It is located at Vindhya Range, in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh.
Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968 and then became Tiger Reserve in 1993.
It was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. India’s first white tiger was captured here in 1951.
It is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India as well as in the world.
Streams: The whole park is filled with more than 20 streams out of which some of the most important streams are Johilla, Janadh, Charanganga, Damnar, Banbei, Ambanala and Andhiyari Jhiria. These streams then merge into the Son river (an important southern tributary to the river Ganga).
Vegetation: Moist and mixed deciduous forests.
Major Fauna: Bengal tiger, elephant, leopard, sambar, barking deer, Indian wolf, striped hyena, nilgai.
Major Avifauna: Indian grey hornbill, lesser adjutant stork, lesser spotted eagle, Bonelli’s eagle.
The Indian bison was reintroduced from Kanha.
Historical Significance: Its mention can be found in the ancient books of the ‘Narad Pancharatra’ and the ‘Shiv Purana’ that this place is being associated with Ramayana.
The Bandhavgarh Fort is a great masterpiece of “Treta Yuga” (one of the ages of mankind in Hinduism).
It was ruled by major dynasties including Sengars, the Kalchuris, and the Baghels (believed to rule the regions for the longer period).
Dinosaur (Ashmadha) Fossils National Park
It is located in the Narmada Valley.
The Dinosaur Fossils National Park is located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, India.
Dinosaur eggs and fossils and fossilized trees dating back 60 million years were discovered in the site.
Dry deciduous forests of the southern tropical region are found in the park.
Durgavati Tiger Reserve
It is spread across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. It will encompass areas within the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary.
A green corridor linking Panna Tiger Reserve with Durgavati Tiger Reserve will be developed for movement of tigers to the new reserve.
The Ken-Betwa River linking projectis going to submerge areas of Panna Tiger Reserve. So, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has asked the UP and MP governments to notify new Tiger Reserves. Following it, Uttar Pradesh approved its 4th Tiger Reserve in the Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Madhya Pradesh approved Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
Rivers: Parts of the reserve fall under the Narmada and Yamuna River basins.
The Singorgarh Fort is located within the reserve.
Vegetation: Dry deciduous type
Flora: The chief floral elements include Teak, Saja, Dhaora, Ber, Amla, etc.
Fauna: Tiger, leopard, wolf, jackal, Indian fox, striped hyena, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, Sambhar, Black Buck, Barking deer, Common Langur Rhesus Macaque etc.
Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, Tiger Reserve
The Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura Range in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh, and continues in Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary.
Pench Tiger Reserve straddles across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It comprises the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park (MP) and the Jawahar Nehru Pench National Park (Maharashtra).
Pench River (that emerges fromMahadeo Hills) flows through the park dividing it into two halves.
Vegetation: Moist and dry deciduous forests.
Major Flora: Teak
Major Fauna: Royal Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, four-horned antelope, barking deer, chital, sambar.
It is among the sites notified as Important Bird Areas (IBA) of India.
Threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation (e.g., widening of NH 44 which runs along its eastern boundary).
Collarwali (‘The One With a Collar’), the first tigress in the park fitted with a radio collar recently died.
Pench National Park was the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’.
Kanha National Park, Tiger Reserve
It is located in the Maikal Range of Satpuras. It stretches over an area of 940 square km in the two districts – Mandla and Balaghat – of Madhya Pradesh.
It is the largest National Park of Madhya Pradesh and Central India.
The present-day Kanha area is divided into two protected areas, Hallon and Banjar.
Tribes displaced from the region: Baiga tribe (a semi-nomadic tribe of Central India) lost their forest rights & were not properly compensated.
Vegetation: tropical moist and dry deciduous forests.
Major Flora: Sal, bamboo forests.
It is best known for its evergreen Sal forests (Shorea Robusta).
The State animal of Madhya Pradesh -> Hard Ground Barasingha.
Major Avifauna: Black ibis, Indian grey hornbill, lesser adjutant, steppe eagle.
It is the first tiger reserve in India to officially introduce a mascot, “Bhoorsingh the Barasingha”.
Madhav National Park
Madhav National Park is situated in Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh. It is a part of the upper Vindhyan hills.
It was named after Madho Rao Scindia belonging to the Scindia dynasty of the Marathas. The Park was the hunting ground of Mughal emperors and Maharaja of Gwalior. It got the status of a National Park in 1959.
Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar are two important reservoirs within the park built by Madho Rao Scindia. Sakhya Sagar has been designated as a Ramsar site since 2022.
Tiger Corridor: The Park falls within one of the 32 major Tiger Corridors of the country, which are operationalised through the Tiger Conservation Plan. Tiger Conservation Plan is implemented under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Madhav National Park is a part of the Ranthambhore-Kuno-Madhav (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) Tiger Corridor of Central India & Eastern Ghats landscape.
India’s tiger landscapes are: Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains, Central Indian Landscape and Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, and North-East.
PVTGs have some basic characteristics – they are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, absence of written language, relatively simple technology and a slower rate of change etc.
Mandla Plant Fossil National Park
Mandla Plant Fossils National Park is situated in the Narmada Valley, in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh.
It has plant fossils that existed in India between 40-150 million years ago.
Ghughua Fossil Park is just a few kilometres from it. The Dindori Plant Fossils National Park is an area that spreads over 274,100 square metres.
Panna National Park, Tiger Reserve
Panna National Park is in Panna and Chhatarpur Districts of Madhya Pradesh. It is situated in the Vindhya mountain range in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh.
Panna National Park along with Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary,form a significant part of the catchment area of the Ken River (a tributary of Yamuna) which runs through the park.
In the Ken Wildlife Sanctuary, gharials (fish-eating freshwater crocodiles) are bred in captivity and then released.
Vegetation: Fragmented deciduous forests.
Major Fauna: Tiger, leopard, chital, chinkara, sambar.
The region is also famous for Panna diamond mining.
In 2012, no tigers were left in the reserve. A tiger each fromBandhavgarh National ParkandKanha National Park were translocated toPanna Tiger Reserve.
Conservation and Recognition:
1994: The Panna National Park got the status of Project Tiger Reserve as India’s 22nd tiger reserve.
2011: It was notified as a Biosphere Reserve by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
2018: By 2018, it witnessed a remarkable turnaround in tiger population by increasing their numbers remarkably from zero estimated a decade ago.
Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers in the country followed by Karnataka and Uttarakhand.
2020: UNESCO included it in the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB).
Ratapani Tiger Reserve, Wildlife Sanctuary
It is located in Vindhya Rangein Central India, in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh.
The MP government is keen on declaring Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve. It received approval for the same from NTCA long ago. The final approval yet to be given by the state government (state wildlife board).
Barna Reservoir and Ratapani Dam (Barrusot lake) are among the major waterbodies adjacent to or inside the sanctuary.
Bhimbetka rock shelters, are located within this tiger reserve.
Threats: Tiger deaths due to accidents and poaching.
Sanjay National Park, Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve
Located in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, it is named after Guru Ghasidas of the Satnami sect.
Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve comprises Sanjay National Park and the Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary
Guru Ghasidas National Park was the last known habitat of the Asiatic cheetah in the country.
It connects Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh and provides a corridor for tigers to move between the Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh) and Palamau Tiger Reserves (Jharkhand).
Rivers:Banas, Gopad, Mawai, Mahan, Kodmar, Umrari and others.
Vegetation: Dry deciduous forests.
Major Flora: Sal and bamboo forests are seen all through.
Major Fauna: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild boar, nilgai, chinkara, monitor lizard.
Satpura National Park, Tiger Reserve
It is located in the Narmadapuram District of Madhya Pradesh. It was India’s first reserve forest.
It is located in the Satpura Range. It has Dhoopgarh peak (1,350 m) and level plains of Churna.
Panchmarchi is the closest city to the park.
The terrain is rugged and consists of sandstone peaks, gorges, ravines and dense forests of sal and teak.
Major Flora: Sal, teak, tendu, mahua.
Major Fauna: Bengal tiger, leopard, sambar, chital, Indian muntjac, nilgai, chausingha, chinkara, blackbuck.
Van Vihar National Park
Van Vihar National Park is in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh.
It has the status of a NP, but is developed and managed as a zoological park.
Ban Sagar Dam is a multipurpose river Valley Project on Sone River.
Bori Wildlife Sanctuary
It is located in foothills of the Satpura Range.
It is bounded by Satpura National Park and Tawa River (tributary of Narmada).
The sanctuary, together withSatpura National ParkandPachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, formsPachmarhi Biosphere Reserve.
Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
It is located betweenGandhi Sagar Dam (Madhya Pradesh)andRana Pratap Sagar Dam (Rajasthan).
Both the dams are built on the Chambal River which passes through the Wildlife Sanctuary dividing it into two parts.
Major Fauna: Mugger crocodiles.
Ghatigaon Wildlife Sanctuary
It is situated near Gwalior and it has a significant population of the great Indian bustard (CR).
Karera Wildlife Sanctuary
It was established to protect the population of thegreat Indian bustard (CR).
Major Fauna: Great Indian bustard and blackbuck (LC).
Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary
It is located near Panna National Park and Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Panna.
Panna National Park along with Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary form a significant part of the catchment area of the Ken River (a tributary of Yamuna).
In the Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, fish-eating freshwater crocodiles (CR) are bred in captivity and then released.
Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary
It is connected to the proposedRatapani Wildlife Sanctuary through corridors.
It has a presence of tigers, which have apparently migrated from Ratapani.
Narsighgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Parbati River (originates in the Vindhya range) flows along the periphery of Wildlife Sanctuary.
Parbati River is one of the Chambal River’s three main tributaries, along with the Banas River and the Kali Sindh River.
National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary
It is located on the Chambal River near the tripoint of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
It is a tri-state protected area for the Gharial (CR), red-crowned roof turtle (CR) and Ganges river dolphin (flagship species; EN). It is listed as an Important Bird Area.
Other Fauna: muggar crocodile (marsh crocodile; VU), smooth-coated otter (VU), Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle (EN), three-striped roof turtle (CR), Indian soft shell turtle (VU), Indian roofed turtle (LC).
Noradehi Wildlife Sanctuary
It is the largest Wildlife Sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh.
Three-fourths of the sanctuary falls in the Yamuna Basin and one-fourth falls in the Narmada basin.
It is spread over the southern area of theVindhya Range in which Bandhavgarh National Park and Panna National Park are also located.
Orcha Wildlife Sanctuary
It is situated within an island formed by the Betwa River (tributary of the Yamuna).
Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary
Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is situated in the Satpura Range.
It includes three wildlife conservation units: Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary & Satpura National Park
Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary
It is located in Sheopur and Morena districts.
Recently, the Cheetahs from Namibia were released here as part of cheetah reintroduction in India.
It is also a possible site for Asiatic Lion reintroduction in India.
Panna (Gangau) Wildlife Sanctuary
Panna Tiger Reserve = Panna National Park + Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary + Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary.
Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve = Bandhavgarh National Park + Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary
Phen Wildlife Sanctuary
Phen is a buffer zone of Kanha National Park.
It lies in south-eastern region of Kanha Tiger Reserve, close to Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh border.
Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary
It is located in the Raisen district in the Vindhya Range.
It is a proposed Tiger Reserve with in-principle approval by NTCA. MP government has not yet notified it as a Tiger Reserve.
Sailana or Kharmour Wildlife Sanctuary (BS)
It is home to the ‘Kharmour‘ bird, a very rare species.
Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Kharmor Wildlife Sanctuary were established on the recommendations of Salim Ali for the protection of theLesser florican (CR).
Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary
It is located in the Dhar district.
Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Kharmor Wildlife Sanctuary were established on the recommendations of Salim Ali for the protection of the Lesser Florican (CR).
Singhori Wildlife Sanctuary
It contiguous with Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in the Vindhyas.
The Narmada River Basin separates the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and the Singhori Wildlife Sanctuary from the Satpura Tiger Reserve.
Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary
It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary to protect the natural habitat of Gharial and marsh crocodile.
Others
Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary: Located on the southern periphery of Indore city.
Veerangna Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the Vindhyas of Damoh district.
Ramsar Sites of Madhya Pradesh
Bhoj Wetland
The Bhoj wetland is situated in the heart of Bhopal district in Madhya Pradesh.
The wetland consists of two man-made lakes–the upper lake and the lower lake.
The upper lake, the oldest among large man-made lakes in central India, was created by king Bhoj in the 11th century by constructing an earthen dam across the Kolans river.
The Kolans was formerly a tributary of the Halali River; with the creation of the Bhojtal and a diversion channel, the upper reach of the Kolans River and the Bhojtal now drain into the Kaliasot River.
Bhadbhada dam was constructed in 1965 at the southeast corner of the Bhojtal; it now controls the outflow to the Kaliasot river.
The Lower Lake was created in 1794 by Nawab Chhote Khan, Minister of Nawab Hayath Mohammad Khan, to beautify the city.
It is also contained behind an earthen dam, and drains into the Halali River via the lower reach of the Kolans River, presently known as the Patra Drain.
Both the Kaliasot and Halali Rivers are tributaries of the Betwa River.
The lakes are home to a diverse flora and fauna, including many waterbirds.
Sankhya Sagar Lake (artificial lake) located in Madhav National Park in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh.
The lake is home to marsh crocodiles aka ‘Mugger’ (Crocodylus palustris), which is a Schedule I reptilian species protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Major Fauna: Mugger (VU), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU), Hump-Backed Mahseer (CR)
Sirpur wetland
It is a human-made wetland commonly named Pakshi Vihar in Indore.
The lake was recognized by BirdLife International as the important bird areas (IBAs).
Sirpur Lake was created by the Holkars of Indore State in the early 20th century.
Major Avifauna: Common Pochard (VU), Egyptian Vulture (EN), Indian River Tern (VU)
Yashwant Sagar
Yashwant Sagar is a dam reservoir on Gambhir river, located in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh.
It is one of the strongholds of the vulnerable Sarus crane in central India. It is also the Important Bird Areas of Madhya Pradesh.
