Route
Jabalpur—165 km/4 hrs—(via Shahpura and Umaria)—Bandhavgarh—97 km/2 hrs—(via Umaria and Shahpura)—Ghugwa—85 km/2 hrs—Jabalpur

Day 1 JABALPUR-BANDHAVGARH

Arrive at Jabalpur around noon and grab a quick lunch at the Indian Coffee House. Arrive at Bandhavgarh by sundown, settle in to the wood-lined Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, and enjoy a Baiga tribal dance performance in the evening.

Day 2 BANDHAVGARH

The tiger is considered auspicious among Central India’s tribal communities, and is often illustrated in local paintings, at temples, and on apparel
The tiger is considered auspicious among Central India’s tribal
communities, and is often illustrated in local paintings, at temples, and on apparel
Abhinav Kakkar

On a morning game drive (6-11 a.m.), watch the forest shake off its slumber. The bamboo thickets, sal, mahua, and tendu trees begin to buzz with langurs, rufous treepies, hornbills, and nearly 250 other avian species. This park hosts one of the highest densities of tigers in the world, along with a variety of prey like chital, sambar, and wild boar.

After lunch at the lodge, head into the Tala zone for an afternoon game drive (3-6 p.m.). Legends surround the 1536-sq-km national park. Bandhavgarh Fort, high on the crest of a hill, dominates the Tala zone. The story goes that Ram stopped in Bandhavgarh on his return from Lanka and gave the fort to his brother Lakshman, lending the region its name: “Bandhav” means brother, “garh” translates to fort.

Although at the time of writing, the fort wasn’t open to tourists, you could visit the 12-metre long statue of a reclining Vishnu, called Shesh Shaiya, located halfway up the hill. Next to the statue is the source of the Charanganga River.  

Day 3 GHUGHWA-JABALPUR

Ghughwa National Fossil Park has well-preserved plant fossils, dating back 65 million years, which are showcased with informative notes
Ghughwa National Fossil Park has well-preserved plant fossils, dating back
65 million years, which are showcased with informative notes
Abhinav Kakkar

Depart for Jabalpur, stopping en route at Ghughwa National Fossil Park to see the fascinating “trees of stone”. Millennia ago, when India, Africa, and Australia were part of one landmass called Gondwanaland, the Ghughwa region lay close to the equator. An evergreen forest thrived here, and the 65-million-year-old fossils of eucalyptus and palm trees from that time, are now displayed at the park. 

An innovative contraption fashioned from locally abundant bamboo is used to catch fish
An innovative contraption fashioned from locally abundant bamboo is used
to catch fish
Abhinav Kakkar
An excavated sculpture, dating back to the 11th century A.D., exhibited at Rani Durgavati Museum in Jabalpur
An excavated sculpture, dating back to the 11th century A.D., exhibited at
Rani Durgavati Museum in Jabalpur
Abhinav Kakkar
Coins from the British era on display at Rani Durgavati Museum
Coins from the British era on display at Rani Durgavati Museum
Abhinav Kakkar

THE INFORMATION

Ghughwa National Fossil Park
Address: MP State Highway 11, Dindori district
Hours: Daily 8 a.m.- 5.30 p.m.
Entry:  Indians ₹11; foreigners ₹165.

STAY

Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge
Address: Tala Gate, Bandhavgarh National Park
Website: www.bandhavgarhjunglelodge.com
Tel:  011-26516770
Tariff: Doubles ₹8,500 per night, includes all meals and taxes.

SAFARIS

Open: Oct 1-Jun 30
Hours: Twice daily open-top jeep safaris from 6 a.m. to 11a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; park is closed on Wednesday afternoon.
Booking: Book permits online at forest.mponline.gov.in.
Entry: Permits per jeep cost ₹1,550 for the core zones and ₹1,250 for the buffer zones. Each jeep seats six. Vehicle and guide charges are extra and payable at the gate, shared by all occupants of the jeep. Carry government-approved photo ID.

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