Nature and Parks in Jabalpur

The city in the Great Indian Plateau, Jabalpur, with marble hills and Narmada River as the backdrop has the galore of virgin nature. A visit to the city does not end with the marble rocks; it does not end at the numerous forts and temples on the hills; it actually is the beginning of a great journey into the wild that the State of Madhya Pradesh can offer. The city of Jabalpur with its central location is the place to begin a journey that you will cherish all your life. The city is within two to four hours of journey to many Sanctuaries and National Parks. A planned journey to the North East of Jabalpur will take you to Fossil and Bandhavgarh National Parks. A couple of hours more and you reach Panpatha, Son Ghariyal, Sanjay Dubri and Bagdara Sanctuaries. The Kanha National Park is to the South of the city and if you have plans of doing a full circuit of the State, then you must include Pench and Kanha National Parks in your itinerary. Fossil National Park.   The park is located just about 50 miles from Jabalpur. It has been established by the Government of Madhya Pradesh for displaying and preserving the fossilized remains of many a pre-historic species found in various excavations in the State. The park is spread only over a few hundred square meters of area. The size really does not matter as the student of paleontology has a lot to gain from the collection available under one roof. Bandhavgarh National Park.       The park is the Tiger reserve located about 90 miles from Jabalpur is just about an hour’s drive from Fossil national park. Spread over more than 160 square miles of virgin natural terrain of the Satpura Ranges, this park has a wide variety of flora and fauna. The park is home to the Indian tiger, panther, sloth bear, variety of antelopes and birds. If you are lucky then you may see the white tiger, though only few in numbers but conspicuous in the largely green surroundings. The park has a host of plant species primarily the deciduous variety. The huge bamboo groves, old Sal trees and grasslands in their pristine magnificence are a paradise for nature photography enthusiasts. The fauna in their natural habitat is a great attraction for ornithologist and wild life enthusiasts. The park offers quite a few staying on options too. The Tiger Den Resorts, Mewar Camp Bandhavgarh and Chruhat Kothi Bandhavgarh offer the best of the modern comforts in natural surroundings. The accommodation is by and large in modern tents with all the amenities. The resorts also arrange Elephant Safari for that thrilling medieval royal experience. Jeeps and Land rovers are also available for a quick tour of the park. The park has lot more for the nature lovers; the best would be sipping a glass of wine sitting on a pedestal atop a tree and watching the frolicking antelopes and stalking them the leopards and tigers. The Kanha and Pench National Parks to the South of the city have similar milieu and services. The parks in the State are open during the January to June period only. The best time to visit would be Jan to mid April; the months of May and June are terribly hot for any Western traveler to venture in the wild with little backup. So get set and gear up for an exploratory trip to the Wild West or probably the Center of India.