Bandhavgarh is densely populated with other species: the great gaur, or Indian
bison, can be seen with ease, as they come onto the meadows to graze at dusk;
sambar and barking deer are a common sight and nigai are to be seen in the more
open areas of the park.
The terrain is of great rocky hills rising sharply from the swampy and densely-forested
valley bottoms. The finest of these hills is Bandhavgarh, sided with great cliffs
and eroded rocks and on its highest point stands Bandhavgarh fort, thought to
be some 2,000 years old. Scattered throughout the park, and particularly around
the fort, are numerous caves containing shrines and ancient Sankrit inscriptions.
Covering 448 sq km, Bandhavgarh is situated in Shahdol district among the outlying
hills of the vindhya range. At the centre of the Park is Bandhavgarh hiss, rising
811 metres above MSL-surrounding it are a large number of smaller hills separated
by gently sloping valleys. These valleys end in small, swampy meadows, locally
known as 'bohera' . The lowest point in the park is at Tala (440 metres above
MSL).
The vegetation is chiefly of sal forest in the valleys and on the lower slopes,
gradually changing to mixed deciduous forest on the hills and in the hotter,
drier areas of the park in the sough and west. Bamboo is found throughout.
