18th Mar/Mon: Bandhavgarh 3
Bandhavgarh has been a centre of human activity and settlement for over 2000 years, and there are references to it in ancient books, the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Shiva Purana. The oldest sign of habitation in the park are caves dug into the sandstone to the north of the fort. Several contain Brahmi inscriptions dating from the 1st century B.C. In the course of time Bandhavgarh became more and more deserted until forest overran the area and it became the royal hunting reserve. This helped to preserve the forest and its wildlife, although the Maharajas made full use of their rights. At independence Bandhavgarh remained the private property of the Maharaja until he gave it to the state for the formation of the National Park in 1968. After the park was created poaching and hunting was brought under control and the number of animals rose dramatically. The Tigers prospered and the 1986 extension provided much needed forest to accommodate them.
On this last safari day we travelled to a more remote part of the reserve where there were some hills and ravines and finally sighted a tiger close to the track. Hanuman langur monkeys and sambar deer were also present.
It is interesting to observe how strangler fig trees envelope other trees and eventually crush them within their own trunk. Near the lodge entrance a banyan tree was growing in a similar way. In the same area there were some very attractive ‘fire trees’ with their bright scarlet flowers.
I had met another Englishman who was also staying at the Tree house hideaway and we were able to have our last drink and dinner together before setting out on our long journey home the next day.
It took 4hrs to drive the 200 kms to Jabalpur airport in order to board a flight to New Delhi at 15.40 hrs. We arrived in New Delhi at 17.15 hrs. My flight from the international airport was not until 01.45 but nevertheless I arrived in Zürich early the next morning due to gaining 5 hours from the time difference.
