Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Wild Haven Resort located in Bandhavgarh?

Wild Haven Resort is located on Ranchha Road in Tala, right adjacent to the Taj Mahua Kothi resort. It is less than a kilometer away from the main entrance gate of Bandhavgarh tiger reserve. It has convenient access from the road on which the township of Tala is situated.  

What are the approximate road distances to Bandhavgarh from the main railway stations and airports?

Umaria: 35 kms | Katni: 110 kms | Jabalpore: 200 kms | Khajuraho: 280 kms | Allahabad: 290 kms | Lucknow: 490 kms | Varanasi: 320 kms | Satna: 150 kms

Do you provide taxi pick-up and drop-off services to railway stations and airports?

There are local taxi services providers based at Bandhavgarh to whom this service is usually outsourced by us as per your requirement. These services are available for Umaria, Katni, Satna, Khajuraho, Jabalpore and Kanha. These services are charged by the service providers at currently prevalent rates. Their normal practice is to charge @ Rs 7 to 9 per km, and the kms for both ways is billed.

How many Jeep safaris into the tiger reserve are provided in a day?

Jeep safaris into the tiger reserve are done twice daily at around 5.30 AM and 3.00 PM. These last for a duration of 2.5 to 3 hours each. Each vehicle can accommodate a group of upto 6 tourists, excluding the driver and guide. Children below 5 years are allowed to accompany their parents without charge. However, from April 1, 2011 onwards, the park will remain closed for safaris each Wednesday afternoon.

Do you provide regular elephant safaris for tiger-sightings?

Regular elephant safaris are not pre-arranged by us. These are sometimes provided by the Forest Department during the morning Jeep safari, in case the tiger is located off the main road in the forest. The tourists are then mounted on elephants and taken to have a sighting of the tiger. These rides are spot-charged by the forest department @ Rs 200 / person for Indian guests and Rs 600 / person for overseas guests, and are normally rides of 15-20 minutes. Four adult tourists per elephant are accommodated, while children below 5 years accompanying their parents are not charged. We are not in a position to pre-book or confirm these elephant rides for our guests, since these are never a certainty.

How many entry gates are available for a safari into Bandhavgarh?

There are currently three entry gates being operated by the forest department – Tala, Maghdi & Panpatha. Current bookings, if available, for all gates are being done at the Tala counter, which creates a long queue of vehicles, thereby creating delays in actually entering the park. This delay can only be avoided by having advance park entry bookings. Bookings from the main Tala gate are more in demand, hence should be booked well in advance. In case Tala is not available, the entry will have to be booked from Maghdi or Panpatha gate, which lie about 6 - 8 kms away from Tala. The currently payable safari rates are available on the tariff page.

Can I make advance booking of safaris on my own?

 The MP government portal at https://www.mponline.gov.in/portal/Services/Forest/FinalForest/foresthome.htm has a provision for you to book your park entry in advance and make an online payment to them through credit card / net banking. But payment of guide fee and hiring a vehicle in which to go on safari, needs to be made by you separately. We strongly recommend that you book your safaris in advance before coming to Bandhavgarh.

Can safari vehicles be shared with other tourist groups?

Sharing a vehicle with other tourist groups is neither advised nor arranged by us. However, it can be done by the groups themselves, if the opportunity is available to them.

What is the ideal duration of stay for a visit to Bandhavgarh?

We recommend a stay of three nights for a fulfilling exploration of Bandhavgarh. During this period, you can take a maximum of 5 – 6 safaris. However, even four safaris – 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon - will be quite satisfying in terms of sighting a tiger and exploring the forests of Bandhavgarh.

The MP Forest Department has declared TALA as Premium Tourism Zone, and doubled the entry fees from Rs 1030 / 2030 for Indians / non-Indians to Rs 2030 / 4030 respectively. The other components are Gypsy vehicle hire and guide fees. Consequently, the safaris from Tala Gate will now cost Rs 4000 / Rs 6000. The vehicle providers have also hiked their Gypsy hiring rates, which will affect all tourists going on safari. The presently applicable safari rates are available on the  tariff page.

What is a fort safari?

The central area of Bandhavgarh is dominated by a high hill over which the ruins of an ancient fort are located. It contains many water-bodies and is a good tiger habitat. It commands a birds-eye view of the lush forests below. Previously, going there required a stiff drive by a 4x4 vehicle, but once there, you had a relatively quieter wildlife experience since the number of vehicles going to the fort was very low. But from October, 2010 the MP forest department has changed the fort safari rules by disallowing vehicles to go right up to the fort. Now the Gypsy vehicles will only be allowed up to Shesh Shaiyya (the reclining Vishnu statue). The tourists will then have to undertake a steep walk up to the fort, accompanied by a guide. They will then return the same way, to board their waiting Gypsy and exit the park. The fort safari entry is provided by the forest department separately, in the sense that it can not be linked to the morning or evening safaris. Fort safaris are given entry at around 7 AM, 10 AM and 2 PM - two vehicles at each time.

 What is the process of finalizing a package and make reservations / bookings in the resort?

You will find a booking / query form which contains all the information that we need to finalize your package and quote costs. Please fill it and email it to us after referring to all the relevant tariff information provided on the website. We will respond immediately, and then you can get your booking confirmed by paying an advance comprising of 50 % of the resort charges + taxi charges (if pickup / drop off is requisitioned in your package), and 100 % of the safari booking charges.

What is the type of meals served in your resort?

Our AP rates include the provision of breakfast, vegetarian lunch and veg / non-veg dinner, as well as tea / coffee in the morning & evening. In case you wish, our kitchen will be happy to take your special orders and provide it, based on availability. These would be served on extra costs, as applicable. We serve Aquaguard water for drinking, but mineral water bottles can also be made available on request. Meals are expected to be had in the Dining hall, and not in rooms.