The reserve named after the highest hill Bandhavgarh (807 m) in the centre of it, falls between the Vindhyan hill range and the eastern flank of Satpura hill range and is located in Shahdol and Jabalpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.

Located in the Vindhya Hills, Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh encompasses 32 hills covered with a mixed forest of sal, dhobin and saga and large stretches of grasslands with bamboo grooves., Bandhavgarh is famous for its tigers and the adventure unfolds at day break.

Conservation History
The Bandhavgarh Fort, in the centre of the Reserve, atop the Bandhavgarh hill, was the seat of rulers of Rewa State, until they shifted to Rewa town in 1617 A.D. After independence and abolition of the princely States, the process of degradation of forests started due to relaxed control. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa, was deeply moved by the destruction of forests. On his proposal an area of 105 sq. km. was declared as National Park in 1965. The area of the park was increased to 448.84 sq. km. in 1982.

Bandhavgarh has been an excellent habitat of tiger and is known for the highest density of tigers in the world. Considering the importance and potentiality of the National park, it was included in the Project Tiger Network in 1993. The adjoining Panpatha Sanctuary too was declared as a part of the Reserve. The area of 105 sq. km. of old National Park was finally notified in 1968. The remaining part of the National Park i.e. 343.842 sq. km. is yet to be finally declared though State Government had made the initial notification in 1982. Panpatha Sanctuary with an area of 245.847 sq. km. was declared in 1983.

Tiger population:
1989 - 59
1990 - 60
1991 - 45
1992 - 40
1993 - 41
1994 - 44
1995 - 46
1996 - 43 - 49
1997 - 44 - 49


Things to Know about Bandhavgarh
Place : Sahdol District, Madhya Pradesh, in the central part of India.
Major Attractions : Tigers, Leopards, Bears.
Area Covered : 448 sq-km.
Ideal Time to Visit the Park : Between the Mid-November to June. The park remains closed during the monsoon months from July to early November.
Nearest Attractions : Kalchuri Archeological Remains, Bandhavgarh Fort (14th century fort).
Some Major Accesses : Khajuraho (via Satna) 230 km, Varanasi (via Rewa) 340 km, Katni 75 km, Rewa 115 km, Umaria 30 km, Kanha 250 km.


Geographical Details:
Longitude - From 80-47-00 E To 81-12-00 E
Latitude - From 23-30-00 N To 23-57-00 N
Topography Code - B
Altitudinal Range - 440-811
Average Rainfall - 1172 mm
Temperature - Min 8, Max 42 (deg.Cel)

Structure
Tourist are restricted to an area of 105 km² of the park, known as the Tala range. However this area is richest in terms of biodiversity, mainly tigers. There are four more ranges in the reserve namely – Magdhi, Kallwah, Khitauli and Panpatha. Together, these five ranges comprise the 'Core' of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve constituting a total area of 694 km². The buffer zone is spread over the forest divisions of Umaria and Katni and totals another 437 km². The legal status as a national park dates back to 1968, but was limited only to the present Tala range for a considerable length of time. In 1993 that the present scheme of things was put in place.

Project Tiger
Project Tiger was constituted in 1972 and then the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 came into force. It was realized that protection of just the 105 km² of prime Bandhavgarh habitat was not enough, so in 1982, three more ranges namely, Khitauli, Magdhi and Kallawah were added to Tala range (the original Bandhavgarh National Park) to extend the area of Bandhavgarh to 448 km². As Project tiger extended its activities and area of influence, Bandhavgarh was taken in its folds in 1993, and a core of 694 km². Including the previously named ranges and the Panpatha Sanctuary along with a buffer area of 437 km² was declared as the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.