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This is the place that has been described by Rudyard Kipling
in his great book "The Jungle Book".
Picture
this thick sal forests, long bamboos, swaying grasslands and meandering
rivers. This is what Kanha is all about. Located in the Mandla district of
Madhya Pradesh, Kanha national park is a tiger reserve that extends over
an area of over 1940 sq km. A horse-shoe shaped valley bounded by the
spurs of the Mekal presents an interesting topography. Steep rocky
escarpments along the edges offer breathtaking views of the
valley.Realizing the danger on the Tiger population in the country, the
Government started the "Project Tiger" at Kanha and in 1974 the
area was declared a Tiger reserve. The park is also the habitat of the
high ground Barasingha.
The park was created in 1955 by a special law and since then it has
dedicated itself in preserving a variety of animal species. Many
endangered species have indeed been saved here. Today Kanha is among the
few most scenic and beautiful wildlife reserves in Asia.. This 'Tiger
Country' is the ideal home for both predator and prey.
It was at the Kanha national park that the first ever
scientific study of the tiger was undertaken by the eminent zoologist
George Schaller. Another landmark at Kanha is the preservation of the hard
ground Barasingha .This was achieved by extending the grasslands,
relocating villages and by increasing habitat.There are 22 species of
mammals in the park. These are the three-stripe squirrels, variety of
monkeys and apes, hyena, wild pigs, deers and black bucks.
The
Indian jackal, jungle cat, leopard, blue bull can also be spotted here.
The mixed forests and bamboo forests are good breeding and nesting
grounds for many feathered species. There are almost 200 species of birds
in Kanha. Many of them are found on the grasslands too. Some of them can
be spotted around water holes. The ground opposite the Museum is also a
good place to watch the birds at play. Take binoculars to watch them
closely. Best time to observe the birds is in the morning and evening. The
park also sustains a sizeable number of reptiles which are very difficult
to spot.
The Kanha national park in itself is so beautiful and full
of adventure that no other local attraction is needed.But Bamni Dadar is
one place which is visited by every tourist who come to the national park.
This also known as the sunset point. The Kanha national park is at it
scenic best at this point. The sunset from this spot is mesmerizing. The
eminent natural splendor of the park comes to the fore here. The grazing
sambars, barking deer, gaurs and other animals make the ambience magical.
Take
a forest department guide to go around the park. Guides take you to the
exact locations where animals can be seen at their natural best. touring
is usually on jeeps. These jeeps can be hired from the MPTDC. Elephant
safaris are mainly to spot tigers . Jeeps can be hired from the MPTDC
manager at Kisli and Mukki. Remember to book the jeep one day before the
journey. If there are more tourists then hiring jeeps can be troublesome.
So reserve the vehicle well in advance during the peak season.
The climate of the park is very tropical. The summers are
warm and winters cold. One should carry warm clothes during winters
specially while travelling on jeep.
The Kanha national park is closed from 1st July to 31st
October . This being the rainy season, the animals prefer being in
shelters than venture out. The best season to visit this park is between
November and June.
There are many good facilities for staying at Kanha. The
Krishna
Jungle Resort is situated just before the main entrance of the
Park. The tourism department and the forests department have made adequate
arrangements at the park to give the visitors comfortable accommodation.
But the lodges and rest houses are not in the park but at nearby Mukki or
Kisli. The Kanha safari lodge is at Mukki, Baghira log huts at Kisli and
Tourist lodge at Kisli are few of the government accommodation available.
Apart from these there are private hotels and rest houses for the
tourists. The forest lodge is maintained by the ITDC. Ask for the Kipling
Camp.
There are canteens and hotels at Kisli where one get both Indian and
western cuisines. The rates are reasonable and at times they are cheaper
than the market rates.
There
are regular air services to Raipur and Nagpur (270 km) from other airports
in india. One can also take the flight to Jabalpur (170 km). From these
airports one has to drive to the park. The most convenient railheads for
Kanha are Jabalpur and Nagpur. These two are well connected by fast and
superfast trains other destinations in India.
To access the Kanha national park there are two ways via Khatia or Kisli.
From Jabalpur there are daily bus services to these places. From Jabalpur,
Bilaspur and Raipur one can hire taxis to the park. No vehicles are
allowed inside the park after dark so get there before dusk.
Field Director, Project Tiger,
Kanha National Park,
P.O Mandla,
Madhya Pradesh (India) - 484661
Reservation Authority (MPT hotels)--
Central reservations, Marketing Division,
MP State Tourism Development Corporation Limited,
4th floor, Gangotri, TT Nagar,
Bhopal (India) - 785612
Tel : (0755) 554340 / 42 / 43, 574289
Fax : (0755) 552384