Situated in
the Vindhya hill ranges is an undulating area of forests and open
grasslands. The park has tiger, barking deer, spotted deer, sambar,
nilgai, chausingha, chinkara, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear and leopard.
The surrounding forests have a varied bird life and elephant rides are
available at Tala. Take permission locally to see the fort which belongs
to the Rewa's erstwhile royal family as the carvings and view from the
top are worth the climb.
AttractionsMuch
of the park is covered in Sal forest, replaced by mixed forests in the
higher elevations of the hills. There are extensive stands of bamboo and
grasslands. Generally the forests are less dense here, with less
undergrowth than in North India, thus offering better sightings of
wildlife, notably mammals, including the daylight sightings of Tigers in
the grassy 'maidans'. 40 + Tigers are estimated for the park.
Other
inhabitants of the park include the Muntajac, Jungle Cat, Ratel, Jyena,
Porcupine, the Rhesus Macaque and the back-faced Langur. The park also
has numerous ancient caves and rock shelters, with shrines and
inscriptions. About 150 species of birds known from the Tala area are
also found over here including the Brown Fish Owl, Grey-headed Fishing
Eagle, Malabar Pied Hornbill and Shahin Falcon.
The National
park is dominated by the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, located on a plateau
and reached after a steep climb. The fort is now in ruins, its monuments
and tanks beings gradually reclaimed by the forest, thus providing
additional shelter for wildlife such as Black Bucks.
