National Parks And Madhya Pradesh Tourism

-1-1-

NATIONAL PARKS OF MADHYA PRADESH TOURISM

INDEX 1. INTRODUCTION 2. NATIONAL PARKS 3. NATIOANL PARKS OF MADHYA PRADESH •

BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK

•

PANNA NATIONAL PARK

•

MANDLA PLANT FOSSILS NATIONAL PARK

•

PENCH NATIONAL PARK

•

SANJAY NATIONAL PARK

•

KANHA NATIONAL PARK

•

SATPURA NATIONAL PARK

•

MADHAV NATIONAL PARK

•

VAN VIHAR NATIONAL

4. EFFECT OF NATIONAL PARKS ON MADHYA PRADESH TOURISM 5.

OUR OPINION

-2-2-

INTRODUCTION National Parks is a reserved land, usually declared and owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. National parks are protected area of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) category II. National parks effects Eco-tourism. We can sy that national park is a part of Ecotourism. So many people make tour only for national parks because national parks are a good option to see the natural beauty, wildlife, and relation between creature and nature. India is a home of nature wildlife and religious tourism. There are so many option of eco-tourism. There are many forests, national parks, rivers, mountains, hills etc. thus we can say that India is home of natural beauty. India have 28 states and 7 union territories and near abut 150 corers In which so many religious caste but all of them are live like brother. India have also so many types of natural beauty. In the case of natural parks India have 97 national parks. In which 9 national parks in Madhya Pradesh. These are:-

1. Kanha national park 2. Bandhavgarh national park 3. Sanjay national park 4. Panna national park 5. Pench national park 6. Satpura national park -3-3-

7. Van vihar national park 8. Fossil national park 9. Madhav national We also called Madhya pardesh is the “heart of India” because it is situated at the center of India. It is also home of the cultural heritage, and nature. In Madhya Pradesh Satpura and Vindhya o main hills which raises so many rivers in which Narmada and Tapti flows west to east and Chamble, Betwa, Sone, Mahanadi, flows east to west. It have also so long area reserved for national parks to help to grow the Eco-tourism. In India current time 97 national parks. Many Famous national parks like Kanha, Banthavgadh and Pench are located in Madhya Pradesh. The natural beauty of Madhya Pradesh is equally varied. Consisting largely of a plateau,

the

State

has

everything.Spectacular

mountain

ranges,

meandering rivers and miles and miles of dense forests offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife in sylvan surroundings. Kanha National Park This park is situated in the heart of Sal forests of the Central high lands of Mandla and Balaghat districts. It covers 940sq.km in area. It was set up in 1995. The nearest town Mandla is 65 km, Jabalpur which is160 km from the park is both rail head as well as air port; Nagpur is 270 km from the park. The park has sparsely wooded grassy plateau, sprawling slopes with lush green, trees and bamboos. There are also plenty of smaller plants, creepers and mushrooms. The landscape, rich in vegetation presents a spellbinding view and is eminently suitable for providing shelter to a variety of mammals and birds.

-4-4-

This area was initially made a sanctuary in 1955 to protect the magnificent barasingha-swamp deer from extinction. The fauna of the park consists of barasingha, cheetal sambar, black duck, barking deer, gaur, hog deer, chausingha, bison, boar, tiger, leopard, hyena and wild dog. It is also the tiger reserve under project tiger. The number of tigers has doubled and barasingha have crossed the 450 mark. There are nearly two hundred bird species such as storks, teals, pintails, egrets, peafowl, partridges, doves, pigeons, cuckoos, eagles, kites, etc. Bandharvgarh National Park Situated in Shahdol and Jabalpur districts, the park with an area of 437 km was set up in 1968. The nearest town from the park is Umaria, 35 km away. This town is also the nearest rail head. The nearest airport is at Jabalpur at a distance of 160km. The park contains moist deciduous forests with Sal and other trees with large stretches of grass lands with bamboo groves. The fauna consists of tiger, panther, leopard, gaur, chausingha, nilgai, chinkara, sloth bear, bear, wild boar, and a variety of birds. Madhav National Park Set up in the year1959, the park is spread over 337 sq km in the district of Shivpuri. The nearest town is Shivpuri 6kms away. The rail head is Jhansi 100 km from the park and the nearest airport is Gwalior at a distance of 116 km. The park consist of dry forests of anogeisus lotifolia. The fauna found are tiger, panther, leopard, spotted deer, black buck, sambar, hyena, chausingha, langur, nilai, crocodile and python. The spoonbills, waterside birds and demoiselle cranes. The park has several rest houses and motel. -5-5-

Panna National Park Spread over an area of 543sq.km in the districts of Panna and Chhatarpur, this park was established in 1981. The nearest town from the park is Panna 20 km away and the rail head is at Satna which is at a distance of 95 km. The nearest airport is Khajuraho 20 km away. The forests of the park are tropical dry deciduous. The fauna found are leopard, panther, tiger, chinkara, sloth bear, wolf, wild pig, nilgai, gharial, mugger, crocodile, and peafowl. Satpura National Park The park is located in the district of Hoshangabad covering an area of 502sq.km. The nearest town is Pamchamarhi. The nearest railhead is Piparia at a distance of 55 km and the nearest airport is Bhopal at a distance of 210 km. The fauna comprise leopard, tiger, barking deer, Sambar, nilgai and bison. Hornbill and peafowl are the common birds. Van Vihar National Park This park was established in 1979 in the district of Bhopal with an area of 4.45sq.km. The state capital is only 3km away from the park. Bhopal airport and railhead are at a distance of 12km and 7km respectively from the park. The fauna of the park comprise leopard, tiger, ratal, bear, Sambhar, black buck etc. Sanjay National Park

-6-6-

The Sanjay National Park is located in the Madhya Pradesh state of India. Its head quarter is at Sidhi. It covers Sanjay National Park. The national park is mostly composed of sal forests. Tiger, leopard, chital, sambar deer and Nilgiri wild boar can be found here. Fossil National Park Established in the year1983. The fossil National park is located in the district of Mandala in an area of 0.27sq.km. The nearest town from the park is Shahpura at a distance of 13km. The nearest railhead and airport are at Jabalpur, 87km from the park. The park contains botanical fossils. Pench National Park This park was established in 1979 in the district of Seoni in an area of 293sq.km. Seoni, the nearest town from the park is 50km from here Nagpur serves as the airport and the railhead for visiting the park which is at a distance of 90km from it. The park contains dry mixed deciduous forest. The fauna of the park comprises tiger, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, gaur, chital, barking deer four horned antelope wild dog and wild boar.

-7-7-

MYTHOLOGY

-8-8-

-9-9-

INTRODUCTION National Parks is a reserved land, usually declared and owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. National parks are protected area of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) category II. National parks effects Eco-tourism. We can sy that national park is a part of Ecotourism. So many people make tour only for national parks because national parks are a good option to see the natural beauty, wildlife, and relation between creature and nature. India is a home of nature wildlife and religious tourism. There are so many option of eco-tourism. There are many forests, national parks, rivers, mountains, hills etc. thus we can say that India is home of natural beauty. India have 28 states and 7 union territories and near abut 150 corers In which so many religious caste but all of them are live like brother. India have also so many types of natural beauty. In the case of natural parks India have 97 national parks. In which 9 national parks in Madhya Pradesh. These are:-

10.Kanha national park 11.Bandhavgarh national park 12.Sanjay national park 13.Panna national park 14.Pench national park 15.Satpura national park 16.Van vihar national park 17.Fossil national park - 10 - 10 -

18.Madhav national We also called Madhya pardesh is the “heart of India” because it is situated at the center of India. It is also home of the cultural heritage, and nature. In Madhya Pradesh Satpura and Vindhya o main hills which raises so many rivers in which Narmada and Tapti flows west to east and Chamble, Betwa, Sone, Mahanadi, flows east to west. It have also so long area reserved for national parks to help to grow the Eco-tourism. In India current time 97 national parks. Many Famous national parks like Kanha, Banthavgadh and Pench are located in Madhya Pradesh. The natural beauty of Madhya Pradesh is equally varied. Consisting largely of a plateau, the State has everything. Spectacular mountain ranges, meandering rivers and miles and miles of dense forests offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife in sylvan surroundings. Kanha National Park This park is situated in the heart of Sal forests of the Central high lands of Mandla and Balaghat districts. It covers 940sq.km in area. It was set up in 1995. The nearest town Mandla is 65 km, Jabalpur which is160 km from the park is both rail head as well as air port; Nagpur is 270 km from the park. The park has sparsely wooded grassy plateau, sprawling slopes with lush green, trees and bamboos. There are also plenty of smaller plants, creepers and mushrooms. The landscape, rich in vegetation presents a spellbinding view and is eminently suitable for providing shelter to a variety of mammals and birds. This area was initially made a sanctuary in 1955 to protect the magnificent barasingha-swamp deer from extinction. The fauna of the park consists of barasingha, cheetal sambar, black duck, barking deer, gaur, hog deer, - 11 - 11 -

chausingha, bison, boar, tiger, leopard, hyena and wild dog. It is also the tiger reserve under project tiger. The number of tigers has doubled and barasingha have crossed the 450 mark. There are nearly two hundred bird species such as storks, teals, pintails, egrets, peafowl, partridges, doves, pigeons, cuckoos, eagles, kites, etc. Bandharvgarh National Park Situated in Shahdol and Jabalpur districts, the park with an area of 437 km was set up in 1968. The nearest town from the park is Umaria, 35 km away. This town is also the nearest rail head. The nearest airport is at Jabalpur at a distance of 160km. The park contains moist deciduous forests with Sal and other trees with large stretches of grass lands with bamboo groves. The fauna consists of tiger, panther, leopard, gaur, chausingha, nilgai, chinkara, sloth bear, bear, wild boar, and a variety of birds. Madhav National Park Set up in the year1959, the park is spread over 337 sq km in the district of Shivpuri. The nearest town is Shivpuri 6kms away. The rail head is Jhansi 100 km from the park and the nearest airport is Gwalior at a distance of 116 km. The park consist of dry forests of anogeisus lotifolia. The fauna found are tiger, panther, leopard, spotted deer, black buck, sambar, hyena, chausingha, langur, nilai, crocodile and python. The spoonbills, waterside birds and demoiselle cranes. The park has several rest houses and motel. Panna National Park

- 12 - 12 -

Spread over an area of 543sq.km in the districts of Panna and Chhatarpur, this park was established in 1981. The nearest town from the park is Panna 20 km away and the rail head is at Satna which is at a distance of 95 km. The nearest airport is Khajuraho 20 km away. The forests of the park are tropical dry deciduous. The fauna found are leopard, panther, tiger, chinkara, sloth bear, wolf, wild pig, nilgai, gharial, mugger, crocodile, and peafowl. Satpura National Park The park is located in the district of Hoshangabad covering an area of 502sq.km. The nearest town is Pamchamarhi. The nearest railhead is Piparia at a distance of 55 km and the nearest airport is Bhopal at a distance of 210 km. The fauna comprise leopard, tiger, barking deer, Sambar, nilgai and bison. Hornbill and peafowl are the common birds. Van Vihar National Park This park was established in 1979 in the district of Bhopal with an area of 4.45sq.km. The state capital is only 3km away from the park. Bhopal airport and railhead are at a distance of 12km and 7km respectively from the park. The fauna of the park comprise leopard, tiger, ratal, bear, Sambhar, black buck etc. Sanjay National Park The Sanjay National Park is located in the Madhya Pradesh state of India. Its head quarter is at Sidhi. It covers Sanjay National Park. The national - 13 - 13 -

park is mostly composed of sal forests. Tiger, leopard, chital, sambar deer and Nilgiri wild boar can be found here. Fossil National Park Established in the year1983. The fossil National park is located in the district of Mandala in an area of 0.27sq.km. The nearest town from the park is Shahpura at a distance of 13km. The nearest railhead and airport are at Jabalpur, 87km from the park. The park contains botanical fossils. Pench National Park This park was established in 1979 in the district of Seoni in an area of 293sq.km. Seoni, the nearest town from the park is 50km from here Nagpur serves as the airport and the railhead for visiting the park which is at a distance of 90km from it. The park contains dry mixed deciduous forest. The fauna of the park comprises tiger, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, gaur, chital, barking deer four horned antelope wild dog and wild boar.

- 14 - 14 -

NATIONAL PARKS A national park is a reserve of land, usually declared and owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. National parks are protected areas of IUCN category II. The largest national park in the world is the Northeast Greenland National Park, which was established in 1974. According to The World Conservation Union IUCN, there are now 6,555 national parks worldwide

- 15 - 15 -

There are 97 existing national parks in India covering an area of 38,199.47 km2, which is 1.16% of the geographical area of the country (National Wildlife Database, June 2008). In addition to the above 74 national parks covering an area of 16,630.08 km2 are proposed in the Protected Area Network Report (Rodgers et al. 2002). The network of parks will go up 171 after full implementation of the above report. State-wise break up of National Parks

- 16 - 16 -

Area State/UTs Andhra Pradesh Arunachal

of

State (km2) 275068

Pradesh 83743 Assam 78438 Bihar 94163 Chhattisgarh 135194 Goa 3702 Gujarat 196024 Haryana 44212 Himachal Pradesh 55673 Jammu & Kashmir 222235 Jharkhand 79714 Karnataka 191791 Kerala 38863 Madhya pradesh 308252 Maharashtra 307690 Manipur 22327 Meghalaya 22429 Mizoram 21081 Nagaland 16579 Orissa 155707 Punjab 50362 Rajasthan 342239 Sikkim 7096 Tamil Nadu 130058 Tripura 10486 Uttar Pradesh 240926 Uttarakhand 53485 West Bengal 88752 Union Territories Andaman & Nicobar 8249 Chandigarh 114 Dadra & Nagar 491 Haveli Daman & Diu 112 Delhi 1483 Lakshadweep 32 Pondicherry 493 India 3287263

Area

%

Covered

State

4

(km2) 373.23

Area 0.14

2

2290.82

5 1 3 1 4 2 2 4 1 5 6 9 6 1 2 2 1 2 0 5 1 5 2 1 6 5

1977.79 335.65 2899.08 107.00 480.11 48.25 1430.00 3930.25 231.67 2472.18 558.16 3656.36 1273.60 40.00 267.48 150.00 202.02 990.70 0.00 4122.33 1784.00 307.84 199.79 490.00 4731.00 1693.25

9

1156.91

0

0.00

0

0.00

0 0 0 0 97

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 38199.48

No. NPs

of

of

2.74 2.52 0.36 2.14 2.89 0.24 0.11 2.57 1.77 0.29 1.29 1.44 1.19 0.41 0.18 1.19 0.71 1.22 0.64 0.00 1.20 25.14 0.24 1.91 0.20 8.85 1.91

14.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.16

- 17 - 17 -

HISTORY OF NATIONAL PARKS

In 1810, the English poet William Wordsworth described the Lake District as a "sort of national property in which every man has a right and interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy". The painter George Catlin, in his travels through the American West, wrote in 1832 that the Native Americans in the United States might be preserved "by some great protecting policy of government . . . in a magnificent park . . . A nation's park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature's beauty!" Similar ideas were expressed in other countries—in Sweden, for instance, the Finnish-born Baron Adolf Erik Nordenskjold made such a proposition in 1880. The Scottish-American naturalist John Muir was inspirational in the foundation of national parks, anticipating many ideas of conservationism, environmentalism, and the animal rights movement. The first effort by any government to set aside such protected lands was in the United States, on April 20, 1832, when President Andrew Jackson signed legislation to set aside four sections of land around what is now Hot Springs, Arkansas to protect the natural, thermal springs and adjoining mountainsides for the future disposal of the US government. It was known as the Hot Springs Reservation. However no legal authority was established and federal control of the area was not clearly established until 1877. The next effort by any government to set aside such protected lands was, again, in the United States, when President Abraham Lincoln signed an Act of Congress on June 30, 1864, ceding the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (later becoming the Yosemite National Park) to the state of California:

- 18 - 18 -

“The said State shall accept this grant upon

the

express

conditions that the premises shall be held for

public

use,

resort, and recreation; shall be inalienable for all time.” ABRAHAM LICION In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established as arguably the world's first truly national park. When news of the natural wonders of the Yellowstone were first promulgated, the land was part of a federally governed territory. Unlike Yosemite, there was no state government that could assume stewardship of the land, so the federal government took on direct responsibility for the park, a process formally completed in October 1, 1890—the official first National park of the United States. It took the combined effort and interest of conservationists, politicians and especially businesses—namely, the Northern Pacific Railroad, whose route through Montana would greatly benefit by the creation of this new tourist attraction —to ensure the passage of that landmark enabling legislation by the United States Congress to create Yellowstone National Park. Theodore Roosevelt, already an active campaigner and so influential as good stump speakers were highly necessary in the pre-telecommunications era, was highly influential in convincing fellow Republicans and big business to back the bill. The "dean of western writers", American Pulitzer prize-winning author Wallace Stegner, has written that national parks are 'America's best idea,'—a departure from the royal preserves that Old World sovereigns enjoyed for themselves—inherently democratic, open to all, "they reflect us at our best, not our worst. Even with the creation of Yellowstone, - 19 - 19 -

Yosemite, and nearly 37 other national parks and monuments, another 44 years passed before an agency was created in the United States to administer these units in a comprehensive way - the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). Businessman Stephen Mather and his journalist partner Robert Sterling Yard pushed hardest for the creation of the NPS, writing then-Secretary of the Interior Franklin Knight Lane about such a need and spearheading a large publicity campaign for their movement. Lane invited Mather to come to Washington, DC to work with him to draft and see passage of the NPS Organic Act, which was approved by Congress and signed into law on August 25, 1916. Of the 391 sites managed by the National Park Service of the United States, only 58 carry the designation of National Park. Following the idea established in Yellowstone there soon followed parks in other nations. In Australia, the Royal National Park was established just south of Sydney in 1879. Rocky Mountain National Park became Canada's first national park in 1885. New Zealand had its first national park in 1887. In Europe the first national parks were a set of nine parks in Sweden in 1909; Europe has some 370 national parks as of this writing. In 1926, the government of South Africa designated Kruger National Park as the nation's first national park. After World War II, national parks were founded all over the world. The Vanoise National Park in the Alps was the first French national park, created in 1963 after public mobilization against a touristic project

- 20 - 20 -

NATIOANL PARKS OF MADHYA PRADESH Madhya Pradesh is virtually a heaven for the wildlife lovers as the state is rich with a huge variety of fauna. There is something magical in the woods of Madhya Pradesh that beckons people here again and again. It is here that one has few of the most spectacular sightings of endangered species in the many celebrated national parks that are scattered throughout the state. A safari through these parks are moments of which unforgettable holiday experiences are made.

- 21 - 21 -

Most important parks in Madhya Pradesh are Kanha National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park. The parks are there, not merely to entertain us but to preserve the precious biodiversity that keeps this world moving forward in a balance. So a visitor to these amazing lands, should keep in mind the precaution that have to be taken before your trip through the wild. Always follow the rules of the park that ensures your safety as well as the safety of the animals.

KANHA NATIONAL PARKS FACTS AND FIGURES Area

1,945 sq km

Languages

Hindi and English

Altitude

600-900 m above sea level

Best time to visit

April to June and November to January

Kanha National Park is situated in the eastern part of Madhya Pradesh and has been considered as the best national park in Asia. It covers an area of around 2000 sq. km and is covered by Satpura Ranges. The entire park is covered with vast grasslands and Sal trees. The grasslands are the best place where you spot most of the wildlife. Kanha is famous for Tigers as this is one of the oldest parks to have been included in Tiger Project. A sight of the legendary Sher Khan of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book will definitely leave you speechless but there is more to Kanha than tigers. The park is also home to the rare Barasingha. Seeing them strutting around, flaunting there antlers like crown on their head is a view of fantasies. Other animals that make Kanha one of the best parks in India - 22 - 22 -

are Wild Boar, Gaur, Chital, Indian wolf and many more. The park is also a great nesting ground for many birds species. Around 300 species of birds, both resident and migratory have been spotted here.

ABOUT KANHA NATIONAL PARK Kanha Tiger Reserve, comprising parts of the Mandla & Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh, and located in the "Maikal" hills of the Satpuras, is internationally renowned for its rich floral and faunal attributes.

The Reserve is an excellent interspersion of the Dadars (flat hill tops), grassy expanses, dense forests and riverine forests. It is very rich in flora, largely due to the combination of landforms and soil types, apart from the moist character of the region The rich habitat diversity of the Reserve - 23 - 23 -

supports a wide range of wildlife species along with innumerable lesser life forms, and is the sanctum sanctorum of many typical Central Indian fauna. Besides harbouring a viable population of the tiger, Kanha has distinguished itself in saving the endangered hard ground barasingha from extinction, and supporting the last world population of this deer species

LOCATION OF KANHA NATIONAL PARK : In the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh State in Centra! India. The park is accessible .from Jabalpur (170km, or 105 miles, away) which also has the nearest' airport and railhead. Nagpur is 270km (168 miles) from Kanha

- 24 - 24 -

CLIMATE OF KANHA NATIONAL PARK : Summer temperatures are very high (maximum 43°C; 10goF) and Winter is extremely cold (minimum 2°C; 36°F). WHEN TO GO (KANHA NATIONAL PARK) : Best time to visit is March to June. Park closed during monsoon from beginning July to end October. Also closed midday to give respite to wildlife. GETTING TO KANHA NATIONAL PARK : Mandla is the district's main town (65km; 40 miles); buses travel between here and the park. The road from Nagpur to Kanha is bad; a car journey takes about five hours. Entrance gates at Kisli and Mukki, which have full - 25 - 25 -

canteen facilities. Just beyond Kisli gate, multiple food stores at Khatia.s. FACILITIES AT KANHA NATIONAL PARK: Forest Lodge managed by MPSTDC, forest rest houses, Baghira log huts of Madhya Pradesh (no self-catering required). Khatia has manY private lodges, among them Kipling Camp, Krishna and Mowgli. Self-drive permissible with guide; jeep tours and elephant-back rides into Kanha. Khatia has an Interpretation Centre with displays and a sound and light show. WILDLIFE IN KANHA NATIONAL PARK : Regularly spotted are Tiger ancl Muntjac; Panther rarely. Chausingha and Nilgai, although Present, are not often seen

LANDSCAPE OF KANHA NATIONAL PARK : Forested park nestles in horseshoe-shaped valley backed by spurs of Maikal hills and fronted by rolling meadows - 26 - 26 -

PERMITS AND RESERVATIONS FOR KANHA NATIONAL PARK : Accommodation should be booked in advance. For general information, write to. The Field Director, Project Tiger, PO Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

CONSERVATION HISTORY Kanha Tiger Reserve is constituted on a "core-buffer" strategy. The entire National Park area of 940 sq. km. is visualised as a "core zone", free from all biotic disturbances. A buffer zone of 1009 sq. km. surrounding the core is treated as a "multiple use area". The buffer zone comprises almost 40 per cent of forest area and the rest is constituted by revenue and privateland. This zone is characterized by an interspersion of revenue and forest lands, pock-marked with numerous villages. Besides, the Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, a satellitic micro-core of 110 sq. km., is also under the administration of the Reserve Management. The significance of this micro-core lies in the exchange of gene-pool and dispersal of wildlife populations between the two conservation units. The buffer zone has been notified by the state Government as a separate division and is under the unified control of the Reserve Management. Wildlife conservation practices and Eco development in the National Park, Buffer Zone and Phen Wildlife Sanctuary are carried out under the Management Plan for the year 2001-2002 to 2010-2011. The Reserve is a part of the Gondwana tract inhabited traditionally and chiefly by the Gond and Baiga tribes, the latter confining themselves largely to the upper valleys and dadars near the main Maikal range. Information concerning the early history of these forests prior to 1860 is extremely scanty. The villagers had free access to cut and burn forest at will. The system of shifting cultivation, locally called - 27 - 27 -

"Bewar" - prevailed almost unhindered until 1870 on the hill slopes. FOREST TYPES Technically the following forest types are found in the Tiger Reserve: Moist Peninsular Sal Forests (3 C/C2) Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest (3 A/C 2a) Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Mixed Forest(5 A/C-3) MAIN SPECIES(FLORA) Sal, Saja, Lendia, Dhawa, Tendu, Palas, Bija, Mahua, Aonla, Achar and Bamboo etc. Besides, there are many species of climbers, forbs and grass. MAIN SPECIES( FAUNA)

MAMMALS: Chital , Sambar , Barasingha , Barking deer , Chousingha , Gaur , Langur Wild pig , Jackal, Sloth bear, Wild dog, Panther, Tiger .

REPTILES: - 28 - 28 -

Python, Indian Cobra, Russell’s Viper, Indian Krait, Common Rat Snake, Common Skink, Indian Monitor, Fan Throated Lizard and Indian Garden Lizard etc. FISHES: Giant Danio, Common Rasbora, Mud Perches, Brown Snakehead and Green Snakehead etc. SPECIAL PROJECTS Under research and monitoring activities, field data collection is carried out in the specially laid out plots, as per guidelines of Project Tiger.Daily monitoring of the endangered barasingha population is also ensured in the

prescribe format. Cattle immunization program in core and buffer zones is carried out periodically.

- 29 - 29 -

BIRDS: The Reserve supports around 300 species of birds. SPECIAL INITIATIVES ECO-DEVELOPMENT Integrated community development inputs have been provided in the buffer zone under the MP Forestry Project. Eco-developmental inputs have been provided to some peripheral villages. The important components have been: 1. Protection, regeneration and increased productivity of the forest resources of the peripheral area for fodder, fuel wood, timber and MFP, apart from a greater security of access to these resources for the villagers through the development of participatory management 2. Fostering activities related to the use of non-forest resources for income generation. 3. Promoting activities to cover the interface between forest and other sectors. ECO-DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES There are 106 EDCs in the buffer and 25 in the core zone involved in various Eco-developmental initiatives with the Reserve Management. PROTECTION SQUADS / PATROLLING Apart from regular patrolling by different level of field staff and officers, two - 30 - 30 -

strike forces have been created with vehicular mobility to reinforce protection of the Reserve. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS The spearhead team has been imparting the necessary skill to other frontline staff of the buffer zone division for site-specific micro-planning. Further, the team frequently convenes village level meetings for promoting awareness amongst the local inhabitants, apart from carrying out meaningful interpretation of PA values.

BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARKS INTRODUCTION FACTS & FIGURES Area : 450 sq. km (Core area: 105 sq. km) Altitude : 800 m above sea level Temperature range : 42°C to 2°C Best time to visit : February-June (Closed 1 July-31 October) STD Code : 07653

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the wild life sanctuaries in the Indian state Madhya Pradesh. The national park is situated at 197 km away north-east of Jabalpur. This wild life park derived its very name from an

- 31 - 31 -

ancient fort in the area. Bandhawgarh National Park belongs to the Vindhyan mountain ranges of central India and it boasts to have the highest density of tiger population in the country. Now there are about 46 to 52 tigers one can spot here. Situated in Shahdol district, among the hills of the Vindhya Range, Bandhavgarh National Park is known for having the highest density of Tiger population in India. Spread over an area of 168 sq miles, the sanctuary's central area-the original 40 sq miles, is said to be the home of over 22 tigers. Known as the White tiger country (the last one was found in 1951), the sanctuary became a national park in the year 1968 and in 1986 the area of the sanctuary was extended to include two large areas of forest adjoining it on the northern and southern sides. The park offers excellent game, bird viewing and historical interest, which attract a large number of visitors The thick forest of Bandhavgarh National Park sits in a bowl encircled by cliffs and wooded Vindhyan mountains, and its plains have a number of grass and reed covered wetlands where Kingfishers dive and Egrets sit poised, hunch-backed, in the shallows. Up above, vultures nestle in holes in the sheer cliffs - 32 - 32 -

The Bandhavgarh jungle, when it is large enough, becomes a living selfsustaining organism providing its own climate, atmosphere, water and nutrition through its recycling systems. It even has a sleep wake cycle. As more light fills the sky, Bandhavgarh begins to awaken.

Map of bandhavgarh national park Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has decided that National parks will be re-opend as per their previous schedule, hence National Parks in Madhya Pradesh will be reopened for tourists on 1st October, 2008 positively

- 33 - 33 -

Bandhavgarh National Park is spread at vindhya hills in Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh National Park consists of a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer area of approximately 400 sq km of topography varies between steep ridges, undulating, forest and open meadows. Bandhavgarh National Park is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India. Bandhavgarh National Park was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub for White Tigers. White Tigers, now a major attraction around the world's zoos, were first discovered in Rewa, not far from here. The terrain is broken, with rocky hill ranges, running roughly east west, interspersed with grassy swamps and forested valleys Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the finest national park in the India and has the distinction of harboring the highest concentration of tigers per unit area of forest. The Bandhavgarh National Park is spread over on area of 448 sq km with a cross area of 105 sq km. At the center of the park is the Bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 meters above sea level and surrounding it are a sloping valleys, These valleys end in small, swampy meadows locally known as “bohera”. Bandhavgarh National Park as an inspirit national habitat for a variety of wildlife peculiar to the area. These include gaur (Indian bison), sloth bear, leopard, porcupine, wild boar, sambhar and spotted deer, among others and of course, the tiger.

FLORA IN BANDHAVGARH Initially just 105.40-sq-kms in area, Bandhavgarh with 25

resident

TIGERS was noted for its high-density tiger population. Today, it has been - 34 - 34 -

extended to an area of 437-sq-kms. About half the Bandhavgarh park is covered with fine trees of Sal, while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches of the hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands extend to the north. The main wildlife viewing is still done in the core of the park with its 32 picturesque, wooded hills. MAJOR WILDLIFE ATTRACTIONS – BANDHAVGARH Once a hunting reserve of the royal family of Rewa in more recent times, Bandhavgarh was declared a park in 1968. This is also the site where the fanmous

WHITE

TIGERS

of

Rewa

were

discovered.

Wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an Elephant Back, the chances of seeing a tiger are quite good. Among the other wild attractions include, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.

- 35 - 35 -

In the Bandhavgarh National Park the visitors can be entered on elephant back apart from the four wheelers. In the elephant safaris a forest department guide always accompanies the guests who will direct and tell about the flora and fauna of the park. The best time to visit the park is early in the morning or after 4 pm to spot the animals. The park is closed from 1st July to 31st October, which is the monsoon season.

JEEP AND ELEPHANT SAFARI One can enjoy viewing the wildlife by two ways in Bandhavgarh - Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari.. Jeep safaris are undertaken during the early morning hours till evening. A forest department guide is always their with the visitors on these jeep trips taken inside the park. Elephant safari trips are organized for tiger tracking early in the morning.

- 36 - 36 -

BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARKS Bandhavgarh was recognized as a national Park in the year 1968. Situated in the Umaria district, the park covers an area of 448 sq. km. The terrain of the park is quite rocky . The Bandhavgarh fort hill that stands in the center is around 811 m in height. The density of tiger in Bandhavgarh is known to be the highest in India. To spot one of them, you can take different safaris. Jeep safari and elephant safari are the most common, convenient, and capturing. Animals that you can spot here are Panther, spotted deer, Sambhar, Wild Boar. There is something for bird watchers also as different varieties of them have been spotted here. Inside the park, there are around 35 sandstone caves to the north that are also worth a visit. PANNA NATIONAL PARK Panna National Park is situated in the Chhatarpur District and was established in the year 1981 and was made a part of Project tiger in the year 1994. The park covers an area of around 543 sq. km. The landscape of the park generally consists of vast plateaus, savannah grasslands and far spread teak forests. During a safari, you can spot animals like tiger, Panther, crocodiles, Bear, spotted Dear, hyena, jackal and many more endangered species. Elephant safari is the most exotic way of exploring this sedate yet striking National Park. More than one third of the area of Madhya Pradesh is under thick forest cover which offers a panorama of wildlife treasures. Home to exhilarating range of wildlife, the state attracts hordes of tourists and wildlife - 37 - 37 -

enthusiasts. Be a Part of a jungle safari and feel the excitement of being in the court of King of the Jungle.

- 38 - 38 -

- 39 - 39 -