Set on the eastern flank of the Satpura Hills in the Vindhyan Range, Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the best places in India to see and enjoy wildlife. The reserve is named after the highest hill, 807 m. in height and situated in the centre of the reserve. A chain of smaller hills, 32 in all, surrounds Bandhavgarh Hill forming a number of valleys and spurs. The park was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and was once famous for its white tigers, now sadly gone due to hunting. The terrain is broken, with rocky hill ranges running roughly east-west interspersed with grassy swamps and forested valleys. The rivers Johilla and Son flow along the eastern side, the river Umrar passes through the western fringes and Bandhavgarh Hill is visible from up to 30 km away.
Much of the park is covered in sal forest, replaced by mixed forests in the higher elevations of the hills. There are extensive grasslands and stands of bamboo which last flowered in 1984-85. Generally the forests have less undergrowth here so offering better sightings of wildlife, notably mammals including reliable daylight sightings of tigers in the grassy maidans. More than 60 tigers are estimated to inhabit the park, the highest density in India.
