How To Reach Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park in MP is among the best National Parks in the country. Bandhavgarh has historical links going back to the time of Ramayana. In modern age Bandhavgarh is the name given to the wildlife sanctuary which has a fort located in the centre of the park. The location of the park is in the Vindhya ranges of Umaria and the best way to reach it is to take a train to Umaria just after Katni railway station from where the park is a 40 min drive away. One can avail of jeeps that are available for transfer. The various options of reaching the national park are now discussed.

It is a pleasure to travel by road to Bandhavgarh from any of the major cities of MP. This is because of the beautiful terrain all around the route. The Tiger Reserve is in Umaria District of MP and you are only 37 km from Umaria. So if you are making the major journey by train to Umaria, then a taxi will get you quite easily to the Park. On the other hand, if you are flying to Jabalpur then also you will be less than 200 km from the airport in Jabalpur to the Park and there are any number of taxis for you to cover that distance. Similarly, Katni is an important railway station which is only 100 km from the park.

There are excellent rail connections if you are planning a visit to Bandhavgarh National Park. You can travel to Katni or Umaria by train and cover the 100 km from Katni (or 32 km from Umaria) by road or travel to Jabalpur by overnight train and thereafter cover the 200 km by road to the park. If you have come from abroad and landed at Delhi, your best bet is to take a flight to Jabalpur and thereafter a taxi to the Park.

The best air connection for reaching Bandhavgarh is to take a flight to Jabalpur which is only about 200 km from Bandhavgarh or Khajuraho which is a little over 225 km. International passengers could land at Varanasi, 355 km from Bandhavgarh and from there take a taxi to the National Park.

The National Park at Bandhavgarh has four different zones. Visitors along with their naturalist and guide can enjoy their jeep safari rides in open jeeps that are authorized to enter the park in different shifts. Private vehicles are not allowed entry inside the park. If you have a private vehicle you will have to leave it behind at the lodge or guesthouse/resort outside the park.  Timing for entry inside the park varies with the season.