Bandhavgarh lies in the heart of Madhya Pradesh- traditional tiger country. This is where Rudyard Kipling found inspiration for his famous Jungle Book (remember Mowgli?), and this is where the tiger still roams- although now protected by dozens of laws, some effective, some not.

Once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Rewa, where an alarming number of tigers were hunted down in pre-independence India, Bandhavgarh was mercifully declared a National Park in 1968. Today, the Bandhavgarh National Park is a compact reserve (448 sq. km) of sal trees, bamboo thickets and grasslands, teeming with birds

Although Bandhavgarh is in the area where the famous white tigers of Rewa were first found, don’t expect to see any of the exotic beauties around. What you will see, however, is an amazing diversity of flora and fauna which can certainly make a trip to this wildlife preserve utterly worthwhile. 

Entry Requirements
All visitors to Bandhavgarh need a permit to enter the wildlife national park; this can be obtained at the entrance to the park. Entry fees for foreigners are Rs 200; for Indians and members of SAARC countries, Rs 20. Additional charges are levied for the entry of vehicles, for cameras and for elephant rides.  

Access
If you’re looking to sight the majestic tiger in his natural habitat, head for Jabalpur by jeep, bus, plane or train and from there onwards to the Bandhavgarh National Park, 165 km northeast. The nearest airports are in Khajuraho (210 km away) and Jabalpur. Buses from Khajuraho to Bandhavgarh do the trip in about five hours.

The closest railhead is the town of Umaria, which is 30 km from Bandhavgarh; it’s linked by train to cities in Madhya Pradesh and other states, including Delhi. Private and state owned bus services operate regular buses to Bandhavgarh from Umaria, Jabalpur, and other towns in Madhya Pradesh. Taxis too can be hired to get to Bandhavgarh.  The wildlife park’s entrance is at a tiny settlement called Tala, which has facilities- although limited- for accommodation.

Within the bounds of the Bandhavgarh National Park, vehicles may be hired at the entrance to drive around; in addition, private vehicles are allowed in. You could also ride through the jungle on elephant-back -- and if you kept completely quiet and are very, very lucky, you could even spot a tiger!

Best time to visit
Like many of India’s other wildlife preserves, national parks and sanctuaries, Bandhavgarh National Park too closes for visitors during the monsoon months, July to October. Between November and June is the best- and only-time to visit the park. 

Accommodation
The Madhya Pradesh Tourist department has a forest lodge in Bandhavgarh; the PWD and the Forest Department also have guest houses within the park, where the accommodation, though not the height of luxury, is adequate. Rooms range from some interesting cabins on stilts to individual cottages.

Besides this, there are hotels and forest lodges at Tala (at the entrance to Bandhavgarh).
More information on Bandhavgarh may be obtained from the Director, Bandhavgarh National Park, P.O. Umaria, District Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. Reservations for the MP tourism lodge can be made at the MP State Tourism Development Corporation in Bhopal (Tel: 0755-2778383 or 0755-2774343).