There are numerous Tiger reserves in India, that are preserving this elusive beast, but nowhere can you see them as often, and as frequently as in Kanha National Park. Kanha National Park, located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh extends over an area of 1,940-sq kms. The striking feature of this region's spectacular topography is the horseshoe shape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of the Mekal. The Surpan River flows through Kanha's central Maidans, grasslands that cover the extensive plateau. Steep rocky escrapments along the edges offer astounding vistas of the valley. The wildlife of Kanha is so impressive that it once prompted Rudyard Kipling to write the well famous "Jungle Book".

Kanha National Park, part of Project Tiger, is located in Madhya Pradesh, India. In the 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar, of 250 and 300 km² each. Kanha National Park was created on 1 June 1955. The nearest airport and railhead is at Jabalpur, around 175 km away(6 hours by road).

The lowland forest is a mixture of sal and other trees, interspersed with meadows. The higland forests are of a completely different nature. A very good looking indian ghost tree can also be seen in the dense. Kanha is home to about 22 species of mammals and about 300 species of birds. Commonly observed mammals include the Common Grey Langur, Wild Boar, Chital, Chousingha, Sambar and Barasingha or Swamp deer (this is the hardground swamp deer, found only in Kanha, barely 1200 survive in the wild). Barasingha were only 60 left in this planet when measures were taken to prevent extinction. As of June 2006, the count is around 1200. An attempt to raise the black buck here has failed. This is tiger country (131 tigers as on June 2006). One can also find leopards, the Sloth bear and Indian wild dog. Very rarely seen are the Indian wolf which live in the far east of the park. It comes out after dark which is not a visiting hour. Also the pangolin, which also are nocturnal and live in the highlands. The Indian jungle fowl, which is the ancestor of domestic hens, is common. The Nilgai (blue bull), though rare, can also be found in Kanha.

There are two gates for entrance into the forest. The Kisli gate is best accessible from Jabalpur and the second gate is Mukki. The Kisli gate stops at village Khatia which comes inside the buffer area.

The Flora

The terrain inside the park is varied, nonetheless fascinating. The entire forest is intermixed with Bamboo and Sal forests and meadows.

The Fauna

While you are on your mission to find a tiger, you can easily catch glimpses of all the grazers, a Porcupine, many Gray Langurs, Mongoose, Hyena, Jungle Cat, even a Leopard. Other wild attractions in this Tiger country include varieties of Deer - the Barasingha, Chital or Spotted Deer, Chousingha, Nilgai, Antelope, the Black Buck as well as the majestic Gaur or Indian Bison and wild Pig.

The Avifauna

Kanha is also rich in bird population. Kanha has over 300 different species of birds within its complex. Some of the more interesting ones for bird lovers to look out for are Pied or Marsh Harriers, Red Jungle Fowls, Painted Spur Fowls, Paradise Flycatchers, Pied Malabar Hornbills, Indian Pittas, Indian Stone Curlews, Common Gray Partridges, Warblers, Flycatchers, Babblers, Woodpeckers, Painted Partridges, Green Pigeons, Black Ibis, White Necked Storks, Lesser Adjutant Storks, White breasted Kingfishers, Pied Kingfishers, Egrets and Cormorants.

Kanha National Park Also visit the Reptiles section which houses - Monitor Lizards, Pythons and a large variety of other snakes.

Park Trips

The animals at Kanha are best observed from the elephant back and the open country makes the chance of sightings reasonably good.

Other Attractions

Kanha Museum at Kanha National Park, presenting attributes and activities of the park and the tribal culture of the state of Madhya Pradesh is a must see.

By Air

Nagpur at 266-kms is the nearest Airport to visit Kanha National Park and is connected by various domestic airline services with Mumbai.

By Rail

Jabalpur at 169-kms is the convenient rail head to visit Kanha.

By Road

Kanha National Park is connected by road with Jabalpur 175-kms, Khajuraho 445-kms, Nagpur 266-kms, Mukki 25-kms, Raipur 219-kms. There are regular to and fro bus service available from Jabalpur to Kanha.