In the 1930s, Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar, of 250 and 300 km². Kanha National Park was created on 1 June 1955. Today it stretches over an area of 940 km² in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat. Together with a surrounding buffer zone of 1,067 km² and the neighboring 110 km² Phen Sanctuary it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve . The Kanha Tiger Reserve is the largest national park in Central India with a surrounding buffer zone of 1,067 km² . The lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel “Jungle Book” Sighting Sambhar, Chital, Gaur and other denizens of jungle is common One of the rarest deer of the Hard ground Barasingha (Swamp Deer) is also known as the – Jewel of Kanha national park. Sighting Sambhar, Chital, Gaur and other denizens of jungle is common. Today Kanha is among the few most scenic and beautiful wildlife reserves in Asia. The romance of the Kanha National Park has not reduced over time – it is still as beautiful as described by Rudyard Kipling in his famous book – The Jungle Book. One of the greatest achievements of this park is perhaps its contribution in saving many endangered wildlife species, which nearly bordered extinction. The park today steadfastly guards the different genus of wildlife it domiciles and follows painstaking measures to maintain the overall protection of its flora, fauna and avifauna. The popular ‘Sunset Point’ or ‘Bamni Dadar’ inside the park is the best lookout point that allows visitors to soak the beautiful landscape of the park and relish rare sights of wildlife viewing.

Kanha National Park has helped pioneer the advent of scientific conservation management in India. It is justifiably held out as one of Project Tiger’s star success stories. Virtually everyone who visits Madhya Pradesh, comes away moved by its diversity.

Flora

There are extensive stretches of Sal a tree of moist deciduous forest in central and north India. The Sal is good quality timber, the leaves are good fodder, fruits have nutritional & medicinal value and is valued greatly by tribals. The other common tree species belong to the Terminalia genus, the most numerous being what in India is popularly known as Crocodile bark. Terminalia arjuna, locally called Arjun is distinct because of its pale bark and thick girth, is more common near water sources.

Fauna

The high density of tigers in Kanha National Park remains the main attraction. The park is also home to Sambars and Gaurs, which are generally seen in the green meadows, grazing away the grasses to glory. Animals like blackbuck and chital are also common sights. Other main wildlife attractions of the park include bison, barasingha, barking deer, black deer, chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox, porcupine, hyena, jungle cat, python, mongoose, and leopard. Don’t forget to look up; there are a wide variety of exotic birds also here. Storks, peacocks, teals, pintails, pond herons, egrets, pea fowl, jungle fowl, spur fowl, papihas, partridges, ring doves, quails, spotted parakeets, green pigeons, rock pigeons, cuckoos, rollers, bee-eater, hoopoes, drongos, warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, finches, orioles, owls, and fly catchers. Basically a bird watchers’ heaven.

How to reach Kanha

Reach Kanha by air: The Nearest Airport for Kanha National Park are Jabalpur 160 Kms, Raipur 250 Kms & Nagpur 300 Kms.

Reach Kanha by train: The Nearest Railway Stations for accessing Kanha National Park is Gondia & Jabalpur. Gondia railway station is 145kms / 03:00 hrs drive from Kanha (Khatia Entrance Gate). Jabalpur railway station is 160kms / 04:00 hrs drive from Kanha (Mukki Entrance Gate)

Reach Kanha by road: Kanha National Park is well connected by road to major destinations such as Nagpur(300 Km), Jabalpur(160 Km), Raipur(250 km)

Best time to Visit December to April is the best time for a visit.

The climate of this region is tropical. Summers are hot and dry with a maximum and minimum temperature of 42°C and 24°C. Winters are cold with an average maximum and minimum temperature of 24°C and 1°C, respectively. The annual average rainfall is 152 cm. The park is closed from July to mid October during monsoon.