Bandhavgarh Biodiversity Amidst Panorama

Situated in the Central Indian Highlands in the Vindhya Ranges Bandhavgarh is a pristine little paradise where the tigers rule. One visit and you are bowled over by the amazing biodiversity of the region and its panoramic spread.

The terrain is laden with steep rising cliffs and table top mountains amidst grassy mountains, mountain rivers and dense forests. Dotted here and there are remains of ancient civilization some in a state of preservation. The cliffs are like looming towers with steep walls that are eroded at places by the vagaries of weather since centuries exposing deep soil here and there and accord a shiny glaze to the land. Whence the Sun rises it reflects different hues of colors that form a perfect setting for viewers and photographers. The layers of dense forests dressed up like silent sentinels form a ring around the mountains at the foothills some dress up the slopes to heighten the impact of the green expounding one of the finest landscapes on Earth. Picture a tiger in the backdrop and the setting is complete for the best sightseeing experience. Yes the setting is picture perfect and hordes of photographers, filmmakers and tourists flock over to this destination to witness.

But Bandhavgarh is more than this…the ancient monuments frozen still back in time take you back to bygone era whence we had overcome our primitive instincts to build structures from locally available structures. The presence of human footsteps and the turbulent history etched on the walls of the structures they built narrate a saga of human conquests by the warring dynasties of Central India. The striking feature of Bandhavgarh Hill Fort are the idols of Vishnu in zoomorphic forms. They are situated on the table top complex. Tribal communities and locals still visit for prayers on festive days to cement the ancient connect that was once part of their civilization.

Though the fort and temples have been built by the tribal, the future additions may have been built by those who came to rule. Eventually the last of the Maharajas shifted their kingdom to Rewa City nearby and the place came to rest finally. Now the tigers rule over this pristine paradise, and it is a tiger reserve and National Park notified by the Government of India. The only human steps that leave their footprints are those of the forest guards and the tourists.

The jungles comprise of Sal, mixed and bamboo fed by hill rivers like Charanganga, Johill and Damnar to name a few. They flow out of the boundaries of the reserve to nurture human civilizations. Besides the tiger the target species are the leopard, wild dog, sloth bear and the bison. These are the most sought after mammals by tourists also encountered with great luck are the snakes like python, rusty spotted cat, wolf and hyena.

There are niche breaks of pandanus and insectivorous plants like dorsera numerous marshy ecosystems, waterholes and grasslands that support innumerable life forms. It is the niche habitats that make the destination a biodiversity jewel of Central India. One experiences the biodiversity in numerous zones of Bandhavgarh on wildlife safari.

Bandhavgarh is situated in Umaria District of Madhya Pradesh in India. It can be reached from Jabalpur Airport and rail head by a drive of four hours.