Set against the backdrop of the Vindhya Hills, Bandhavgarh National Park is widely known for its tiger population, attracting tourists from all over the world. This mystical jungle is home to  over 30 species of mammals, 250 species of birds and some amazing reptile and amphibian species as well. Although Bandhavgarh tiger sightings are the primary attraction, the park also nestles historic sites and diverse habitats, making it a truly unique destination. Let us take a look at how to reach Bandhavgarh National Park, so you can start planning your trip right away!

How to Reach Bandhavgarh National Park?

The best way to reach Bandhavgarh depends on where you are travelling from. Although well connected to the rest of Madhya Pradesh, reaching the Bandhavgarh National Park can be slightly tedious as it is a little far away from the closest airports, compared to the other National Parks of India. You can take a train to Bandhavgarh or choose to reach the destination by air, or road. The splendid Badhavgarh tiger sightings and the various activities that you can indulge in, make every bit of the journey worth it.  

Reaching Bandhavgarh by Air

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If you are not a resident of Madhya Pradesh and are living in another state in India, the best way to travel to Bandhavgarh is to fly to Jabalpur. It is the closest and most well-connected airport. From there, you can enjoy a mini road trip to Bandhavgarh . You can even take a bus from Jabalpur, but it is most comfortable to hire a taxi and make the 170 km long journey. The average cost of a  private cab is about Rs. 3250.

If you are an international traveller, you will most probably land in Mumbai or Delhi. From any airport in India, you will have to take a connecting flight to Jabalpur. Since it takes about four hours to reach Bandhavgarh from Jabalpur, you could choose to halt your journey in the city you land in and take the next morning flight to Jabalpur.

If time is not a concern for you, you can even explore train options to Jabalpur, Katni, or Umaria. Please refer to the next section titled ‘Reaching Bandhavgarh by train’ in this blog for further details.

The other airports that you can travel to Bandhavgarh National Park from are Khajuraho, Raipur and Nagpur. Khajuraho is 230 km away from Bandhavgarh but there are no direct flights to and fro from it. The distance between the Raipur airport and the Bandhavgarh National Park is 395 km and it takes about 8hrs 45 mins by road. Nagpur is 455 km away from Bandhavgarh and it takes over 8hrs 30 mins by road. So, the best way to reach Bandhavgarh is via Jabalpur as it is the most practical option . Jabalpur is connected to most of the major cities in India and there is at least one flight, if not more, available every day.

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Reaching Bandhavgarh by Train

There is no direct train to Bandhavgarh. You can travel to the closest train stations in Umaria and Katni and proceed to Bandhavgarh via road. Umaria is 30 km from the park and a pleasant 45 minutes drive. Katni is 100 km away and takes 2 hours by road.

Jabalpur has a station too, which is very well connected as it is a junction for several trains from across India. The Jabalpur railway station is at a distance of 170 km and it would take 4 hours to travel to Bandhavgarh. All the three stations (Umaria, Katni and Jabalpur) have trains from Delhi and Mumbai as well as other prominent cities of India. So, depending on your requirements and the timings that best suit you, you can pick your option. Getting to Bandhavgarh for lunch is recommended as most resorts in Bandhavgarh allow check-ins post noon, and offer check-outs after breakfast on the day of your departure.

Reaching Bandhavgarh by Road

As mentioned before, Bandhavgarh is extremely well-connected by roadways to all the nearby cities and towns and most parts of the state of Madhya Pradesh.A road trip to Bandhavgarh also means that you can turn it into a circuit tour of the various National Parks and forest reserves in Madhya Pradesh. You could start from Pench National Park, proceed to Kanha National Park, then travel to Bandhavgarh National Park and can even spend a couple of extra days in Panna Tiger Reserve. These wildlife reserves are distanced at about 200-250 km from each other. If you are from Nagpur, you can even add Tadoba National Park and the Maharashtrian side of Pench to your circuit.

Distance and travel time from some of the major cities of Madhya Pradesh to the Bandhavgarh National Park

Bhopal to Bandhavgarh

Distance: 498.2 km

You can reach Bandhavgarh National Park from Bhopal via NH45. The travel time is approximately 8 hours. The best option is to hire a cab, unless you are someone that enjoys a good drive. There are no direct buses from Bhopal to Bandhavgarh.

Gwalior to Bandhavgarh

Distance: 520 km

There are different routes that you can take to go from Gwalior to Bandhavgarh. The best way is via NH43 and NH39 as it takes about 9 hours. You can take the Bundelkhand expressway or NH 135 BG as well, but it adds 2 hours to your journey time.

Indore to Bandhavgarh

Distance: 689 km

A road trip from Indore to Bandhavgarh makes for a beautiful drive via NH 45. There are many picturesque locations on the way that make the long drive absolutely worth it. It will take close to 12 hours to reach Bandhavgarh National Park from Indore.

Jabalpur to Bandhavgarh

Distance: 170 km

Going to Bandhavgarh from Jabalpur by road is one of the best options because Jabalpur is well-connected to all parts of the country by rail and air. It is also quite a short drive of about 4 hours. You can choose from four routes via MP SH 11, NH45, NH30 and NH43.

Katni to Bandhavgarh

Distance: 90 km

Although Katni is quite close to Bandhavgarh in terms of distance, driving from Katni is not the best option if you are travelling from other parts of India. The closest airport is Jabalpur, so it is easier for you to take a cab directly from Jabalpur to Bandhavgarh. The time to travel to Bandhavgarh National Park from Katni is approximately 2 hours via MP SH 11.

Kanha National Park to Bandhavgarh

Distance: 210 km

After a 4.5 hour drive from Kanha National Park, you will arrive at Bandhavgarh National Park. You will travel via MP SH 11 and Umaria -Bandhavgarh Road. If you travel from NH45 to MP SH11, it will increase your drive time by about half an hour.

Khajuraho to Bandhavgarh

Distance: 230 km

To travel to Bandhavgarh from Khajuraho by road, you will have to travel via Satni. The drive takes between 6-7 hours. The shorter route is via NH39. If you travel via NH39 and MP SH9, the drivetime increases by approximately an hour.

Ujjain to Bandhavgarh

Distance: 688.4 km

You have to travel via NH45 to drive from Ujjain to Bandhavgarh. It is quite the distance and takes about 12 hours and 32 minutes.

Umaria to Bandhavgarh

Distance: 32.1 km

Travelling from Umaria to Bandhavgarh is one of the best options as Umaria is well-connected to the rest of the country. It takes less than an hour to travel to Bandhavgarh National Park from Umaria.

Taking a Bus to Bandhavgarh

As most of the cities of Madhya Pradesh are located 475 km and above from the Bandhavgarh National Park, there are no direct buses. Hence, the only viable options are travelling by train, a hired cab or a personal car.  

Get Started On Your Travel Plans!

Now that you know how to reach Bandhavgarh National Park, the only thing left to do is to make your plans. You now have options to choose from depending on your departure point and your budget.

If you need more Bandhavgarh travel information, you can always get in touch with Toehold. We offer specialised tours to Bandhavgarh. This way, you leave the planning to us and just gear up for an exciting jungle experience.

We also offer camera gear on hire and have merchandise and wildlife gifts for sale. Business apart, we also can give you free advisory, and share our passion for this place with you. Just visit our website for contact details and we will be happy to assist you!

Happy travels! We hope to see you at Bandhavgarh soon!

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