How to Reach Bandhavgarh
The Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the major attractions of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is well known across the country for its high density of tiger population and spectacular flora. As a result, it is frequented by visitors from across the country and the world. Spread in nearly 450 sq. km. of area, the tiger reserve boasts of an unparalleled natural beauty dotted with numerous varieties of animals and birds. The national park is connected to major cities of the country through road, rail, and air. The nearest railway station to reach the national park is Umaria which is 35 km from the entrance gate. Taxis are available from there to take you to your destination. The nearest airport is located at Khajuraho which is 270 km from the park. From here, it takes around 7-8 hours by road to reach the national park.
How to reach Bandhavgarh National Park by air
Though Khajuraho is the nearest airport, the flight frequency is comparatively less. Around 200 km from the Bandhavgarh National Park is the Jabalpur Airport (JLR) which offers excellent flight connectivity from Delhi and Mumbai. Regular flights by major operatives run from these metropolitan cities for Jabalpur. From Jabalpur airport (114 km away), taxis can be hired to reach the Bandhavgarh National Park. It takes around 4.5 hours by road to reach the destination. Apart from the domestic airports at Khajuraho and Jabalpur, for international tourists, the nearest international airport is at Varanasi which is 355 km from Bandhavgarh National Park. One can easily hire taxis from the airport to reach the destination. This is the preferred mode of traveling as you end up saving time in reaching your destination. This time could well be utilized in undertaking multiple safaris to increase your chances of a sighting.
How to reach Bandhavgarh National Park by train
To reach the Bandhavgarh National Park, the nearest railway head is Umaria which is 35 km from the reserve. Apart from Umaria, the other station that is close to the national park is Katni. Both the stations are well connected to major cities of the country including Delhi, Agra, Jabalpur, etc. You can easily hire cabs from outside the station to take you to your destination. It takes an overnight journey of 12-14 hours from Delhi to reach the station. Time taken to travel from Agra is 11-12 hours, while it takes 10-11 hours to reach the station from Varanasi. Mumbai is also connected to Bandhavgarhvia train which takes around 14-15 hours. However, the journey from Kolkata is not convenient as limited options are available for direct connectivity. If time is no constraint, you can opt to reach the Bandhavgarh National Park by train. With several options available, you can easily reach your destination as per your schedule.
How to reach Bandhavgarh National Park by road
Though there are no bus services available that will take you from Jabalpur to Bandhavgarh National Park, you can easily hire taxis or take private vehicles. The tiger reserve is easily accessible by road for cars. Thanks to excellent roads, the Bandhavgarh National Park is well connected to other parts of the country. The distance of the park from major cities is as follows:
A trip involving Bandhavgarh National Park can be planned from any of these cities as the distance is easily driveable. Moreover, if you enjoy road trips, it is an excellent opportunity as the scenic beauty of the region is spectacular.
Getting around in Bandhavgarh National Park
If you have driven down using your own vehicle or hired a cab, you are required to leave it at the resort/hotel premises or outside the gates of the park. Local transport within the Bandhavgarh National Park is possible through either elephant safari or jeep safari. Tourists are advised to take a guide or naturalist along with them to enjoy and identify the various flora and fauna of the region easily. The timing of morning and afternoon safari vary with seasons. It is therefore important to find out about them before booking your safari.
