Bandhavgarh National Park:
The forest area in the Umaria District of Madhya Pradesh has been protected and declared a National Park since 1968. It is home to a substantial tiger population and one of the largest National Parks in central India.
Kanha National Park:
The forest area under Kanha National Park is one of the most well maintained parks in Asia since its inception in 1955. It is home to the highly endangered species of Swamp Deer and has been in attention for the extensive efforts undertaken to conserve them. Another attractive feature out here is the sunset point, Bamni Dadar from which one can catch a 360-degree view of the surroundings around and the wildlife in their natural habitat.
In May 2016 an Indian Roadie fan and his family drove in his Maruti Swift VXi from Kolkata to Bandhavgarh and Kanha tiger reserve forests and back covering a total distance of 2590 kms in 8 days.
* The road stretch from Rewa to Bandhavgarh via Beohari was better than his expectation and had no great reasons to complain. He had tanked up his car to the brim in Rewa fearing that facilities might be bad upto Beohari.
* He was awed by the beauty of the reasonably good road stretch between Bandhavgarh & Kanha.
* The road surface between Kanha and Raipur was also satisfactory.
He was lucky to spot two tigers during one of the jungle safaris in a Maruti Gypsy. He went for 2 jungle safaris in Bandhavgarh and 1 in Kanha.
Locals had told him that he could be lucky to spot a tiger or two even on the state highway!
He was also warned not to stop his car or get out of the car to click photos in the event of spotting animals crossing the highway or relaxing in the jungles to ensure his own safety.
The route/ itinerary from and to Kolkata:
Day 1: Kolkata - Asansol - Varanasi (680 kms/ 12 hrs).
Day 2: Varanasi - Narayanpur - Mirzapur - Bhaisore UP/MP border - Hanumana - Managwan - Rewa - Govindgarh - Beohari - Bandhavgarh (390 kms).
Day 3: Bandhavgarh jungle safari.
Day 4: Bandhavgarh jungle safari.
Day 5: Bandhavgarh - Umaria - Shahpura - Mandla - Rata - Kanha Tiger Reserve (240 kms).
Day 6: Kanha tiger reserve forest & jungle safari.
Day 7: Kanha - Raipur - Saraipalli - Bargarh - Sambalpur (510 kms/ 11 hrs).
Day 8: Sambalpur - Rairakhole - Angul - Dhenkanal - Manguli Chowk - Bhadrak - Balasore - Kharagpur - Kolkata (696 kms/ 11 hrs 30 mins).
Break-up of intermediate distances and driving time:
** Junction of NH2 and NH7 (near Ramnagar prior to Ambedkar Bridge over River Ganges at Varanasi) to Rewa via NH7 = 230 kms.
** Rewa to Bandhavgarh National Park via Beohari and via Madhya Pradesh State Highway No. 9 = 145 kms/ 3hrs 15 mins.
** Bandhavgarh to Rata via Umaria, Shahpura and via SH-11 = 225 kms/ 4 hrs 30 mins.
** Rata to Kanha Tiger Reserve = 12 kms.
** Kanha to Raipur via NH30 = 220 kms/ 4 hrs 45 mins.
** Raipur (Jail Road) to Sambalpur (Gole Bazaar) = 290 kms/ 6 hrs.
** Sambalpur (Gole Bazaar) to Manguli Chowk = 280 kms/ 5 hrs 45 mins.
** Manguli Chowk to Balasore (Phulwari Chowk) via NH16 (erstwhile, NH5) = 176 kms/ 2 hrs 15 mins.
** Balasore (Phulwari Chowk) to Kharagpur (NH6 crossing) via NH60 = 126 kms/ 1 hr 15 mins.
** Kharagpur (NH6 crossing) to Kolkata (Vivekananda Setu/ 2nd Hooghly Bridge toll plaza) = 117 kms/ 2 hrs 15 mins.
He stayed at the Club Mahindra Kanha Resort.
Total driving distance: 2590 kms (including local travel at the locations visited).
The information is of great help. Planning a trip from Kolkata to Varanasi to Bandhavgarh to Dhuandhar Falls to Kanha to Hirakud Dam to Kolkata. The blog is very informative and has helped me in my planning. THANKS FOR SHARING THIS POST
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ReplyDeleteBandhavgarh Safari Package
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ReplyDeleteplanning for trip to kolkata to kanha. how is the road condition via sambalpur, raipur.
ReplyDeletehave you any idea about the route via ranchi