The Bandhavgarh safari was quite an adventure for us not because we had to keep a lookout for tigers but because I had to visit the difficult-to-reach gigantic reclining Vishnu statue in the heart of the forest at Tala Sector C. It is very difficult to get an immediate safari booking in Bandhavgarh, as these visiting slots get booked online, months before. It is very typical of me that I really do not do any previous bookings and always prefer to take my chances when I reach my destination. And so was it with Bandhavgarh... luckily we did get safari bookings but with much effort and coaxing until the chief Range Officer agreed to my request, for I wanted to visit the 1000 years old giant of Bandhavgarh, who lay slumbering in the C sector of the forest.
Permission to go to this sector is not given so often nowadays. Only on the day of Janmastami i.e Krishna's Birthday in August, are people allowed to visit this site and also climb up to the fort above it, which has several sculptures. Well my endeavor to get to those statues was helped immensely by Mr Avinash Patel, the owner of the Wildflower Resort, Bandhavgarh, where we were staying. Three trips did I make to the Range Office with my request until finally they agreed to give me a permit to visit the reclining Vishnu, but no further than that and that too I had to book an entire 4x4 vehicle all to myself, which was pretty pricey. Well, something was better than nothing and as a bonus I also saw four tigers and two tiny cubs apart from other animals, while on our dual purpose safari through the forest.
