About bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh National Park one of the popular national parks in India, located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh was declared as a national park in 1968 with an area of 105 km. The buffer is spread over the forest divisions of Umaria and Katni and totals 437 km. The park derives its name from the most prominent hillock of the area, which is said to be given by Hindu Lord Rama to his brother Laxman to keep a watch on Lanka (Ceylon). Hence the name Bandhavgarh (Brother’s Fort).

This park has a large biodiversity. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is one of the highest known in India. The park has a large breeding population of Leopards, and various species of deer. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa captured a white tiger in this region in 1951. This white tiger, Mohan, is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajas of Rewa.
Bandhavgarh National Park lies on the extreme north- eastern border of the present state of Madhya Pradesh in India and the northern flanks of the eastern Satpuda Mountain range. Latitudes and longitudes are 23°30' to 23°46' North and 80°11' to 80°36'East. The altitude of the park varies between 410 meters (1,345 ft) and 810 meters (2,657 ft). The geology is soft related to sandstone with quartzite. The soil is generally sandy to sandy-loam. At least twenty streams rise or flow through the park, amongst the streams Umrar (forming the western boundary) is the largest. The other important streams are Johilla (eastern boundary), Janadh, Charnganga, Damnar, Banbei, Ambanala and Andhyari Jhiria. All these streams eventually flow into the river Son, which is an important southern tributary to the Ganges. At the centre of the Park is the Bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 m above sea level – surrounding it are a large number of smaller hills separated by gently sloping valleys. These valleys end in small, swampy meadows, locally known as 'bohera'. The lowest point in the park is at Tala, 440 m above sea level. The terrain is of great rocky hills rising sharply from the swampy and densely forested valley bottoms. The finest of these hills is Bandhavgarh, sided with great cliffs and eroded rocks.

The park lies within the tropical monsoon climatic zone, characterized by well-defined winters, summers and rains. Temperature as low 2.2 °C(36 °F) as has been to a high of 44 °C (111 °F) as has been recorded . Average rainfall is 1,173 millimetres (46 in), most of which falls during the monsoons. Some rains result from the cyclonic depressions as well, between the months of November and February.

Bandhavgarh is home to the highest density of Bengal tigers known in the world. It is known to be a place for some of the most well known tigers throughout the world. The tiger, Charger became the first known healthy male living in Bandhavgarh since the 1990's. He was named so because he would charge upon elephants and travellers but would cause no harm. He did it just for fun. A female known as Sita too ruled over Bandhavgarh for many years. Sita is known to be the most photographed tiger in the world. Most of the tigers of Bandhavgarh are genes of Sita and Charger. Sita became so famous that she used to be the cover girl of national geographic magazine. Another female known as Mohini took over the reign when she gave birth to three cubs B1, B2, B3. But Mohini came across a series of incidents which unfortunately separated her from her cubs. In 2003, she was hit by a vehicle at night while crossing the road and suffered wounds. Soon after some days, she was crossing the road made for vehicles, when she was on one side of the road and her cubs were on the other side. Immediately, tourists came in the middle and she lost contact with her cubs. She faced them by leaping on one of the vehicles. However the tourists made sure, she was driven away. But after that she never made it to her cubs since she was wounded before. Charger died in 2002. Later in 2003 and further till 2006 unfortunately, B1 was electrocuted and B3 was killed by poachers. Sita was killed by poachers. Mohini died by suffering heavy wounds on her body. However, the fully grown B2 became the only ruler of the forest during 2004 to 2007. Later, he mated with a female in the Siddh baba region of Bandhavgarh and fathered three cubs. One of them was a male. This new male was first sighted in 2008. Now he rules over Bandhavgarh just like his father and his great grandfather. Whereas one of the daughters has known to mate with another male tiger, who is likely to challenge B2's son to rule.