KANHA NATIONAL PARK

Kanha National Park is one of the largest national parks nestled in the Maikal range of Saputra’s in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP), the heart of India that forms the central Indian highlands. Kanha National Park was declared a reserve forest in 1879 and revalued as a wildlife sanctuary in 1933. Its position was further upgraded to a national park in 1955, Kanha is spread across the area of 1,949 sq. km, with 940 sq. km of core area and 1,009 sq. km of buffer zone, hence this vast and vivacious land offers undulating landscape of plateaus, groves of vegetation, hillocks, and large open meadows. The crystal-clear streams amidst the dense jungle cleanses the surroundings and makes the wildlife unrivalled

The large meadows of Kanha National Park can sustain large population of Chital, Sambar, mesmerizing Barasingha and Gaur (Indian Bison) which attracts the predators like Leopards, Wild Dogs, Jungle cats and Foxes apart from the Majestic Tigers. Both Kanha and Pench national parks play a significant role in inspiring Sir Rudyard Kipling's for his famous book - "The Jungle book".

It is considered to be the best administered park in India, Kanha with active conservation programmes not just for tigers, but for the barasingha (swamp deer), and this is the only place in the world where the population has adapted to live on hard ground. Kanha is primarily a moist Sal and moist mixed deciduous forest where Bamboo, Tendu, Sal, Jamun and Sindoor trees are found in abundance. It is home to more than 30 species of Mammals and over 300 species of birds. Kanha’s booming habitat and natural beauty make it one of the prime wildlife destinations in the world.

Mammals: Tigers, Leopards, Jungle Cat, Indian Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, Barasingha, Four Horned Antelope (Chausingha) Barking Deer (Muntjac), Jackal, Wild boar, Rhesus Macaque, Sambar Deer, Striped Hyena, Civets, Nilgai, Indian Fox.

Birds: Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White Bellied Drongo, Spangled Drongo, Racket Tailed Drongo, Grey Francolin, Painted Francolin, Golden Oriole, Black Hooded Oriole, Common Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Twany Fish Owl, Barred Jungle Owlet, Spotted Owlet, Brown Fish Owl, Indian Scops Owl, Mottled Wood Owl, Crested Serpent Eagle, Shikra, Common Kestrel, Changeable Hawk Eagle, White Eyed Buzzard, Oriental Honey Buzzard and Indian Pitta.

Forest Type

Moist Peninsular Sal Forest

Yearly and weekly off

Holi, Diwali and Every Wednesday afternoon Safari

Area

1064 square kilometer

One of the Oldest zone of the Tiger reserve, this zone includes the famous Chakradhara and Rajbhera meadows that offer scenic views and exceptional Tiger and mammal sightings. This is the zone where the Bandhavgarh Fort and statue of Vishnu (Shesh Shaiya) can also be seen. Scenic landscape includes Sal forests, hillocks, and grasslands.

This zone has dry deciduous forests and meadow where you can witness the Barasingha. You will also witness the Saal forests on the way to Sarohi as it shares the common road for Kisli zone as well.

This zone offers you the best landscape includes saal, bamboo and grasslands along with the landscapes Mukki zone is always rewarded with best sightings

Few years back a herd of migrant wild elephants moved here and have made Khitauli as their home. Apart from Tiger sighting Khitauli is good for watching neelgai, four-horned antelope and chinkara. Khitauli is a dry deciduous area and full of Bamboo's.