Best Time to Visit Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve remains open from October to June months for visitors. So one can visit the park at any day during these months. In monsoon, i.e. in the months of July – August – September, Bandhavgarh Park remains closed for visitors. So we can conclude that we can visit park during winters & summers. Bandhavgarh National Park is spread over Vindhya ranges in Madhya Pradesh State of Central India. In first two months, after opening of park, i.e. during October and November, climate remains pleasant as after monsoon departure, we can find greenery everywhere in the forest area with plenty of water-holes. Winter season lasts for 3-months in Bandhavgarh, December – January – February. March & April (first half) are the Spring seasons but day time temperature will make you feel hot as temperature will start reaching 40 degree Celsius in day time. From second-half of April to June, sunlight express his strong presence with heat-waves, dryness in jungle, disappearance of water-holes and a peculiar silence in the forest.
Best time to visit Bandhavgarh National Park varies with the aim with which we are intending to visit the forest. If we are interested in migratory bird watching in green surrounding of forest, perennials then from October to January months will be more suitable for us. Temperature will remain below 30 degree Celsius. During this time we can enjoy greenery of forest, plenty of water sources and birds around them. Similarly, tigers can also be seen is areas other than Tala zone like Magdhi Zone (Gate-2) and Khitauli Zone (Gate-3) as water sources in those zones remain alive and grasslands will ease the availability of prey in those areas. We can find even distribution of tigers and other animals during this time. Accommodation problem may arise in the months of November & December as these are festival season in India due to which domestic tourist visits the forest most at this time as a family vacation tour so advance accommodation booking would be the better option to follow.
Those who are interested in birding, tiger-sighting along with other mammals sighting, they can visit the park during January – February - March months. During this time temperature will remain below 25 degree Celsius which makes the weather cool and pleasant so safari will be problem. In the months of February and March, flowers in Flame of Forest tree make the jungle more photogenic and attract birds around them, sloth bears to come out more frequently. With the presence of Mahua (Madhuca longifolia), the fruit of Indian Butter Tree attracts most of the herbivores and omnivores animals of Bandhavgarh forest. Sambars, Blue-bull, Sloth Bear, Spotted deer, Languar monkeys can be seen more often in open. During this time, domestic tourism falls down due to examinations in schools so accommodation availability will not pose any problem from domestic tourism side.
Months of April – May – June are considered the best time to do wildlife photography and tiger photography. During this time, we can expect unusual photography of tigers as heat causes animals to remain close to water sources. Limited water sources will enable us to predict the animal location more accurately. During this time Tala Zone have good number of active water sources and the area have hills of sand-stone that retain water from long time and also felt cool during day time so tiger sighting chances in Tala Zone are far better than any other tourist zones of Bandhavgarh National Park. Close to water source, we may be lucky enough to find unusual photographs of tiger making kill or resting in water etc. Sighting of Tigress with cubs can be possible in early morning hours and just before sunset as tiger mating mostly take place in the months of November – December – January – February so cubs born from 110 days of gestation period can be seen during this time. Similarly, birds can also be seen close to water sources. Spotted deer herds under Indian Butter Tree are the most commons scenes of forest. Due to dryness in trees, fall of leaves in Sal trees and disappearance of bushes causes more penetration capacity to watch distant animals also. For Bird watchers, Khitauli Zone is considered good as here water sources at Bamera Dam, Khitauli reservoir offers scope for birding around them. Blue bull or Nilgai antelope and sloth bear sighting in this zone is also good compare to other tourist zones of Bandhavgarh. Best Time to Visit.
Best Time to Visit Bandhavgarh
| Park Open Time | 16-October till 30-June |
| Park Closure Time | 01-July to 15-Oct, Every Wed. from Apr.2011, Half day on Holi Festival (Mar.) |
| Summer Season | April to July, Minimum Temperature 30°C, Maximum Temperature 48°C |
| Rainy Season | July to October, Minimum Temperature 22°C, Maximum Temperature 35°C |
| Winter Season | November to February, Minimum Temp. 01°C, Maximum Temp. 20 °C |
| Best time for tiger-sighting | February to May |
| Worst Time to visit | New Year week-end, Holi Festival Day |
October-November Months
In first two months (October & November), after opening of park, climate remains pleasant as after monsoon departure, we can find greenery everywhere in the forest area with plenty of water-holes. During this time reptiles & birds sighting can be good but animals sighting is not so good due to density of bushes & grasslands. Due to festival season in North & Central India, domestic tourists prefers to visit Bandhavgarh and resorts remain occupied with them. It is the time we one can see the track-maintenance, grass cutting etc. work is going on in & around Safari zones. It is the time when one can enjoy the freshness of forest.
December - January Months
It is the time of winters. This is the ideal time for foreign tourists to visit Bandhavgarh as climate remains good. During this time, Bandhavgarh registers good volume of foreign tourists. December month week-end, especially the time of Christmas festival & New Year time, resorts remain fully-packed with tourists. So those who are planning to visit tiger reserve this time should make their bookings confirmed before 40-60 days in advance. This time resorts & lodges charge remain at their peak. From 15-Dec till 25-Jan, normally North India remain affected by Fog due to which Flights & Trains remain delayed by 02-20hrs delayed so visitors are advised to keep 24hrs in reserve to avoid any kind of inconvenience. Tourists often face problem of cancellation of flights & trains during this time which adversely affects their scheduled trips. During this time, road traffic remain un-affected from fogs. This time is good for bird-watching. It is also ideal time of tiger-mating and one can be lucky enough to witness tiger-mating in wilderness.
February - March Months
During this time, park receives low tourist traffic as due to examination time in Indian schools, domestic tourists avoids traveling. In this months, one may notice improved tiger sighting as due to good weather, animals comes into open and to some extent forest density also reduces which leads to improved wild-animals sighting. Birds sighting also remains good as it is the time of popular Mahua fruit (Madhuca longifolia), the fruit of Indian Butter Tree attracts most of the herbivores and omnivores animals. One may often notice herds of spotted deers & black-faced Languars together. Sloth bear sighting also remain good as it can be seen under Mahua Trees. Incidences of human killing by tigers often happens this time as local villagers often intrude into tiger's territory in search of Mahua fruits. During this time red & orange flowers in Flame of Forest trees enhances the beauty of forest. Wildlife photography often organized in these months. In North & Central India, Holi festival is celebrated in the month of March. On the day of festival (Dhulendi) park often remain closed for evening safari but last decision is of park management. One should avoid any kind of surface traveling during these 2-3 days as often local villages stops the vehicle for donation in the name of festival and consumes alcholic wines etc.
April – May – June Months
This is the time of severe heat waves in North & Central India. It is the tough time for foreign tourists but preferred time of tiger photographers. are considered the best time to do wildlife photography and tiger photography. As in schools of India, it is the time after examinations, domestic tourists likes to visit Bandhavgarh. Student groups, conference tours often organized during this time. During this time, wildlife photography remain easy, shots of tiger around kill, resting around water source, resting in water, tigress with cubs etc can be expected. During this time Tala Safari Zone have good number of active water sources and the area have hills of sand-stone that retain water from long time and also felt cool during day time so tiger sighting chances in Tala Zone are far better than any other tourist zones of Bandhavgarh National Park. It is also the time to enjoy special summer offers containing discounts of accommodation.