Sunlight dappling through towering sal trees and grasslands filled with limpid pools, Kanha brings to mind the raw wilderness of the African veldt. India’s most famous and handsome jungle can be found deep inside Madhya Pradesh, in the heart of tiger territory.
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Kanha National Park
Local areas in Kanha National Park
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Art and History
Explore the Hidden Marvels of Kanha with a Stay at Taj Hotels
History and Landscape
The magnificent forest tract of Kanha National Park straddles the two districts of Mandla and Balaghat in the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. These areas have enjoyed protection since 1879 as a reserve forest, subsequently being declared a National park in 1955 and a Tiger Reserve in 1973. This region used to be a part of ‘Gondwana’, or land of the Gond tribe which still inhabit the region. The Baiga are the other prominent tribe living here. Located on the Maikal Hills of the Satpura range; Kanha constitutes the classic landscape of the Central Indian highlands with gently sloping hills, misty dense forests and river valleys. Kanha National Park is one of the largest parks in the country spreading over 2000 square kilometres. These jungles are prime tiger habitat and are a conservation success story for Barasingha or the hard ground swamp deer. From about 60 individuals or so in the 1960’s to over 750 deer in the recent census, the Barasingha are back from the brink of extinction.
Flora
Kanha vegetation is mixed deciduous with Sal (Shorea robusta) as the dominant species. Sal is a towering tree that can grow up to a height of 30 metres and is seldom leafless, making for a green jungle year round. The tree is prized locally not only for timber but for various medicinal uses. The resin obtained from Sal is used to treat Arthritis, while the butter is used for lighting oil lamps. Bamhani Dadar - one of the highest points in the park is a rocky plateau that has scrub like vegetation with short hardy plants and grasses. A variety of trees growing on the slopes are Bael or stone apple, Tendu, Jamun or Indian blackberry, Tamarind and Mahua to name a few. Arjuna trees with smooth white trunks are usually found growing on river banks while swathes of Bamboo occur intermittently. Various species of grasses are found in the Kanha meadows, chief among them being ‘Kans’, from the Saccharum family, of which the delicious sugarcane is also a member. Some of the finest specimens of the Crocodile bark trees can be seen in Kanha. As the name suggests, this robust looking tree has a bark that resembles the ridged pattern on a crocodile’s back. The Kanha jungles have a temperate climate and relatively cool year round. The temperate climes of Kanha abound with myriad fruiting trees and grasslands swaying with succulent grasses. Such natural bounty provides for a thriving and varied animal population at Kanha national park.
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Give Back
Give Back
Buy local handicrafts and souvenirs from the Forest Department store at the entrance gates to the national park.
Tribal Villages
Tribal Villages
Discover some of the oldest indigenous tribes of India on a visit to local Gond and Baiga villages. The aboriginals of Gondwana – the land of the Gonds – have preserved much of their ancient culture and rituals through stunning art and enthralling dances.
Be An Explorer
Be An Explorer
Go on safari perched atop and elephant and explore this jungle the way it was years ago. Your quiet ride responds to its fellow animals of the wild as it trudges through the misty thickets in the cool morning air. This is the best way to explore the deep, wild recesses of Kanha’s forests.
Feel The Thrill
Feel The Thrill
You will feel the anticipation build steadily as you embark on a jeep safari through the forest. Come upon tigers lazing in muddy pools, leopards hiding in trees, howling jackals, dancing peacocks, moody bison – the wildlife here is as immense and varied as the landscape.
Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park
Kanha’s seemingly boundless horizon of trees and stunning grasslands have all manner of wildlife lurking in their midst. Lucky explorers might encounter the highly endangered Southern swamp deer, known locally as the barasingha, or a lurking tiger.
Bird Watching
Bird Watching
Home to over two hundred and fifty species of rare migratory and resident birds, Kanha is a paradise for bird-watchers. Listen to the songs of sunbirds and orioles and the mimicking cries of racket-tailed drongos, peek at napping owlets and spot rare eagles at watering holes on a bird-watching trek.
Promote Tribal Handicrafts
Promote Tribal Handicrafts
If you get the opportunity to, visit a weekly village market. Here, you can absorb the unique local atmosphere, and bring home exquisite samples of intricate Gond and Baiga art and jewellery.
Set Your Own Pace
Set Your Own Pace
Wander along a marked nature trail in the buffer zone with an experienced naturalist, and study the forest’s delicate ecosystem up close. It is a fantastic way to learn about the more unsung creatures that call Kanha National Park their home.
