Vanam / Parks / Madhya Pradesh
बांधवगढ़ राष्ट्रीय उद्यान
One of the highest tiger densities in India.
Bandhavgarh National Park in Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh, takes its name from Bandhavgarh Fort. According to legend, Lord Rama gave the fort to his brother Lakshmana to watch over Lanka, and the name means 'brother's fort'. The park was a hunting ground of the princely state of Rewa before it became a national park in 1968 and a tiger reserve in 1993.
The reserve covers 1,536 sq km, of which 716 sq km is core and 820 sq km is buffer. Sal forest, bamboo, grassland and rocky hills make it good tiger country: 135 tigers were counted in 2022. Gaur, reintroduced in 2012, now number about 170, and about 55 elephants live in the reserve. The BBC series Dynasties filmed the tigress Raj Bhera here for around four years.
Taller bars mean better wildlife viewing. Select a month to read what it is like.
The dots show how likely you are to see each animal on a typical safari.
India's national animal and the reason most visitors come to a safari.
135 tigers in the 2022 census. Tala is the most visited zone.
The largest wild cattle in the world, with a muscular shoulder hump.
Reintroduced in 2012 with 50 animals from Kanha; about 170 in January 2025.
The largest land animal in Asia, living in herds led by an older female.
About 55 elephants in the reserve (March 2024).
The most common deer on safari, and the main prey of tigers and leopards.
A red, pack-hunting wild dog that whistles to keep its pack together.
A secretive spotted cat that often hunts at night and rests in trees or rocks.
The largest deer in India, whose alarm call warns the forest of a predator.
A shaggy, long-clawed bear that feeds mainly on termites and fruit.
Distances and travel times are approximate. Closure dates and permit rules change, so confirm them with the forest department before you book.
Tala is the most visited and usually the most productive; Magadhi has also done well in recent years.
The core zones close, but the Dhamokhar, Johila and Panpatha buffer zones stay open.
135 in the 2022 census.
Declared a national park.
Brought under Project Tiger.
50 gaur were moved from Kanha National Park.
The BBC documentary Dynasties filmed the tigress Raj Bhera at Bandhavgarh for about four years as she raised her cubs.
Tell us your dates and group size. We will arrange the safari permits, stay and transfers.
