Bandhavgarh National Park Tour

What this tour is

This is a short safari trip for people who want to see tigers in the wild. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, in the Vindhya hills. It is known for one of the highest tiger densities in India.

You stay two nights at a resort close to the park gates at Tala. All your meals are at the resort. You get two jeep safaris inside the reserve, one on day 1 and one on day 2. On day 3 you leave after breakfast.

Day by day, in short

• On day 1 you arrive at Umaria station, about 30 to 35 km and one hour away, and check in. If your timing works, you go on your first safari in the afternoon.

• On day 2 you leave before sunrise for your second safari. In the afternoon you rest or explore Tala village.

• On day 3 you have breakfast and leave for Umaria station or Jabalpur airport.

How to reach Bandhavgarh

Umaria (station code UMR) is the nearest railway station. It is about 30 to 35 km from Tala, around one hour by road. Several long distance trains stop here, including trains that link it with Delhi, Jabalpur and Bilaspur. Check IRCTC for your date.

Katni junction is a bigger station with more trains. It is about 90 to 100 km from Tala, around 2 hours by road.

The nearest airport is Jabalpur. It is about 160 to 170 km from Tala, around 4 hours by road. Jabalpur has flights to Delhi, Hyderabad and a few other cities. Flight routes change, so check before you book. On this tour the transfer from Jabalpur airport costs extra. The transfer from Umaria station is included for groups of 4 or more.

The safari zones

Bandhavgarh has three core zones where most tigers are seen: Tala, Magadhi and Khitauli. Tala is the oldest and most famous zone. It holds the fort hill and the Shesh Shaiya statue. Magadhi has open grassland and water holes. Khitauli is quieter and good for birds.

Around the core lie three buffer zones: Dhamokhar, Johila and Panpatha. The buffer zones stay open even in the monsoon.

Each jeep takes up to 6 guests, with a driver and a forest guide. You cannot choose the exact route inside the zone. The forest department fixes it.

Booking the safari permit

Every safari needs a permit. The official booking site is the Madhya Pradesh forest portal, forest.mponline.gov.in. Core zone permits sell out months ahead in the busy season, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. Many sites look official but are private agents.

Every guest must carry a valid photo ID. It is best to carry the same ID you gave while booking. The forest staff check it at the gate, and the permit can be cancelled if they cannot match your name. If you are a foreign national, including an OCI card holder, you must carry your passport. Please confirm the current safari rate on the official portal.

Closed days you must know

• The core zones close for the monsoon from 1 July to 30 September. They reopen in October. In recent years they opened on 1 October, but some forest roads may open only by mid October.

• The core zones close on Wednesday afternoon, so there is no evening core safari that day. The buffer zones stay open all week.

• The park is closed on Holi and on Diwali.

• The park officer can change the weekly closed time, so check the official portal before you book.

If your day 1 falls on a Wednesday, your first safari moves to a buffer zone or to day 2 morning. Plan your dates around this.

Best time for this tour

• Mid October to February: green forest, cool days and very cold mornings in the open jeep. Pleasant for families.

• March to June: the forest dries out and animals come to the water holes. This is the best time to see tigers, but afternoons cross 40 degrees in May and June.

• July to September: the core zones are closed for the monsoon.

What you can see

Tigers are the reason most people come. Sightings are never promised. Many visitors see one in two or three safaris, and some see none. Enjoy the whole forest, not just the tiger.

You will see spotted deer (chital), sambar, wild boar, langur monkeys and many birds. With luck you may see a leopard, a sloth bear, nilgai or the shy four horned antelope (chausingha). The reserve has about 250 kinds of birds.

The fort and Shesh Shaiya

Bandhavgarh gets its name from the old fort on the high hill in the middle of the park. "Bandhav" means brother and "garh" means fort. Tradition says Lord Rama gave this fort to his brother Lakshmana to keep watch over Lanka.

Below the fort lies Shesh Shaiya, a huge stone statue of Lord Vishnu resting on the seven hooded serpent Shesh Naag. It is about 1,000 years old, from the time of the Kalachuri kings. A spring flows from the feet of the statue. It is called the Charanganga, which means the Ganga that flows from the feet.

Most of the fort on the hilltop is closed to visitors. The Shesh Shaiya statue can be seen on some Tala zone safaris, when the route allows.

The white tiger story

The Bandhavgarh forests were once the hunting ground of the Maharajas of Rewa. In 1951 Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa caught a white tiger cub and named him Mohan. Mohan was caught in a forest of the old Rewa state, in what is now Sidhi district, not inside Bandhavgarh. Many white tigers in zoos today come from Mohan's line. Bandhavgarh became a national park in 1968 and a tiger reserve in 1993.

What to wear and carry

• Wear clothes in khaki, olive or brown. Avoid white, red and bright colours.

• In winter, carry a warm jacket, cap, gloves and a scarf. The morning jeep ride is very cold.

• In summer, carry a cap, sunglasses and a cotton scarf for the dust.

• Carry binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, water and your photo ID.

Safari manners

Keep your voice low and stay seated in the jeep. Do not get down anywhere inside the park. Do not feed animals or throw anything out. Follow your forest guide. Do not use flash, as it disturbs the animals.

For seniors, children and NRI families

The safari is a seated ride, so it suits most elders. The forest roads are bumpy and dusty, so people with back trouble should sit in the front row. The early start and cold air can be hard in winter, so dress elders warmly. Children above 6 usually enjoy the safari. Babies and very small children find the long, quiet drive difficult.

For NRI and OCI travellers, book the permit with your passport details and carry the same passport.

How we checked this page

The WayToIndia travel desk wrote this page and checked it on 10 November 2026. We checked every fact against at least three trusted sources, with official sites first: the Madhya Pradesh forest booking portal, MP Tourism, the Umaria district site and the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Safari rules, timings and fees change often. Please confirm them on the official portal close to your travel date. If you see something out of date, tell us and we will fix it.