Bandhavgarh National Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Bandhavgarh National Park
iucn_category = II


caption = Bengal Tiger in Bandhavgarh Reserve
state_name = Madhya Pradesh
district= Umaria
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Madhya Pradesh, India
nearest_city = Umaria
lat_degrees = 23
lat_minutes = 30
lat_seconds =
lat_direction =
long_degrees = 80
long_minutes = 15
long_seconds =
long_direction =
area = 437 km²
established = 1968
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Madhya Pradesh Forest Department

Bandhavgarh National Park (Devanagari: बांधवगढ राष्ट्रीय उद्दान) is one of the largest national parks in India located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968 with an area of 105 km². The buffer is spread over the forest divisions of Umaria and Katni and totals 437 km². 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" (Sanskrit: 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 panthers, bisons and various species of deer. The region once had a large population of white tigers. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa captured the last known in 1951. This white tiger, "Mohan", is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajas of Rewa.

History

The state of Rewa owes its origins to the foundation of a state dating to 1234 by Vyaghra Dev, a descendant of the Vaghelas of Gujarat. He married the daughter of the Raja of Pirhawan and conquered the territory between Kalpi and Chandalgarh. Karan Dev, son of Vyaghra Dev married the daughter of the Raja of Ratanpur, bringing Bandhogarh ( Now Known as BANDHAVGARH) into the family as her dowry. The legendary fortress of Bandhogarh fell into Mughal hands in 1597, almost by accident. At the death of H.H. Maharaja Virbhadra Rao in 1593, his minor son succeeded as H.H. Maharaja Vikramaditya. Sent to Delhi for his own safety, the emperor took advantage of his absence to send one of his loyal nobles as temporary governor. Once he had taken control of the fort, the Maharaja’s nobles and officials were expelled and the fort annexed by the Mughals. On his return to his remaining domains, H.H. Maharaja Vikramaditya was forced to establish a new capital at Rewa, from whence the state took its name. [http://www.bandhavgarh.info More Details] The history of the region can be traced back to 1st century. There are 39 caves in the Bandhavgarh fort and in the surrounding hillocks up to a radius of about 5 km. The oldest cave is of 1st century. Several caves carry inscriptions in Brahmi script. Some caves have embossed figure such as those of tiger, pig, elephant and horseman. Badi gufa, the largest cave, has broad entrance, nine small rooms and several pillars. It has been dated back to the 10th century. The cave appears to be primitive lacking the elaborate statues and carvings seen in the caves of Buddhist period. Its purpose remains mystery.

No records are available to show when Bandhavgarh fort was constructed. However it is thought, to be some 2000 years old, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the “Narad-Panch Ratra” and the ‘Shiva Purana”. Various dynasties have ruled the fort; including the The Mauryans from 3rd century BC, Vakataka rulers from 3rd to 5th century the Sengars from 5th century and the Kalachuris from 10th century. In the 13th century, the Baghels took over, ruling from Bandhavgarh until 1617, when Maharaja Vikramaditya Singh moved his capital to Rewa. The last inhabitants deserted the fort in 1935.

Bandhagarh National Park is a park with a rich historical past. Prior to becoming a national park, the forests around Bandhavgarh had long been maintained as a "Shikargah", or game preserve, of the Maharajas and their guests.

In 1947 Rewa State was merged with Madhya Pradesh; Bandhavgarh came under the regulations of Madhya Pradesh. The Maharaja of Rewa still retained the hunting rights. No special conservation measures were taken until 1968, when the areas were constituted as a national park. Since then, numerous steps have been taken to retain Bandhavgarh National Park as an unspoilt natural habitat.

Project Tiger was constituted in 1972 and then the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 came into force. It was realized that protection of just the 105 km² of prime Bandhavgarh habitat was not enough, so in 1982, three more ranges namely, Khitauli, Magdhi and Kallawah were added to Tala range (the original Bandhavgarh National Park) to extend the area of Bandhavgarh to 448 km². As Project tiger extended its activities and area of influence, Bandhavgarh was taken in its folds in 1993, and a core of 694 km². Including the previously named ranges and the Panpatha Sanctuary along with a buffer area of 437 km² was declared as the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Geography

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 convert|410|m|ft|0|lk=on and convert|810|m|ft|0|lk=on. The geology is soft feldspathic 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 convert|2|°C|°F|0|lk=on as has been to a high of convert|44|°C|°F|0|lk=on as has been recorded . Average rainfall is convert|1173|mm|in|0|lk=on, most of which falls during the monsoons. Some rains result from the cyclonic depressions as well, between the months of November and February.

tructure

Tourist are restricted to an area of 105 km² of the park, known as the Tala range. However this area is richest in terms of biodiversity, mainly tigers. There are four more ranges in the reserve namely –Magdhi, Kallwah, Khitauli and Panpatha. Together, these five ranges comprise the 'Core' of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve constituting a total area of 694 km². The buffer zone is spread over the forest divisions of Umaria and Katni and totals another 437 km². The legal status as a national park dates back to 1968, but was limited only to the present Tala range for a considerable length of time. In 1993 that the present scheme of things was put in place.

Natural heritage

According to bio-geographic classification, the area lies in Zone 6A- Deccan Peninsula, Central Highlands (Rodgers, Panwar & Mathur, 2000). The classification of Champion & Seth lists the area under Northern India Moist Deciduous Forests.The vegetation is chiefly of Sal forest in the valleys and on the lower slopes, gradually changing to mixed deciduous forest on the hills and in the hotter drier areas of the park in the south and west.

The wide valleys along the streams carry long linear grasslands flanked by Sal forests. Rich mixed forests consisting of Sal ("shorea rubusta"), Saja, Salai, and Dhobin etc. with dense bamboo thickets occur in many places. These together provide Bandhavgarh its rich biodiversity.

With the tiger at the apex of the food chain, it contains 37 species of mammals, more than 250 species of birds, about 70 species of butterflies, a number of reptiles. The richness and tranquility of grasslands invites pairs of Sarus Cranes to breed in the rainy season.

One of the biggest attractions of this national park is the tiger("panthera tigris tigris") and its sightings. Bandhavgarh has a very high density of tigers within the folds of its jungles. The 105 km² of park area open for tourist was reported to have 22 Tigers, a density of one tiger for every 4.77 km². (Population estimation exercise 2001). There is a saying about the Park that goes: "In any other Park, You are lucky if you see a tiger. In Bandhavgarh, you are unlucky if you don't see (at least) one."

Bandhagarh tiger reserve is densely populated with other species: the gaur, or Indian bison are now extinct or migrated elsewhere; sambar and barking deer are a common sight, and nilgai are to be seen in the open areas of the park. There has been reporting of Indian Wolf ("canis lupus indica"), hyeana and the caracal the latter being an open country dweller. The tiger reserve abounds with cheetal or the spotted deer ("Axis axis") which is the main prey animal of the tiger and the leopard ("Panthera pardus").

Avifauna

1. Plum Headed Parakeet2. Orange Headed Thrush3. Brown Headed Barbet4. Coppersmith Barbet5. Common Myna6. Alexandrine Parakeet7. Indian Grey Hornbill8. Rock Pigeon9. House Crow10. Carrion Crow11. Little Egret12. Cattle Egret13. Great Egret14. Black Drongo15. Pond Heron16. Common Snipe17. Black Winged Stilt18. Red-wattled Lapwing19. Indian Peafowl20. Greater Coucal21. Oriental Magpie Robin22. Indian Roller23. Indian Robin24. Eurasian Collared Dove25. Hoopoe26. Sirkeer Malkoha27. Large Billed Crow28. White Browed Fantail Flycatcher29. Yellow Crowned Woodpecker30. Rufus Treepie (Normal And Pallida)31. Lesser Adjutant stork32. Oriental White Eye33. Olive Backed Pipit34. Spotted Dove35. White Throated Kingfisher36. Red Rumped Swallow37. Lesser Whistling Teal38. Common Kingfisher39. Black Stork40. Green Bee-Eater41. Greater Racket Tailed Drongo42. Red Vented Bulbul43. Long Billed Vulture44. Grey Capped Pigmy Woodpecker45. Chestnut Shouldered Petronia46. Crested Serpent Eagle47. Black Redstart48. Brahminy Starling49. Brown Fish Owl50. Yellow Footed Green Pigeon51. Malabar Pied Hornbill52. Common Kestrel53. White Throated Fantail Flycatcher54. Rufous Woodpecker55. Sapphire Flycatcher56. Changeable Hawk Eagle (Cirrhatus)57. Oriental Turtle Dove58. White Rumped Vulture59. Lesser Kestrel60. Large Cuckooshrike61. Pied Bushchat62. Black Winged Cuckooshrike63. Black Rumped Flameback Woodpecker64. House Sparrow65. Golden Oriole66. Rose Ringed Parakeet67. Paddy Field Pipit68. Dusky Crag Martin69. Long Tailed Shrike70. Black Ibis71. White Necked Stork72. Purple Sunbird73. Giant Leafbird74. Tickle’s Flowerpecker75. Little Cormorant76. Little Brown Dove77. White Tailed Swallow78. Jungle Babbler79. Shikra80. Jungle Myna81. Common Tailorbird82. Red Collared Dove83. Red Necked Vulture84. Painted Francolin85. Eurasian Thick Knee86. Common Sandpiper87. Lesser Spotted Eagle88. Greater Whistling Teal89. Greater Cormorant90. Pied Kingfisher91. Laughing dove92. Bonelli’s Eagle93. Dark Black Crow

References

*Aqeel Farooqi: A Tribute to Charger [http://www.wildlifeofindia.com/artcharger.htm]
*L.K.Chaudhari & Safi Akhtar Khan: Bandhavgarh-Fort of the Tiger, Wild Atlas Books, Bhopal, 2003
*Shahbaz Ahmad: Charger: The Long Living Tiger, Print World, Allahabad, 2001 Listed Invalid ISBN|8177380003
*W.A.Rodgers, H.S.Panwar and V.B.Mathur: Wildlife Protected Area Network in India: A review, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2000
*Captain J.Forsyth: The Highlands of Central India, Natraj Publishers, Dehradun, 1994

External links

* [http://projecttiger.nic.in/bandhavgarh.htm Bandhavgarh- Project Tiger]
* [http://www.indiantiger.org/tiger-reserves-in-india/bandhavgarh-tiger-reserves-in-india.html Indiantiger.org]
* [http://wwwuser.gwdg.de/~symp2002/pdf/58_Forest_Sawhney.pdf Forest resource use by people in Protected Areas and its implications for biodiversity conservation: The case of Bandhavgarh National Park in India]
* [http://www.wildlifetimes.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=246 Wildlife Times: The Central Indian Tiger Pilgrimage - A trip report]
* [http://www.bandhavgarh-national-park.com/wildlife-in-bandhavgarh.html Wildlife in Bandhavgarh National Park]
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* [http://picasaweb.google.com/inkscrawl/Bandhavgarh Photographs of the Wildlife in Bandhavgarh National Park]