Bandhavgarh National Park located in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh state of India. Bandhavgarh was declared a National park in the year 1968 the area of the park is 105 Square Kms. The barrier region of the Park is spread over other divisional forests of Umaria and katni districts of the region, thereby making the total area of about 437 square Kms. The name of the park is derived from the most important hillock of the area known as Bandhavgarh. According to a legend of another era lord Rama supposedly gave this most prominent hillock to his brother Laxhman to check activities of Lanka. Hence the name Bandhavgarh which means brother?s fort. Bandhavgarh holds the highest population of Tigers in India. Large population of Leopards is also known to be present in Bandhavgarh. There are a large species and good population of deers too in Bandhavgarh. The first white tiger Mohan of this region was captured in 1951 by Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa. Now Mohan has been kept stuffed as an exhibit in the palace of Maharajas of Rewa. Bandhavgarh has a very high density of tigers in its folds. The 105 Kms of tourist area has about 22 tigers according to year 2001 tiger census. Bandhavgarh is otherwise densely populated with many other species of animals also like Indian Bison, Sambar, barking deer, Nilgai, Indian Wolf, Hyena Caracal and spotted deer Cheetal. With tiger being at the top of food chain the forest has about 37 species of mammals, more than 250 of birds and about 80 species of butterflies and a number of reptiles. Umaria is the nearest city to Bandhavgarh National Park. By air Jabalpur is the nearest airport to Bandhavgarh which is 200 Kms. Another close by airport is Khajuraho. Nearest railhead is Umaria which is on the main broad gauge line and is about 32 Kms away from Bandhavgarh. Buses run from major cities of Madhya Pradesh like Umaria 32 Kms and Gwalior 565 Kms.
