- 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 DepartmentBandhavgarh National Park (
Devanagari : बांधवगढ राष्ट्रीय उद्दान) is one of the largest national parks inIndia located in theUmaria district ofMadhya Pradesh . Bandhavgarh was declared anational 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 prominenthillock of the area, which is said to be given by Hindu LordRama to his brotherLaxman to keep a watch onLanka (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,bison s 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 ofRewa .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
inscription s inBrahmi 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 ofBuddhist 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 TheMauryan s from 3rd century BC,Vakataka rulers from 3rd to 5th century theSengar s from 5th century and theKalachuri s from 10th century. In the 13th century, theBaghel s took over, ruling from Bandhavgarh until 1617, when Maharaja Vikramaditya Singh moved his capital toRewa . 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 ofMadhya Pradesh . The Maharaja ofRewa 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. Thegeology 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 riverSon , which is an important southern tributary to theGanges . 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 ofSarus Crane s 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, andnilgai are to be seen in the open areas of the park. There has been reporting ofIndian Wolf ("canis lupus indica"), hyeana and thecaracal the latter being an open country dweller. The tiger reserve abounds withcheetal or the spotted deer ("Axis axis") which is the main prey animal of thetiger and the leopard ("Panthera pardus").Avifauna
1.
Plum Headed Parakeet 2.Orange Headed Thrush 3.Brown Headed Barbet 4.Coppersmith Barbet 5.Common Myna 6.Alexandrine Parakeet 7.Indian Grey Hornbill 8.Rock Pigeon 9.House Crow 10.Carrion Crow 11.Little Egret 12.Cattle Egret 13.Great Egret 14.Black Drongo 15.Pond Heron 16.Common Snipe 17.Black Winged Stilt 18.Red-wattled Lapwing 19.Indian Peafowl 20.Greater Coucal 21.Oriental Magpie Robin 22.Indian Roller 23.Indian Robin 24.Eurasian Collared Dove 25.Hoopoe 26.Sirkeer Malkoha 27.Large Billed Crow 28.White Browed Fantail Flycatcher 29.Yellow Crowned Woodpecker 30.Rufus Treepie (Normal And Pallida)31.Lesser Adjutant stork 32.Oriental White Eye 33.Olive Backed Pipit 34.Spotted Dove 35.White Throated Kingfisher 36.Red Rumped Swallow 37.Lesser Whistling Teal 38.Common Kingfisher 39.Black Stork 40.Green Bee-Eater 41.Greater Racket Tailed Drongo 42.Red Vented Bulbul 43.Long Billed Vulture 44. Grey Capped Pigmy Woodpecker45.Chestnut Shouldered Petronia 46.Crested Serpent Eagle 47.Black Redstart 48.Brahminy Starling 49.Brown Fish Owl 50.Yellow Footed Green Pigeon 51.Malabar Pied Hornbill 52.Common Kestrel 53.White Throated Fantail Flycatcher 54.Rufous Woodpecker 55.Sapphire Flycatcher 56.Changeable Hawk Eagle (Cirrhatus)57.Oriental Turtle Dove 58.White Rumped Vulture 59.Lesser Kestrel 60.Large Cuckooshrike 61.Pied Bushchat 62.Black Winged Cuckooshrike 63.Black Rumped Flameback Woodpecker 64.House Sparrow 65.Golden Oriole 66.Rose Ringed Parakeet 67.Paddy Field Pipit 68.Dusky Crag Martin 69.Long Tailed Shrike 70.Black Ibis 71.White Necked Stork 72.Purple Sunbird 73.Giant Leafbird 74.Tickle’s Flowerpecker 75.Little Cormorant 76.Little Brown Dove 77.White Tailed Swallow 78.Jungle Babbler 79.Shikra 80.Jungle Myna 81.Common Tailorbird 82.Red Collared Dove 83.Red Necked Vulture 84.Painted Francolin 85.Eurasian Thick Knee 86.Common Sandpiper 87.Lesser Spotted Eagle 88.Greater Whistling Teal 89.Greater Cormorant 90.Pied Kingfisher 91.Laughing dove 92.Bonelli’s Eagle 93.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, 1994External 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]
*
* [http://picasaweb.google.com/inkscrawl/Bandhavgarh Photographs of the Wildlife in Bandhavgarh National Park]
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