearest village to the park and your gateway to Indian jungle adventure in Bandhavgarh National Park.

How to Get Here?

If you are an international traveler, then, you can catch a flight to Jabalpur after your arrival in Delhi. Same goes for the inland travelers too. If it’s the rail that you prefer, then, the nearest train stations which are Umaria (45 minutes away) and Katni (around 2.5 hours away) will be happy to welcome you. So is your how to reach Bandhavgarh National Park is solved now?

Introduction

Let’s dive in and get more information about Bandhavgarh national park, shall we?

Once you’ll enter into its premises, you will notice that the whole park is set up around a castle ( approximately 2000-year-old) and the caves nearby.

Brace your hearts! The landscape will seem a bit too hard to handle in the beginning, but what is the fun in spotting wildlife without a little adventure, isn’t it?

Still, don’t expect limitless green carpets but don’t worry, it will be a treat for your senses for sure.

Have crossovers with Deer, Samba, Langur, Red-Faced Monkeys, Jungle Cats, Bengal Fox, Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Bandicoot Rat, Asiatic Jackal, Wild Boars, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chinkara, Indian Bison and of course, the domestic Elephants. If in case you turn lucky then, the sights of sloth bears and Leopard might jollify your trip as well.

So, turn your adventure buttons on because the adrenaline will never slow down here.

The other time, it can make you want to ditch all your clothes and stay inside to escape the scorching heat in summers. Even, the monsoons aren’t calm either, that is why we suggest you bring some protection for you and your camera. Who knows? How the weather forecast can change. So, be prepared.

When To Visit

After learning about the climatic conditions of this plush sanctuary, deciding which time to travel here becomes a task. Why? Well, who will like to miss the opportunity of being in the wild with the royalties of the jungle themselves?

Keeping all these details in mind, March and April become the ideal time for tiger tracing. The heat during this time is a little less than its zenith and spotting tigers during this time is easy as they come out frequently to cool themselves.

Other than that, May and June are also good times for tiger sightings but the heat is something you will have to bear. Avoid the time of November – February in winter as the park runs busy and there is no match of the cold.

Disclaimer! Disclaimer! Bandhavgarh remains closed from 1st July to 15th October every month. So, pick your travel time wisely.

Opening Hours and Safari Timings

Bandhavgarh operates twice a day for three hours.It’s just that the Its slot ranges from dawn till late mornings and evenings (4 p.m. to be precise) till sundown. So that’s the only information on Bandhavgarh National Park safari timings that you will need.

The best time to enjoy wildlife at its best it at dawn when all the animals are vulnerable. Also, the evening safari is a little shorter than the morning ones.

Except for its annual closure from 1st July till 15th of October, the park remains closed on Holi, Diwali and Wednesday afternoons. So, if you are searching Bandhavgarh national park opening dates, then don’t because apart from the dates mentioned above the park is open for the whole year. Do plan your trip beforehand, you guys!

JEEP JUNGLE SAFARI

Bandhavgarh jeep safari is all about its 4WD Gypsy’s. Get ready to do some off-roading and end up in the less-explored corners of the jungle in Madhya Pradesh. Jeep safari helps you catch maximum wildlife sightings in the provided time. Still, it is the star of the jungle that will require you to do some extra efforts.

The staff here is quite imminent in whatever they do, so don’t worry about those perfect pictures you‘ve wanted since eternity.

BANDHAVGARH ELEPHANT SAFARI

Elephant safaris are the best if you plan on to meet the Royal Bengal Tiger. That is because a tiger doesn’t run away by the sights or even noises of these majestic creatures.

Elephants here will come into your travel picture in the morning for some tiger-tracking. They’ll help you reach as close to the tiger as you want but the rest of the safari you will need to do in the jeep only. Sounds like a plan to us, what about you?

• TALA: This is the main zone of the park, so, you can imagine the wildlife sightings here.
• MAGADHI: This zone is located on the borderline of the park and tiger sightings here are excellent.
• KHITAULI: This zone is a treat for the eye. Even though tiger sightings happen here, bird watching is very famous in this zone too.

Other than the ones mentioned above, there are few other buffer zones too where tiger sightings happen as well. These zones are a little bit cheaper than the core zone and include names like:

• MANPUR (Adjoining Tala Zone)
• DHANOKAR (Adjoining Magdhi Zone)
• PACHPEDI (Adjoining Khitauli Zone)

Safaris are available in all these zones and their permits are booked in advanced. So, make your booking prior. Want to avoid such hassle? Let us help you out with Bandhavgarh National Park map. Plan your best wildlife trip now.

Fee And Charges For Jeep Safari

The safari cost at Bandhavgarh National Park tour packages:

• Safari Permit Fee — 1,500 rupees for a whole jeep (seating up to six people), or 250 rupees for a single seat in a jeep. If you have children below the age of 5 then they can travel for free.
• Guide Fee — 360 rupees per safari.
• Vehicle Hire Fee — 2,500 rupees per jeep.

*Rates are same for Bandhavgarh safari package irrespective of your nationality.

Bandhavgarh National Park safari booking:

As we have already told you before that this park has different zones. This information about Bandhavgarh Safari zones is quite important when you plan to initiate the booking as you can only book for one zone at a time. So, book the right zone if you are under time and resource constraints as Bandhavgarh safari permit fee is only valid for one zone. Furthermore, if you are traveling alone, the Bandhavgarh jungle safari guide fee and vehicle hire fee will be distributed equally among the tourists in the vehicle.

Bandhavgarh tiger Safari permit bookings for core zones can be made on the MP Forest Department Online website. Book as early (approximately 90 days in advance) as possible as the permit to core zones get to finish soon.

Jeep safaris through the buffer zones can be booked at the entry gates. If you want to free yourself from the hassle, then your hotel can do all the work for you but in that case, you will have to pay a little extra.

What Else To See?

There are many cool destinations to pan across within the park. Getting an opportunity to pan through them is probably the best thing you can do here in Bandhavgarh. Here is the list of places that you can see:

BAGHEL MUSEUM
Belongings of the savior of the Bandhavgarh National Park belong here. Come; revel in his love for hunting here.

Bandhavgarh Fort
Visit the lofty forty amidst 32 hills for a flavor of history, architecture and much more.

Cheshpur Waterfall
Lap up to the showers of the blessing of nature at 50 km distance from Bandhavgarh.

Climbers Point
Chill and enjoy the scenic landscape of Sal trees.

Fossil National Park
See ancient natural India at a glance.

Jwalamukhi Temple
Visit 10th-century shrine that oozes nothing but tranquility.

The Shesh Shaiya
This 10th-century temple is of great importance in Hinduism because of its portrayal of the creator of the universe.

What To Carry?

Your travel pack list depends on the season you are traveling to India. If you are traveling in winters instead, then packing thick pullovers, shawls and jackets will only save you from the biting cold in the morning jungle expedition. Else, for the rest of the day, pack light pullovers instead.

Where To Stay

This is a question that bothers everyone on their dream wildlife adventure at national parks in India but you don’t have to worry, we have it sorted for you.

There are a lot of options for stays in Tala. The hotels and resorts in Bandhavgarh National Park you’ll come across here will be budget friendly but we cannot assure you of the cleanliness or the services.

There are Forest department resorts too, and if you want to accommodate them, then, you have to book them with prior notice by ringing 942479315 (cell) during office hours from 10.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m.

Other than that, here is the list of popular Bandhavgarh national park resorts. We have sorted for you a range of mid-range and luxury hotels. Have fun!

Mid-range Hotels

• Tiger’s Den Resort
• Monsoon Forest
• Aranyak Resort
• Nature Heritage Resort

Luxury Hotels

• Pugdundee Safaris King’s Lodge
• Taj Hotel’s Mahua Kothi resort
• Samode Safari Lodge
• Treehouse Hideaway

*Prices can be confirmed by checking the individual sites of these hotels.