Urgent advise: Ranthambore vs Bandhavgadh

worldundermyfeet · Nov 5th, 2009, 19:11

Hi all!!

My first post on this brilliant forum. After a recent trip to Corbett, have been bitten with the safari bug.

Looking forward to making another trip in January first week, slightly undecided between Bandhavgadh and Ranthambore.

So far my understanding:

Ranthambore: More beautiful forest as well as great fauna (along with a fort); however erratic tiger sightings

Bandhavgadh: Drier forest; but chances of tiger sightings much much higher

Though tiger sighting is clearly a target; still leaning towards Ranthambore. Any thoughts?

Also, any reccomendations on places of accomodation in either places would be really welcome. Hoping to hear from well travelled....

Thanks

atravelynn · Nov 6th, 2009, 07:45

Since I have not been to India, I cannot assist with your question. Can you tell me about your Corbett trip? Thank you.

worldundermyfeet · Nov 6th, 2009, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by atravelynn

Since I have not been to India, I cannot assist with your question. Can you tell me about your Corbett trip? Thank you.

In terms of short report, it was a fantastic trip. Ofcourse, you will have to discount the euphoria, as was the first safari trip I did!

But despite, not having a tiger sighting, it wasnt one bit disappointing. The forest is nice, it was lush and teeming. Got a chance to have an acquaintance with Indian wild elephant, all the kinds of deer (spotting, barking,sambar etc), hogs, jackals, peacocks etc.

PIECE DE RESISTANCE was a leopard sighting which is considered rare. Honestly it was 5 seconds and it was over, since the thing moves like a flash, but was a treasured moment.

It has great bird scene too-Barbets, Minivets, Owls, Eagles, Vultures and some others which honestly cant recollect.
Try and get onto Dhikala (which is the only zone which has a govt. guest house inside the park.

Dont have a relative gauge to how these measure up against other parks in India, but as a trip was satisfying.

In terms of accomodation, would recommend trying to get into "Dhikala Zone" (Park has other gates- Brijrani and couple of others which are accessible for people not staying in the park)- the only way you can do that is getting an acco inside a govt. resthouse (and no I couldnt figure how to do that on a short notice, bureaucracy has its own sweet ways!). But the zone is supposed to be much better- also from point of view of tiger sightings.

Also one other highlight, was that it has a river nearby called Ramganga, which is flush with Mahseer; spent one relaxed afternoon fishing, which was another good experience.

Cheers.

trooooon · Nov 6th, 2009, 19:59

I love Bandhavgarh . . . its just such a beautiful park . . . its got a hill with a fort in the middle, vast flat grasslands, and lots of forest . . . and its not as commercial as the other parks . . . though i went a few years back! Ranthambore I have never been to, though I have heard they ushers in busloads of tourists for the sightings . . . My vote is obvious!

trooooon · Nov 6th, 2009, 20:00

Oh . . . and I sighted a adult female with two semi grown cubs . . . just 3 of us in a gypsy and they took a leisurely stroll across the road . . . it was just the most hair raising experience. No sighting I have had since has come close

avijit_wildlife · Nov 9th, 2009, 20:42

Ranthambhor is more well managed than BTR but tiger wise BTr is a bit better bet fr you!!!

tigerbob123 · Nov 10th, 2009, 22:42

Hi ,

If you have your heart set on seeing a tiger , head for Bandhavgarh .

If you do go to Bandhavgarh , check with your resort if the forest department is allowing tourists to go to the Fort located in the park . Sometimes they allow , and sometimes they do not . Its a trek up to the Fort with tigers and leopards using the same path . You need to be in decent physical shape to do the trek as it can take about an hour to reach the fort which is located on top of a hill . Your vehicle will be waiting at the base of the hill which has a large statue of a reclining Vishnu . If you cannot visit the fort , do have a look at the statue . It is located in a water body which attracts tigers .

Try to visit Bandhavgarh on week days to avoid the weekend crowds which make a mess of the place with their screams and yells when a tiger is sighted .

If you would like to see Ranthambhore , and also increase your chances of seeing a tiger here , I suggest you make the trip here any time between March to June . Time it when the school and colleges are having their exams so that the crowds are not there . If you can make it in June when it is hot , the better for getting a jeep and also for tiger sightings .

A few years back tourists saw an epic battle between a tiger and a crocodile on the last day ( June 30 ) before the park shut for the monsoons, with the tiger killing the croc .

I have seen tigers in Ranthambhore from both gypsys , as well as from canters . I have had fantastic sightings from both the vehicles - I would say better ones from the canter as the vehicle is higher in elevation than a gypsy . Its your luck on the kind of fellow passengers you get , as each canter seats about 20 - 22 . You get a better crowd if you go there when the schools and colleges are still open , better when they are having their exams - try to avoid weekends also when the Delhi and Jaipur crowds land up for their concept of fun , which does not necessarily mean serious wildlife viewing .

Tiger sightings in Ranthambhore depends upon the route your vehicle gets , and not the vehicle you are using . The forest department spreads out the vehicles by giving them different routes - not all the routes have tiger sightings , depending on the season .

Some routes have large water bodies which attract both predators and prey during the summer months . By this time the water bodies in the other routes would have dried up .

Do visit the Ranthambhore Fort if you can - as it is located inside the park , it is frequented by leopards who sun themselves on the ramparts in winter . It is your luck of course if you see them , as the fort is huge with a 7 km wall . I have been lucky to have seen tigers below in the park , while visiting the fort . Winter is a very good time to see the fort , while summer may be uncomfortable unless you visit at sunrise itself .

Do visit both the parks - Ranthambhore is beautiful in a spectacular way , while Bandhavgarh has the jewel in the crown .

Best of luck !

atravelynn · Nov 11th, 2009, 06:58

Thank you WorldUnderMyFeet for your brief Corbett report. The other info is very helpful as well.

worldundermyfeet · Nov 15th, 2009, 21:29

Thanks a ton guys (Avijit and Troon). Special thanks to Travelbob, that was a very informative post- which am going to store for later reference.

Talk about quick change in mind, rung up few people who have been to parks - and now finally going to Kanha. Think in next few years would cover other as well, so shouldnt sweat too much on this decision!!

atravelynn · Nov 16th, 2009, 10:13

Thanks for your decision WorldUnder.

trooooon · Nov 16th, 2009, 13:33

Kanha is a great park too . . . intense jungle, but the sighting i had there was just terrible, its not the same when there's 10 gypsies and a bunch of elephants all lining up for a glimpse at a tiger sleeping over a kill . . . but I hope you have better luck . . . try Singinawa tiger resort . . .

Nov 5th, 2009, 19:11	#1
worldundermyfeet Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3	Urgent advise: Ranthambore vs Bandhavgadh Hi all!! My first post on this brilliant forum. After a recent trip to Corbett, have been bitten with the safari bug. Looking forward to making another trip in January first week, slightly undecided between Bandhavgadh and Ranthambore. So far my understanding: Ranthambore: More beautiful forest as well as great fauna (along with a fort); however erratic tiger sightings Bandhavgadh: Drier forest; but chances of tiger sightings much much higher Though tiger sighting is clearly a target; still leaning towards Ranthambore. Any thoughts? Also, any reccomendations on places of accomodation in either places would be really welcome. Hoping to hear from well travelled.... Thanks

Nov 6th, 2009, 19:59	#4
trooooon tj Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vasant Kunj, New Delhi Posts: 843	I love Bandhavgarh . . . its just such a beautiful park . . . its got a hill with a fort in the middle, vast flat grasslands, and lots of forest . . . and its not as commercial as the other parks . . . though i went a few years back! Ranthambore I have never been to, though I have heard they ushers in busloads of tourists for the sightings . . . My vote is obvious! __________________ what if . . . maybe . . . say . . . suppose!

Nov 10th, 2009, 22:42	#7
tigerbob123 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 4	Visit both Bandhavgarh and Ranthambhore Hi , If you have your heart set on seeing a tiger , head for Bandhavgarh . If you do go to Bandhavgarh , check with your resort if the forest department is allowing tourists to go to the Fort located in the park . Sometimes they allow , and sometimes they do not . Its a trek up to the Fort with tigers and leopards using the same path . You need to be in decent physical shape to do the trek as it can take about an hour to reach the fort which is located on top of a hill . Your vehicle will be waiting at the base of the hill which has a large statue of a reclining Vishnu . If you cannot visit the fort , do have a look at the statue . It is located in a water body which attracts tigers . Try to visit Bandhavgarh on week days to avoid the weekend crowds which make a mess of the place with their screams and yells when a tiger is sighted . If you would like to see Ranthambhore , and also increase your chances of seeing a tiger here , I suggest you make the trip here any time between March to June . Time it when the school and colleges are having their exams so that the crowds are not there . If you can make it in June when it is hot , the better for getting a jeep and also for tiger sightings . A few years back tourists saw an epic battle between a tiger and a crocodile on the last day ( June 30 ) before the park shut for the monsoons, with the tiger killing the croc . I have seen tigers in Ranthambhore from both gypsys , as well as from canters . I have had fantastic sightings from both the vehicles - I would say better ones from the canter as the vehicle is higher in elevation than a gypsy . Its your luck on the kind of fellow passengers you get , as each canter seats about 20 - 22 . You get a better crowd if you go there when the schools and colleges are still open , better when they are having their exams - try to avoid weekends also when the Delhi and Jaipur crowds land up for their concept of fun , which does not necessarily mean serious wildlife viewing . Tiger sightings in Ranthambhore depends upon the route your vehicle gets , and not the vehicle you are using . The forest department spreads out the vehicles by giving them different routes - not all the routes have tiger sightings , depending on the season . Some routes have large water bodies which attract both predators and prey during the summer months . By this time the water bodies in the other routes would have dried up . Do visit the Ranthambhore Fort if you can - as it is located inside the park , it is frequented by leopards who sun themselves on the ramparts in winter . It is your luck of course if you see them , as the fort is huge with a 7 km wall . I have been lucky to have seen tigers below in the park , while visiting the fort . Winter is a very good time to see the fort , while summer may be uncomfortable unless you visit at sunrise itself . Do visit both the parks - Ranthambhore is beautiful in a spectacular way , while Bandhavgarh has the jewel in the crown . Best of luck !

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Nov 6th, 2009, 07:45	#2
atravelynn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: USA Posts: 14	Since I have not been to India, I cannot assist with your question. Can you tell me about your Corbett trip? Thank you.

Nov 6th, 2009, 20:00	#5
trooooon tj Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vasant Kunj, New Delhi Posts: 843	Oh . . . and I sighted a adult female with two semi grown cubs . . . just 3 of us in a gypsy and they took a leisurely stroll across the road . . . it was just the most hair raising experience. No sighting I have had since has come close

Nov 9th, 2009, 20:42	#6
avijit_wildlife Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: KOLKATA Posts: 6	Ranthambhor is more well managed than BTR but tiger wise BTr is a bit better bet fr you!!!

Nov 11th, 2009, 06:58	#8
atravelynn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: USA Posts: 14	Thank you WorldUnderMyFeet for your brief Corbett report. The other info is very helpful as well.

Nov 15th, 2009, 21:29	#9
worldundermyfeet Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3	Thanks a ton guys (Avijit and Troon). Special thanks to Travelbob, that was a very informative post- which am going to store for later reference. Talk about quick change in mind, rung up few people who have been to parks - and now finally going to Kanha. Think in next few years would cover other as well, so shouldnt sweat too much on this decision!!

Nov 16th, 2009, 10:13	#10
atravelynn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: USA Posts: 14	Thanks for your decision WorldUnder.

Nov 16th, 2009, 13:33	#11
trooooon tj Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vasant Kunj, New Delhi Posts: 843	Kanha is a great park too . . . intense jungle, but the sighting i had there was just terrible, its not the same when there's 10 gypsies and a bunch of elephants all lining up for a glimpse at a tiger sleeping over a kill . . . but I hope you have better luck . . . try Singinawa tiger resort . . .