Ranthambhor vs Bandhavgarh

brownk1 · Apr 27th, 2003, 02:30

Anyone's thoughts/commentaries on either Tiger Reserve would be very appreciated. Am planning a very tightly scheduled trip and can't decide which place to visit. Really want to see the tigers.

Tomi · Apr 27th, 2003, 11:52

I saw a tiger in Ranthambore in Jan 2000. The various tonkas and jeeps sent each other messages by walkie-talkie and listened to monkeys, etc. to track the tigers. Two vehicles, one of them ours, parked right next to the tiger, who looked more bored than annoyed with us, although some of us in our group looked around for which one to feed to the tiger just in case... Then he took off and we followed him for a quarter mile along the road that paralleled his path. It all felt a little like a drive-in zoo rather than a natural setting, but I enjoyed my visit and the guides were respectful and knowledgeable, keeping the vehicles as quiet as possible. Ranthambore is very pretty, a little manicured, and touristy, and there were no other interesting fauna besides the tiger, just the usual spotted deer, sambar, and nilgai, which you can see at any of the parks. There were monkeys and alligators too. I was happy with my experience there but was not overwhelmed, not the way I was at the awesome Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary, which was absolutely teeming with birds, including a rare savannah eagle eating an ibis, plus big pythons and a mongoose on a rampage going after parakeet eggs and young. I did not stay the night near Ranthambore, so I have no hotels to recommend. The drive to Sawai Madhopur from Bharatpur (in a private taxi) was very interesting, going through quaint, desolate but not too dry terrain with a couple of unspoiled villages.

steven_ber · Apr 27th, 2003, 12:11

at ranthambhore you probibly have a 50% chance of seeing tigers, a good guide and a couple of safari's would increace your chances.

i took an afternoon safari and a morning safari and was lucky enough to see 4 tigers, the last one blocking the road as it stared at us from about 5 metres away, awsome.

i am not sure all the wispering in the jeep was necessary, as there were dozens of noisy jeeps out there and about 6 or 7 trucks carrying about 30 tourists on each, it made me want to blow a trumpet and shout 'tally ho', somehow i dont think the guide would have been too impressed.

hotel recommendation for ranthambhore

paan wallah · Apr 27th, 2003, 20:06

I went to the park in bhandavghar and really enjoyed my visit there ,I stayed one week in the Kum Kum Guesthouse(large double for 100 rupees only),very friendly manager,which can also arrange train or bustickets for you,
I went there in the end of february,during that week there were only around 15 tourists,some of them photgraphers for the national Geografie company,so it was very quite there,despite the usual streetdogs and monkeys,
I took a morning and afternoon safari(around 400 rupees with the jeep),but you also can rent an elephant for around the same prize,the chance to spot a tiger is a bit higher with that animal,
because the jeeps make to much noises,there is a big competition amongst the drivers and guides to spot the tiger first!It looks a bit like a game for them...
I ve seen a tigress in the afternoon(the park closes at 6 pm) with her baby tigers from a distance of maybe 15 metres,but the tigers seem to be a bit bored by this jeep racing programs.
But nonetheless the park lies in a beautiful location,it s possible to visit an ancient fort on top of the hills for some 200 ruppees extra,it s also worth to see the lying shiva surrounded by small waterpools.
As there were not many tourist the gudes and drivers are very eager to show some other attractions outside the park.I made an extra yourney to "visit" a phyton with her freshborn babies.
Also you make some fine walks in and around Tala.
There is a small lake,ideal for spotting deers and lot s of birds,sometimes you can even see very rare birds and slothbears.
I reached Tala from Rewa,north of Tala which was a hard busride of 7 hours.
I havn t been to many other park in this area but I canrecommend this one for sure!

Good luck in spotting tigers,maybe the ones from eschnapur

Tigerbob · May 10th, 2003, 21:08

My vote goes for Bandhavgarh, because Ranthambhore has become too touristy. Also, for the reasons given in the post above.

Apana · May 10th, 2003, 21:41

Just back from Bandhavgard; 12 days, 10 tigers, 60 rolls of film.

The previous year was also great.

You don't say when you want to go. Last year I went in June and saw seven tigers, this year I went in April and saw 10 tigers.

There are a lot of tourists in March and April. (On this occasion it seemed as if half the good people of France had camped in Bandhavgard).

Reports from Rabthambore have, in general, been unenthusiastic.

At the moment there's six cubs + 2 tigresses you should be able to see (on the elephant) at Bandhavgard.

Things are not the same there at the moment after two tourists were attacked/mauled bya tigress. One area of the park remains closed.

Let me know if you have any further queries.

Be warned, tigers can be addictive!

Pacheco · Aug 29th, 2007, 12:51

This makes an interesting read, especially for an avid tiger lover like me!

Perhaps you can help me?

I'm looking to go to India next year, maybe even in 2009 to see the tigers. I was thinking of visiting in either March, June, or November of 2008 or even April of 2009. I've seen many tours, some cheap, some slightly more expensive. Do you advise going with any particular company?

Also, the cheaper tours often spend 2 days at Rathambore. What are the chances of spotting a tiger there if only spending such a small amount of time in the parks? How long do you think is needed to spot a tiger, and what are the best parks in India to spot tigers?

One other thing, does anyone have any idea of the current tiger population in India? Is it likely that there will still be a healthy population in 2009 because of the poaching?

Sorry for all the questions, it's just I'm a huge Tiger fan and want to make my trip as memorable as possible!

Thanks.

aadil · Aug 29th, 2007, 16:16

Bandhavgarh is the better option in terms of seeing a tiger from an elephant for a limited time of 5 minutes (you don't pay if you don't see the tiger!!!) as well as riding an elephant in the park during the evening for a joy ride, no tigers usually visible on this ride!!! The accomodation is fine at this place and the hotels are not so pricey as at Ranthambore. Also try the nearby Kanha Tiger Reserve for a great tiger watch.

Cheers,
Aadil.

Apr 27th, 2003, 02:30	#1
brownk1 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 1	Ranthambhor vs Bandhavgarh Anyone's thoughts/commentaries on either Tiger Reserve would be very appreciated. Am planning a very tightly scheduled trip and can't decide which place to visit. Really want to see the tigers.

Apr 27th, 2003, 12:11	#3
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,214	at ranthambhore you probibly have a 50% chance of seeing tigers, a good guide and a couple of safari's would increace your chances. i took an afternoon safari and a morning safari and was lucky enough to see 4 tigers, the last one blocking the road as it stared at us from about 5 metres away, awsome. i am not sure all the wispering in the jeep was necessary, as there were dozens of noisy jeeps out there and about 6 or 7 trucks carrying about 30 tourists on each, it made me want to blow a trumpet and shout 'tally ho', somehow i dont think the guide would have been too impressed. hotel recommendation for ranthambhore __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Aug 29th, 2007, 16:16	#8
aadil Aircraft Service Engineer, Astronomer & Traveller Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mumbai, India. (Lat 18.967 N, Long 72.833 E, Alt 11 m) Posts: 1,835	Bandhavgarh is the better option in terms of seeing a tiger from an elephant for a limited time of 5 minutes (you don't pay if you don't see the tiger!!!) as well as riding an elephant in the park during the evening for a joy ride, no tigers usually visible on this ride!!! The accomodation is fine at this place and the hotels are not so pricey as at Ranthambore. Also try the nearby Kanha Tiger Reserve for a great tiger watch. Cheers, Aadil. __________________ Climb high; climb far; Your goal, the sky, Your aim, the stars!!!

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Apr 27th, 2003, 11:52	#2
Tomi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Posts: 448	I saw a tiger in Ranthambore in Jan 2000. The various tonkas and jeeps sent each other messages by walkie-talkie and listened to monkeys, etc. to track the tigers. Two vehicles, one of them ours, parked right next to the tiger, who looked more bored than annoyed with us, although some of us in our group looked around for which one to feed to the tiger just in case... Then he took off and we followed him for a quarter mile along the road that paralleled his path. It all felt a little like a drive-in zoo rather than a natural setting, but I enjoyed my visit and the guides were respectful and knowledgeable, keeping the vehicles as quiet as possible. Ranthambore is very pretty, a little manicured, and touristy, and there were no other interesting fauna besides the tiger, just the usual spotted deer, sambar, and nilgai, which you can see at any of the parks. There were monkeys and alligators too. I was happy with my experience there but was not overwhelmed, not the way I was at the awesome Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary, which was absolutely teeming with birds, including a rare savannah eagle eating an ibis, plus big pythons and a mongoose on a rampage going after parakeet eggs and young. I did not stay the night near Ranthambore, so I have no hotels to recommend. The drive to Sawai Madhopur from Bharatpur (in a private taxi) was very interesting, going through quaint, desolate but not too dry terrain with a couple of unspoiled villages.

Apr 27th, 2003, 20:06	#4
paan wallah kitchen guru Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: universe Posts: 344	I went to the park in bhandavghar and really enjoyed my visit there ,I stayed one week in the Kum Kum Guesthouse(large double for 100 rupees only),very friendly manager,which can also arrange train or bustickets for you, I went there in the end of february,during that week there were only around 15 tourists,some of them photgraphers for the national Geografie company,so it was very quite there,despite the usual streetdogs and monkeys, I took a morning and afternoon safari(around 400 rupees with the jeep),but you also can rent an elephant for around the same prize,the chance to spot a tiger is a bit higher with that animal, because the jeeps make to much noises,there is a big competition amongst the drivers and guides to spot the tiger first!It looks a bit like a game for them... I ve seen a tigress in the afternoon(the park closes at 6 pm) with her baby tigers from a distance of maybe 15 metres,but the tigers seem to be a bit bored by this jeep racing programs. But nonetheless the park lies in a beautiful location,it s possible to visit an ancient fort on top of the hills for some 200 ruppees extra,it s also worth to see the lying shiva surrounded by small waterpools. As there were not many tourist the gudes and drivers are very eager to show some other attractions outside the park.I made an extra yourney to "visit" a phyton with her freshborn babies. Also you make some fine walks in and around Tala. There is a small lake,ideal for spotting deers and lot s of birds,sometimes you can even see very rare birds and slothbears. I reached Tala from Rewa,north of Tala which was a hard busride of 7 hours. I havn t been to many other park in this area but I canrecommend this one for sure! Good luck in spotting tigers,maybe the ones from eschnapur

May 10th, 2003, 21:08	#5
Tigerbob Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Delhi Posts: 5	My vote goes for Bandhavgarh, because Ranthambhore has become too touristy. Also, for the reasons given in the post above.

May 10th, 2003, 21:41	#6
Apana Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hyderabad, India Posts: 147	Just back from Bandhavgard; 12 days, 10 tigers, 60 rolls of film. The previous year was also great. You don't say when you want to go. Last year I went in June and saw seven tigers, this year I went in April and saw 10 tigers. There are a lot of tourists in March and April. (On this occasion it seemed as if half the good people of France had camped in Bandhavgard). Reports from Rabthambore have, in general, been unenthusiastic. At the moment there's six cubs + 2 tigresses you should be able to see (on the elephant) at Bandhavgard. Things are not the same there at the moment after two tourists were attacked/mauled bya tigress. One area of the park remains closed. Let me know if you have any further queries. Be warned, tigers can be addictive!

Aug 29th, 2007, 12:51	#7
Pacheco Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 1	This makes an interesting read, especially for an avid tiger lover like me! Perhaps you can help me? I'm looking to go to India next year, maybe even in 2009 to see the tigers. I was thinking of visiting in either March, June, or November of 2008 or even April of 2009. I've seen many tours, some cheap, some slightly more expensive. Do you advise going with any particular company? Also, the cheaper tours often spend 2 days at Rathambore. What are the chances of spotting a tiger there if only spending such a small amount of time in the parks? How long do you think is needed to spot a tiger, and what are the best parks in India to spot tigers? One other thing, does anyone have any idea of the current tiger population in India? Is it likely that there will still be a healthy population in 2009 because of the poaching? Sorry for all the questions, it's just I'm a huge Tiger fan and want to make my trip as memorable as possible! Thanks.

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