Bandhavgarh Fort

About Bandhavgarh Fort

Introduction

History

Bhandavgarh is rich in historical past. In the year 1947, the Rewa State was combined with Madhya Pradesh. The Maharaja of Rewa used to practice hunting hobby till no special conservatives’ measures were taken. In the year 1968, the area was constituted as a national park.

The exact date of the construction of Bandhavgarh fort is not exactly known. The fort bears various historical evidences. It is said that Ram a hero of Hindu epic visited the place while returning to his kingdom Ayodha after defeating Ravana, demon king of Lanka. The place was visited by his brother Lakshman too from there the name ‘Bandhavgarh’ arises as the word ‘Bandhav’ means ‘brother’. Archeological survey shows that the place was ruled by various dynasties who built the fort to protest their territory from foreign attack.

No trip to Bandhavgarh National Park is complete without visiting the Fort. The Fort once had a motorable road, but the only way up now is on foot. On the southern side of the Fort, in the lush jungle which surrounds its base, is a point called Shesh Saya, named after a unique 35 foot (11 meter) monolithic statue of Lord Vishnu reclining on a seven hooded snake and carved around the 10th Century. In front of this statue is located a pool of spring water. This is said to be the source of the stream known as Charan Ganga, one of three perennial streams flowing through the park. Tigers and other species of Indian wildlife, visit this pool to drink, and to cool off in summer. One can park ones vehicles out here and start the climb up to the Fort. The footpath rises at quite a sharp gradient, and the ground is uneven - one therefore needs to be reasonably fit.

As this path is frequented by tigers, check the path for tiger pug marks. Non-stop walking will lead one to complete the climb in an hour’s time, but as there are various rock images and temples one will see in the course of the climb, the time taken to reach the Fort would be longer. The most remarkable sights are the 10th Century rock images of the incarnations of Vishnu. A 22 feet (seven meters) high statue of Narasimha (half-man half-lion), a carving of Barah Bhagwan (boar incarnation), the fish avatar and the tortoise incarnation are some of the monuments one will see lying in their natural state in the jungle. As some of the statues are a bit away from the main path, it is best to take a guide.

Various dynasties have ruled the fort: for example, The Mauryans from 3rd century BC, Vakataka rulers from 3rd century to 5th century the Sengars from 5th century and the Kalachuris from 10th century. In the 13th century, the Baghels took over, ruling from Bandhavgarh until 1617, when Maharaja Vikramaditya Singh moved his capital to Rewa. The last inhabitants deserted the fort in 1935.

The main gate of the Fort is called Karn Pol, and on entering through this, one will see huge grasslands interspersed with large reservoirs of water which have turtles, and the many remains of human inhabitants of the Fort - from ancient statues to the barracks occupied by Rewa’s troops up to independence. Kabir Das, a celebrated 16th Century saint, once lived and preached here. The temple where Lakshmana was worshiped is still functioning, with Lakshmana still the God of the Fort. Earlier there was a priest whose allegiance was with the Maharaja of Rewa. The present priest is an employee of the forest department. Two major festivals are celebrated at the temple with the local surrounding population being allowed free access during this time.

The view, from the Fort, of the surrounding area of Bandhavgarh National Park can only be described as breathtaking. While driving through the Park, one gets the feeling that the jungle is not thick. From the Fort one can understand the thickness and density of the forest cover below and get an idea of the variety of Indian wildlife resident in the park.

The Maharajas and their dynasties have gone and in their place we now have the ‘Kings’ of the jungle ruling Bandhavgarh. Tigers, and other forms of Indian wildlife, visit the Fort and the guides and the temple priest will recount their experiences when they have encountered these ‘Kings’ within the Fort walls.

One comes back from a trip to the Bandhavgarh Fort with the feeling of absolute harmony with nature of all that one has come across, during the climb and, inside the Fort.

Those who do not wish to visit the Fort, must at least visit the reclining Vishnu located at Shesh Saya. As mentioned earlier vehicles can drive up till here.

Indian Holiday offers Indian Wildlife Tours to Bandhavgarh National Park.

Interesting things to Visit

Kalchuri Archaeological Remains: Apart from the wildlife, Bandhavgarh is also famous for the Kalchuri Archaeological Remains that make the Bandhavgarh National Park, a historical site.

Bandhavgarh Fort: The Bandhavgarh National Park area located on the hills turns majestic with the Bandhavgarh Fort built in 14th century. The fort and the adjacent hills contain many caves belonging to the pre-historic era.

Jeep and Elephant Safari: The wildlife viewing can be enjoyed in two ways in Bandhavgarh National Park - Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari. Jeep safaris from the early morning hours till evening hours are the special attractions in the national park. A forest department guide always accompanies you while your jeep safari within the park. Elephant safari are organised for tracking the tigers in the early morning. White Tigers: Since yesteryears, the Sal forests of Bandhavgarh National Park have been the favourite habitat of the white tigers. The Bandhavgarh Park is the first place where the white tigers were spotted for the first time. At around eight occasions, the white tigers were seen in the national park. The Maharaja of Rewa successfully bred the white tigers in Rewa.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation

Natutre Heritage Resort is at the heart of Bandhavgarh, Bandhavgarh set amongst the Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 437 sq. km Bandhavgarh was established in 1968, these, rich forest served as the Shikharghar for the maharaja of Rewa. Bandhavgarh has been the centre of human activity for over 2000 years. The legendary epic Ramayana mentions Laxmana Brother of King Rama who hold the title of “Lord of the Fort”. This mighty fort has its cliffs almost 1000 ft above the country side imposing status of lord Vishnu in his different re-incarnations and a unique 35 foot reclining status known as “ Shesh Shaya“ are also seen in the Park. Extensively rich in its Flora and Fauna the moist deciduous Bandhavgarh forest is covered by Sal trees, on the upper slopes it is replaced by mixed deciduous forests. Towards its north there are large stretches of bamboo and open grasslands.

Nature Heritage Resort, Tiger’s Den Resort, Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, White Tiger Forest Lodge, Tiger Trails Safari Lodge and Maharaja Royal Retreat.

Tips & Suggestions

We welcome photographers and wildlife film makers to our resort which will offer every kind of help to make your trip a success. Our tiger expert who has more than ten years experience in tracking tigers will be of help. Lay down the gun ! pick up the camera ! shoot ! the moment lives !The animals live! So pick up your camera and come to the jungle.

Do not try to Attract the Wilds as it Could be Dangerous. Make use of Your Binoculars to have a Clearer View of Various Activities of the Jungle.

Help Line/Phone Number

Police Station:

1.Habib Ganj Police Station
MP Nagar Zone-II, MP Nagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

2.Police Station
Nishat Pura, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462030

3.Polic Station
Bairagarh, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462030

4.Police Chowkey
Police Chowki, Lalghati, Lalghati, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462032

5.Police Thana
Gotame Nagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462001

Nearest Hospital:

1.District Hospital
Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh

2.Pushpanjali Hospital And Research Centre
Delhi Gate, Near Raja Mandi Railway Station, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282002

3.Shekhar Hospital
A-69, Shah Pura, Near Manisha Market, Shahpura, Bhopal, Madhya pradesh 462016

4.Bhagyoday Tirth
Khurai Road, Kareela, NH26A, Shastri Nagar, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh 470002

5.Koh E Fiza Hospital
Koh E Fiza, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

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Location info

Address:Bandhavgarh is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. The national park of Bhandavgarh is located to the extreme north eastern part of Madhya Pradesh. There are many streams that flows in this place.

• District: Umaria

• Nearest City:

• Best time to visit: February - June (Closed 1 July-31 October).

Climate & weather

The climate in this place is north Indian monsoon. In the winter season, the temperature falls to a minimum of about 2˚ C (January). While in the summer season, the temperature goes high to a maximum of 44 ˚ C (May). The average rainfall of this place 1173 mm. Also, the place is hit by cyclone almost every year in between the months of November to February.

Things to do at Bandhavgarh Fort

Tiger Spotting on Elephant Safari, Shopping for Souvenirs from the Shops Located outside the Park.

How to reach Bandhavgarh Fort

Nearest Railway Station: The nearest railheads are Jabalpur(170 kms), katni(102 kms), and Satna(112 kms) on the cenrtral railway and Umaria(30 kms) on the south eastern railway.

Nearest Airport:The most comfortable route to Bandhavgarh is by air to khajuraho (250 kms), from where it is a six hour drive, by air to Jabalpur Airport (200 kms).

• Road Transport: state/ private transport buses ply between Katni and Umaria and Satna and Rewa.

Nearest visiting places

Bandhavgarh Fort Inside the Park, Ghapudi Dam – 10 kms, Bhamera Dam – 20 kms, Kalchuri Archaeological Remains.

Nearest petrol pump

1.Petrol Pump
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

2.Petrol Pump
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

3.Bansal Petrol Pump
Shop No-24, Krishna Plaza, Main Road, Lalghati, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462001

Best time to visit Bandhavgarh Fort

October to June; park closed July-September (monsoon)

Timings & opening hours

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily (some forts closed on national holidays)

Entry fee & tickets

INR 25 (Indians), INR 300 (foreigners); free for children below 15

Duration needed

2-3 hours

Safety tips

Wear comfortable shoes; Watch your step on uneven paths; Carry water; Avoid climbing restricted areas

Things to carry

Comfortable walking shoes, hat/cap, sunscreen, water bottle, camera, sunglasses

Nearest airport, railway & bus

Nearest airport: Jabalpur (160 km).

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Madhya Pradesh. 4G is reliable in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, and along national highways. Coverage may be weaker in deep forest areas of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench national parks. Most hotels and resorts in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi.

Food & restaurants nearby

Forts in MP (Gwalior, Mandu, Orchha) have snack stalls and chai points near the entrance. Gwalior and Mandu have the best food options near their fort complexes. The nearest town offers traditional meals — dal bafla, poha, and kebabs.

Frequently asked questions

What are the fort visiting hours? Typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily; some forts remain closed on national holidays.

Is there a guide available at the fort? Yes, licensed guides are available at the entrance; audio guides also available at major forts.

Are there light and sound shows at the fort? Major forts like Gwalior and Mandu have evening light and sound shows in Hindi and English.

Accessibility

Historic forts typically have uneven stone pathways, steep staircases, and no ramps. Forts are built on elevated ground — reaching them requires a climb on foot or by vehicle to the base followed by stairs. Visitors with mobility issues may find the outer grounds and lower levels more accessible than the upper ramparts. Wear sturdy footwear and allow extra time.

Rules & restrictions

Do not climb on unstable walls or beyond marked boundaries. Some bastion platforms are partially collapsed. Graffiti and defacement are illegal. Alcohol and smoking are not permitted inside most historic sites. Drones may require permission. Large bags may be checked at the entrance. Photography is permitted but tripods may need special permission. Respect heritage rules — these monuments are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.

Best photography spots

The ramparts offer the best panoramic views — arrive early morning or late afternoon for golden light across the landscape. The bastions and arched windows make excellent natural frames. Wide-angle lenses capture the scale of the fortifications; telephoto lenses isolate details of the stonework and distant views. Sunset silhouettes of the fort walls against the sky are iconic.

Quick facts

• Type: Tourist Attraction
• State: Madhyapradesh
• Category: Forts

Visitor information

Please check locally for current visitor information.