Kanha National Park is among the most popular tiger reserves in the world. It is situated in Mandla / Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh. It was made at a time when animal hunting was at its peak and the animals needed to be protected. The central Kanha valley got its status as a National Animal Reserve in 1955.
It is a huge park covering an area of around 1950 sq km. The park is at a height of 500 metres above sea level. Kanha is popular for its conservation movements which is done in collaboration with the local residents, communities and park officials. Kanha has many success stories attached to it for its reviving endangered species from a very few to a respectable figure. It has around 1000 barasinghas compared to only 66 in 1970.
The best time to travel to Kanha National Park is between April and June or from November to January. The park gets huge rainfall and is usually closed from July to November. This period may vary depending on the climate so it is better to check with the authorities before travel.
Kanha National Park has a tropical climate. The summer is hot with mercury ranging from 24 to 43 degrees Celsius whereas winter is cool and pleasant from 11 to 20 degree Celsius. The rain is usually heavy during Monsoon which begins around mid June. It has an average of 1800mm of rainfall.
Being a jungle, there is no facility for credit card or ATM so it is best to carry cash while travelling.
Visitors require an entry permit for a nominal fee of Rs 2. An additional of Rs 15 is charged for the vehicles. Guides can also be hired through your journey. There are time restrictions and tourists are allowed to be in the park at specific timing. Driving in the park at night or walking around on your feet is prohibited and could be dangerous. An updated schedule can be obtained from the park authorities. A vaild visa to India is required by all foreign tourists.
By Air The nearest airport to Kanha reserve is at Jabalpur which is around 175 km away. Jabalpur connects directly to New Delhi and other major airports with daily flights. Various domestic airlines operate directly to Jabalpur.
By Train Nearest railway station for Kanha National Park is also at Jabalpur which is located towards North-Western side of the park.
By Road From Jabalpur Railway station one can find various bus / taxi services which can be hired to reach the park. Kanha is also well connected to Nagpur (266 kms), Raipur (218 kms), Mukki (25 kms), and Khajuraho (445 kms) by road.
Getting Around Besides frequent buses, MPSTDC also has a Jeep service for the tourists to visit in and around the park. Booking should be made in advance for the local sight-seeing tour.
Bring Cotton clothes and also the woollens as it can be excessively cold during the mornings specially while moving around in the Jeep. Avoid wearing clothes with loud colors as it may distract the animals and defy the purpose of your journey.
Topography Kanha has huge plateaus and grasslands. The park also sports the vacant meadows left by the villagers while relocating outside the parked. The park is irrigated and drained by its rivers Sulkum, Banjar and Nila. There are several water springs which provide water at high areas during summer. These rivers and waterbodies attract a variety of wildlife to it and tourists prefer to stay close to it.
Flora The low lying areas at Kanha is very dense with ‘Bija’, ‘Dhaora’, and ‘Haldu’ trees. Also found is a good sum of ‘Bamboo’, ‘Sindhur’ and ‘Ban-rahar’. The park is very picturesque during the cooler months and is a paradise for landscape photographers and nature lovers alike.
Fauna The reserve is globally famous for its tigers. More tigers are sighted here than any other natural reserve in the country. Besides Kanha, good number of tigers are found in Rantambhor and Bandhavgarh which is closely located.
Also found are Leopards, Sambhar, Nilgai, blackbuckx, hyenas, jackals, wild boars, barasingha, chausingha, and variety of Deer.
Reptiles are also habitants and one can find monitor lizards, pythons and a large variety of other snakes.
Finding a place to eat is not difficult as almost all accommodation facilities have their own canteen / restaurants where outsiders are equally welcome. One can also have a meal at several small roadside local food-joints (dhabas) which could be a delightful experience.
Tourists can choose to stay in Kanha in one of the MPSTDC (Madhya Pradesh State Tourist Development Corporation) Log Huts which are locally know as ‘Bagheera huts’ as a tribute to Rudyard Kipling’s book for children - ‘The Jungle Book’. There is also a local youth hostel where one can find a room. Bookings can be made through MPSTDC offices located in Delhi, Jabalpur or Bhopal.
