Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve located in the eastern Satpura hill range of Umaria and katni districts. Mythologically the name “ Bandhavgarh” means (Bandhav = Brother and garh = Fort) and was acquire the name Bandhavgarh with the name of the fort. This fort was built and given to brother Lakshman by Lord Rama, to keep a watch on lanka and hence it acquired the Reference to this is also found in the Narad Panch Ratna and Shiva Sanhita Puran. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is of vital importance considering its Flora and Fauna diversity. The Tiger Reserve is Known for the healty population of tigers and variety of herbivores. This area is unique from the point of biodiversity, as it comprises hills,valley, rivers, marshes and meadows to give rise to diverse vegetation. Apart from tiger, as many as 34 species of Mammals have been listed and nearly 260 species of birds and 70 species of butterfly

General information

Core: 716.90 Sq Km

Buffer 820.03 Sq Km

Total: 1536.93 Sq Km

Bandhavgarh National Park is a small tract of protected forest that was once the shikargarh (game reserve) of the maharajas of Rewa. In the past decade, however, it has become as synonymous with the tiger as Ranthambhore or Kanha. Bandhavgarh is still teeming with tigers, despite the fact that the erstwhile rulers enthusiastically adhered to the belief that it was lucky for the monarch to hunt 109 tigers.

For some time in the 12^th century, the Bandhavgarh Fort, in the centre of the reserve, was the seat of power of the Chandela Dynasty. Later, it came under the Baghels, and then the Rewas, who are believed be their descendants. About 106 sq km of the reserve functioned as the hunting ground of the Rewas; each Rewa king was supposed to shoot at least a 100 tigers. Despite this, the fact that so-called ‘commoners’ were not allowed inside the reserve helped in the conservation of other animals and the forest itself.