Bandhavgarh literally means “Fort of Brother”. Bandhav-garh comprises two hindi language words Cradled between the Vindhya ranges and the eastern flanks of Satpura ranges of Central Indian Highlands, Bandhavgarh National Park lies mostly in Umaria district and partly in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh, India. Because of great probability of tiger sighting, it is best known as the ‘tiger land’ of India.
Bandhavgarh have great scenic beauty owing to the presence of vast grasslands, extremely rugged terrain, high cliffs, sharp crested hills and narrow valleys all in one single landscape. Some of the area, inside Bandhavgarh, is generally plain with a few scattered undulating hillocks. The highest hill of the Reserve – the Bandhavgarh hill (highest point-811.40 m above MSL) is adorned by the 2000-year old ruins of the majestic Bandhavgarh Fort. On the top of the hill, one can find about 11 ponds as source of water for human existence on Bandhavgarh Fort. The hill is surrounded by 32 other hills and hillocks. Each of these hills and hillocks has their own religious background and are regarded as sacred places of worship by local people including tribal. Their very culture, tradition and life are blended together with this area.
The diverse mix of habitats here, consisting of rocky hills covered with dense forests as well as low-lying swampy plains. Its luxuriantly rich eco-system offers amply for every living being – from tiny insects to the magnificent tigers. The Bandhavgarh hill, where fort is located, is flat-topped with gentle northerly slope. Its vertical cliffs are the ideal nesting site of now highly endangered long-billed vultures and other rare birds of prey like the Shaheen Falcon.
The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (1161.471 sq. km.) comprises of Bandhavgarh National Park (448.842 sq. km.), Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary (245.842 sq. km.) and a Buffer Zone (466.787 sq. km.) surrounding both the Park and the Sanctuary.
Initially, an area of 105 sq. km. was declared as the Bandhavgarh National Park in 1968, which was extended to 448.842 sq. km. in 1982. Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary was notified in 1983. In 1993, the Bandhavgarh National Park, the Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary and the Buffer Zone were together declared as the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.
