A place where nature, wildlife and history blend together. Situated in the Umaria district under the state of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh Fort stands at a height of over 800 metres in the centre of the Bandhavgarh National Park.
Probably built during the 10th century, the fort was a place of residence for Bahela Rajputs and named as MotiMahal. The remains of the abandoned fort is present in the vicinity of Bandhavgarh National Park. The area around the fort is presently a tiger reserve area. This residence of the Rajputs has become a place of living for many tigress and their cubs. Endangered vultures are seen around the fort in large numbers also.
A treasure inside the park is its rich archeological heritage. The landscape of the park is dominated by the Badhaini hillock and Bandhavgarh Hill; on top of the hill is the Bandhavgarh fort. The fort is said to be more than thousand years old, and its remains carry the stories of many kings and the beginnings of the park.
The fort is surrounded by Bandhaini hillock and Bandhavgarh Hill. There are human-built caves with inscription dated back to earlier Christian era. There are sculptures of Lord Vishnu in the caves. Among them, 35-foot long image is the main attraction. This place is auspicious for the Hindus because a tale tells that Lord Ram has built this fort for his brother Laxman. That’s why the name is Bandhav means Bhai and Garh means palace.
On the way to the fort, you can see many caves attesting to cultures in the Millenium before Christ, and many sculptures of incarnations of Vishnu, built in the 10th and 11th centuries.
The Sidhbaba point inside the forest is famous for the tiger spotting. Charkadhara, AndheriJhiria are the other two places inside remarkable for tiger watching. Gopalpur, Ketkiha is accessible for bird watching activities. These areas are deeply infiltrated by plants which is nestling several species of birds. SheshShaiya, Bari Gufa, Three cave points are the three caves where tourists can take a glimpse of the ancient arts.
Climber’s point on the top of the hill atop an elevation of 13,005 feet is offering a breathtaking view of the forest. The path leading to the end is covered by several types of flora and fauna, which makes the place superb for exploration lovers.
Hindi is the official language and widely spoken in this region.
