Central India

Central India is a plateau of sal forest, bamboo thickets and grassy meadows — the heart of tiger country. Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh is known for one of the highest densities of wild tigers in India, and above the forest rises a rocky hill crowned by an ancient fort and caves carved into the rock.

Jeep safaris with naturalists set out at dawn and in the afternoon; besides tigers you may see leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer and hundreds of bird species. The safari season runs roughly October to June: winter mornings are cool, spring is hot but animals gather near water, and the core zones of the park usually close for the monsoon.