No records exist to show when Bandhavgarh Fort was built. It is believed to be 2000 years old and there are references of it in the Narad-Panch Ratra and Shiv Purana which are very ancient books. According to mythology, Lord Rama of Ramayana, after defeating the demon King Ravana of Lanka, stopped here and had the Fort built. He then handed it to his brother Lakshmana to keep a watch over Lanka which is why the name Bandhavgarh. It means Brother's Fort (Bandhav means Brother and Garh means Fort). Lakshmana became known as Bandhavdhish or "Lord of the Fort," and is worshipped as the God of the Fort to date.
On the southern side of the Fort is a point called Shesh Saya, named after a unique 35 foot (11 meter) monolithic statue of Lord Vishnu reclining on a seven hooded snake and carved around the 10th Century. In front of this statue is located a pool of spring water. This is said to be the source of the stream known as Charan Ganga, one of three perennial streams flowing through the park. Tigers and other species of Indian wildlife, visit this pool to drink, and to cool off in summer. One can park ones vehicles out here and start the climb up to the Fort. The footpath rises at quite a sharp gradient and the ground is uneven - one therefore needs to be reasonably fit.
