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Top Tourist Places to Explore and Best things to Do in Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh is an amazing combination of thrill and interesting stories. It is here where for the first time India’s first white tiger was found. It is here where we will see the grand Fort of Bandhavgarh which was gifted by Lord Rama to his younger brother Laxmana. The name Bandhavgarh is a testimony to this fact. Bandhav means Brother and Garh means Fort in local dialect. You will also witness 2000 years old man-made caves with interesting inscriptions and rock paintings. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve’s charm is irresistible. It has the highest density of tigers in India. Variety of scenic landscapes and vegetation also makes this place an awe-enchanting paradise for travelers. The best part is this popular national park in India has so much more to enjoy apart from its amazing wildlife sightings and safari that one trip to this reserve is not enough.

Here are the best things to do and top things to see in Bandhavgarh National Park that can make your wildlife tour here one of its kind.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve- Quick Essential Travel Information

Bandhavgarh National Park Vindhya Hills of Umaria District
Bandhavgarh National Park Famous for Highest Density of Tiger Population
Bandhavgarh Name Meaning Bandhav (Brother) Garh (Fort) Brother’s Fort
Popular Faunal species of Bandhavgarh National Park Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Gray Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard, Tiger, Wild Pigs, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Chausingha, Nilgai, Chinkara etc.
Popular Floral Species of Bandhavgarh National Park Tendu, Arjun, Amla, Kadam, Khajur, Khair, babul, Jamun, Ber, Pterocarpus, Bamboo, Banyan, dhok, Palas etc.
Bandhavgarh National Park’s Butterfly Species Striped Tiger, Plain Tiger, Gram Blue, Common Crow, Common Jezebel, Common Pieret, Blue Tiger, Grey Pansy, Common Rose, Common Baron etc.
Bandhavgarh National Park Bird’s Species Purple Heron, Pond Heron, Darter, Little Grebe, Black Bittern, Open Bill stork, Black Iblis, Northern Pintail, Shikra, black Kite, Pied Harrier, Hen Harrier etc.
Best Time to Visit Bnadhavgarh October to March

Popular Bandhavgarh Tourism Packages

Best Things to Do in Bandhavgarh National Park

Tiger at Bandhavgarh National Park

  • Thrilling Wildlife Jeep Safari
  • Spot the Tigers at Chakradhar
  • Enjoy your day with Baiga Community
  • Relish a stay around Bandhavgarh for a Thrilling Experience
  • Shopping in Bandhavgarh Market
  • Visit Enchanting Local Hamlets and Villages
  • Trek to Bandhavgarh Fort
  • Explore Shesh Shaiya to take divine blessings of Lord Vishnu
  • Explore Badi Gufa – Mysterious Caves of Bandhavgarh National Park

1. Listen to the Call of the Wild and Embrace Wildlife in a Thrilling Jeep Safari

Bandhavgarh Wildlife Safari

The park offers open jeep safari which is the best way to explore this wildlife habitat. It will add a texture of fun and adventure on your journey and will let you capture the astonishing wildlife moments for a wonderful wildlife experience. Tiger Jeep Safaris run in two shifts with a duration of 4 hours. If you are planning to visit the park, it is advisable to book a jeep safari in advance. Moreover, each jeep accommodates six people.There are four zones to enter the park, which are Tala, Magadhi, Panpatha, and Khitauli and every zone is good for tiger sightings.  The ticket price of the safari varies according to the zone from which you are entering. Before the safari, visitors are required to show their identity card at the entrance gate for security purposes. Moreover, the guide is given to each safari vehicle.

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Bandhavgarh Wildlife Safari Tips

The safari tour includes certain must-have things in order to make the journey or experience better.

  • Sunglasses to protect the eyes from direct sunlight.
  • Water bottle. Since the duration of safari would be around 3-4 hours, water is a must.
  • Hat or cap to protect yourself from hot weather.
  • Camera to capture the wildlife moments
  • Binoculars to see animals from distance
  • Memory cards and batteries. As the safari operates for around 4 hours, therefore, it is advisable to keep sufficient batteries and memory cards on your phone and camera with you.

Bandhavgarh Winter Wildlife Safari Timings

  • Morning – 6:00 – 11:00 am (5hrs)
  • Afternoon – 3:00-6:00 pm (3hrs)

Bandhavgarh Summer Wildlife Safari Timings

  • Morning- 5:30 -10:30 am (5hrs)
  • Afternoon- 3:30-6:30 pm (3hrs)

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2. Spot the Tigers at Chakradhar

Bandhavgarh National Park Tiger

Surrounded by the dense hilly regions, Chakradhara is one of the most popular places in Bandhavgarh National Park which is famous for tiger sightings. It offers different species of both flora and fauna. On this meadow, one can also find a high density of tigers. The few amongst those wild cats are Bheema, Bamera, Chandini, Kankati, Rajbhra, Dotty Krishna, Sukhipatia, and Marchaini. It is through Chakradhar that one can head to another famous tourist attraction in the park, Bandhavgarh Fort.

3. Enjoy Your Day with Baiga Community

Meet the indigenous tribal community of central India- Baiga Community and love their close connection with nature. Not only will you be amazed by their lifestyle but also get awesome knowledge about various medicinal plants, flora and fauna. Also enjoy the local cultural dance of Baiga Community and taste authentic Baiga Thali. The flavors are very unique and have been kept intact for generations. Indeed, spending your day with this lovely community is one of the best things to do in Bandhavgarh National Park.

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4. Relish a Stay Around Bandhavgarh for a Thrilling Experience

Stay at Bandhavgarh

The national park has a huge gathering of visitors that come here to enhance their wildlife experience. The park has a number of accommodations to augment the experience of the visitors. While some are luxury accommodations and some are budget hotels, there are a few that have this quite obvious jungle theme. Below are the categories the accommodation in Bandhavgarh National Park is divided into:

High-End resorts: In this category, you will find-

High End Resorts Bandhavgarh

  • Taj Mahua Kothi: It covers more than 40 acres of land; the Mahua Kothi offers the rich and quality accommodation experience. It has 12 suites with combined facilities of twin beds, private sit out-veranda, fireplace, along with amazing foods served.
  • Syna Tiger Resort: Situated near to the entrance of Tala village, Syna Tiger Resort has covered 15 acres of land. An eco-friendly resort with 15 soothing cottages and a tree house. The accommodation is supported by modern amenities. Since it is an eco-friendly resort, it serves food made from using the organic ingredients grown on the property itself.

Luxury Resorts: These are four top accommodations in the category-

Luxury Resorts Bandhavgarh

  • Tree House Hideaway: Situated close to the Tala Gate of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, the resort is surrounded by the jungle and covers more than 21 acres of land. There are 5 air-conditioned tree houses with all necessary amenities. Each tree house has a living area, mini bar, and all day running hot and cold water along with the serving of Indian, Continental, and Barbeque meals.
  • Kings Lodge: The lodge can be found in Rancho Village of Bandhavgarh National Park. It has been built on 8 acres of land and is the best lodge to cater to the guest needs. Moreover, it has 18 cottages equipped with all modern amenities. The lodge comprises a multi-cuisine dining hall that serves brilliant food quality and quantity.
  • Bandhav Vilas: Same as Syna Tiger Resort, Bandhav Vilas also has its own organic farm. It is situated in Kuchwahi Village and has 20 villas that are equipped with modern luxury amenities along with an open multi-cuisine dining restaurant. Along with that, a beautiful hall, library, bar and lounge, and poolside bar give a luxurious feel at Bandhav Villa.
  • Infinity Bandhavgarh Wilderness: It has 8 lakeside pavilions and 6 deluxe rooms and is situated on the border of a village close to the reserve. The accommodation has all modern amenities along with the multi-cuisine restaurant, amusement hall, and spa facility.

Deluxe Category Resorts

Deluxe Resorts Ranthambore

These resorts have some fantastic arrangements and remarkable facilities that attract tourists who want quality accommodation without splurging. Moreover, they offer a great experience by providing comfort, and security along with good quality food. Nature Heritage, Tiger Trails, Maharaja Royal Retreat, Bandhavgarh Meadows, Tiger Den, Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, Jungle Mantra, Tiger Lagoon, Bundela Jungle Lodge, Hotel Tigergarh are the deluxe resorts in Bandhavgarh to book your stay.

Standard Category Resorts

Budget Resorts Bandhavgarh

These are the budget category accommodations that do fairly well to cater to the needs of their guests. Some of them are based on the jungle theme such as Mogli Jungle Resort. Other standard resorts you will get in Bandhavgarh National Park are Salvan, Greenwoods, Bagh Sarai, Jungle Inn, Tiger Inn, and Tiger Heaven. All these resorts comprise decent amenities and food.

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5. Shopping in Bandhavgarh Market

Shopping in Bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh is not just limited to best wildlife experience but also offers an opportunity for shopping as well. There are a number of shops outside the park from where you can get small stuff/souvenirs like; t-shirts, wildlife books, and more. You will also get pictures of tigers which were taken inside the park. To buy souvenirs and books, a shop located behind the museum is a great option. Shopping in Bandhavgarh is the must do tourist activity amongst the tourists.

6. Visit Enchanting Local Hamlets and Villages

The wilderness in the periphery of Bandhavgarh National Park will give you an awesome chance to enjoy the best of Madhya Pradesh Tourism. Learn about the diverse topography and explore awe inspiring flora and fauna in the park. There are many local hamlets and villages which will give you the chance to learn about new traditions and cultures of indigenous people. Interact with the locals, they will take you to their simple world dipped in serenity. This will surely make your wildlife tour in Bandhavgarh National Park the best.

7. Trek to Bandhavgarh Fort

Bandhavgarh Fort

This one-hour trek that starts from the Tala Zone of Bandhavgarh National Park to Bandhavgarh Fort is something you must not miss while visiting the reserve. The visitors are required to have a guide with them to reach the fort because the trail traverses the national park itself. The fort is situated on a hill with an altitude of 807 m above the sea level that is located at the center of the park. Trekking is indeed one of the best things to do in Bandhavgarh National Park.

Bandhavgarh fort is one of the oldest forts in India with the age of more than 2000 years. The fort has several caves adorned with paintings and scripts. Also, you will find a statue of Lord Vishnu which is 35 feet in height. A trek to this fort is not only exhilarating but is a source to get plenty of insights about the region and its history.

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8. Explore Shesh Shaiya to Take Divine Blessings of Lord Vishnu

No doubt why Bandhavgarh has been luring the tourists for ages. It holds so many interesting stories that will blow your heart away. The Shesh Shaiya is one of the most popular tourist attractions to visit in Bandhavgarh National Park. Amidst the hills, this 11m long statue of Lord Vishnu with a canopy of seven hooded serpents Sheshnag adorned with oil lamps dates back to 10th century AD. You will also behold Chora Ganga River which merges with the sone river, the lifeline of Bandhavgarh.

10. Badi Gufa – Mysterious Caves of Bandhavgarh National Park

Apart from the thrilling wildlife, enjoy an exciting journey to Badi Gufa at Bandhavgarh National Park. It is one of the top places to visit in Bandhavgarh National Park. The caves are carved inside the mountains. It is located in the tala tourism zone of Bandhavgarh. There are around 39 such mysterious caves in the premises of Bandhavgarh National Park. Inscriptions on Brahmi Script and figures of tigers, pigs, elephants and horsemen amaze our curious mind. No one really knows the purpose of these caves. Locals say that these caves were used for spiritual pursuits of the monks and for armies of the kings. You need to take permission from the forest officials to visit these caves.

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Top Things to Do & Places to Explore Outside Bandhavgarh National Park

Tala Zone Bandhavgarh

Since Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most popular wildlife getaways in India, it offers numerous things to do in the reserve which we have discussed earlier. But apart from the reserve, there are several things that you must do when you visit Bandhavgarh which are outside of the park.

1. Rural Tourism at Tala Village

Rural Tourism at Tala-Village

Tala Village is one of the top tourist attractions to visit around Bandhavgarh. It is also one of the chief entrances of the wildlife reserve. The village comprises mud houses that reflect the simple lifestyle the people inhabiting here are following. Besides, most of the resorts are also located near Tala Village along with the numerous souvenir shops, since the village can be a short distance from your resort you must include it in your wildlife tour itinerary.

2. Spend Quality Time at Barmera Dam

Bamera Dam

Located in Panpatha Sanctuary and 10 km away from the Bandhavgarh National Park, Bamera Dam and its surroundings are ideal for the activity of bird watching. When it comes to reaching there, one can either hire a jeep. The place is also perfect to plan a small picnic with your family where each of you can enjoy the tranquility of nature and its beauty of the majestic Barmera Dam. It is a must visit place to rejuvenate your soul around Bandhavgarh National Park.

3. Seeking Blessings at Jwalamukhi Temple

Jwalamukhi Temple Bandhavgarh

Situated on the bank of river Charan Ganga, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Jwalamukhi and is just 10 km from Bandhavgarh National Park. It is believed that the Goddess Jwalamukhi has the power to fulfill the desires and wishes of her devotees who come here in faith, and hence this shrine is counted amongst one of the most popular temples in Bandhavgarh.Since the temple is around 12 minutes’ drive away from the reserve, people prefer to visit both the attractions on the same day.

4. Explore Khajuraho

Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh

Khajuraho is known as the temple town and is located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. This one of its kind places is around 235 km away from Bandhavgarh National Park. If you want to explore some religious places then Khajuraho is the best place as it has a number of Hindu and Jain temples. Along with this, the erotic sculptures are the key attractions in Khajuraho. There are 22 temples that are divided into three groups of temples, i.e., western, eastern, and southern. Amongst these, the Western Group of Temples are the key attractions with architecturally opulent shrines like Kandariya Mahadeo. If you really want to enjoy the best of Madhya Pradesh Tourism then you must visit this popular tourist attraction around Bandhavgarh National Park.

5. Explore Jabalpur

Jabalpur-Bhedaghat-Dhuandhar-Falls

One of the oldest cities in India, Jabalpur is located on the holy shores of the River Narmada and is 195 km away from the Bandhavgarh National Park. The city is mainly recognized for its marble rock formations and the gorgeous Dhuandhar Falls in Bhedaghat. It is indeed one of the best weekend getaways from Bandhavgarh National Park as it allows one to see more beauty of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

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How to Reach Bandhavgarh National Park?

Bandhavgarh Tiger

  • By Air- Jabalpur Airport is the nearest airport to reach Bandhavgarh National Park. It is around 159km from the park. From the airport you can hire a cab or taxi to reach here.
  • By Train- Umaria Railway Station is the nearest railway station from Bandhavgarh National Park, It is 35 km away. From the station, hire a cab or taxi to reach here.
  • By Road- Bandhavgarh has a very good road connectivity. You can easily reach here from the major cities. Reach here through SH11,22 and NH43 from Katni, Jabalpur, Umaria and Khajuraho.

Best Time to Visit Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Tiger

For wildlife and nature lovers, Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most beautiful paradises to explore exquisite flora and interesting faunal species. Winter months November to February are the best time to visit here. However, for tiger sightings consider summer time, April to June. Tigers come close to the water sources due to thirst and you will see awesome species of birds. It is the best time for nature and wildlife photography. The park remains closed in monsoon.

Note- Bandhavgarh National Park remains open for the tourists between 15 October and 30th June.

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Bandhavgarh National Park indeed remains the best place for your wildlife tour. But to enhance the experience of visiting it add these suggested things to do in and around the park. In case you want to learn more about Bandhavgarh travel packages, give us a call at +91-9212777223 or drop us an email at info@tourmyindia.com. We at Tour My India offer one of the best wildlife holidays in the country and ensure that everything fits your budget right.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Bandhavgarh famous?

Bandhavgarh National Park is very popular for awesome floral and faunal species. Tourists visit here to enjoy amazing Tiger Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari. It is also the first park in India to launch Hot Air Balloon Safari.

How to reach Bandhavgarh National Park in MP?

  • By Air- Jabalpur Airport is the nearest airport to reach BandhavgarhNational Park. It is around 159km from the park. From the airport you can hire a cab or taxi to reach here.
  • By Train- Umaria Railway Station is the nearest railway station from Bandhavgarh National Park, It is 35 km away. From the station, hire a cab or taxi to reach here.
  • By Road- Bandhavgarh has a very good road connectivity. You can easily reach here from the major cities. Reach here through SH11,22 and NH43 from Katni, Jabalpur, Umaria and Khajuraho.

What is the best time to plan a wildlife safari tour to Bandhavgarh National Park?

If you like sightseeing and photography then plan your visit to Bandhavgarh National Park during winters (November to February). The weather is very pleasant for sightseeing and wildlife Safari. If you want to spot tigers then plan your visit during summer time (April to June) as tigers come near water sources due to thirst.

When does Bandhavgarh Park open & close for tourists?

Bandhavgarh National Park remains open for the visitors between 15th October and 30th June.

What are the safari timings in Bandhavgarh Park?

Bandhavgarh Winter Safari Timings
  • Morning - 6:00-11:00 am
  • Afternoon - 3:00-6:00 pm
Bandhavgarh Summer Safari Timings
  • Morning- 5:30-10:30 am
  • Afternoon- 3:30-6:30 pm

Is night safari available for Bandhavgarh?

Yes, Bandhavgarh National Park offers Night Safari in the buffer zone. The timings are 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Is there any guest house or hotels & resorts inside the Bandhavgarh National Park?

Yes, at the edge of Bandhavgarh National Park you will see Mahua Kothi which offers a good stay experience to the tourists. Syna Tiger Resort, Tree House Hideaway are only 600meters from Bandhavgarh National Park which will give you world class stay experience.

Published: 17 Feb, 2022

About the author

Jatin

Comes from the ‘heart of India’, Delhi, Jatin is big-time dreamer. He is a travel blogger who loves to express about his ventures through his writing. Besides being a blogger, he is a foodie, who follows the aroma to reach some of the most amazing places to eat. Another thing that is equally important to him is sports; he eats, sleeps and breathes cricket!