Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park, also Kanha Tiger Reserve, is one of the most famous tiger reserves in the country. It is also Madhya Pradesh’s largest national park, with a total area of more than 940 square kilometers. Kanha is home to the critically endangered Barasingha and the gorgeous Royal Bengal Tigers. The species was eventually restored thanks to a successful conservation campaign at Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Because of this, the park enjoys worldwide recognition for preserving the Barasingha. The number of Barasingha species has grown from 66 to almost 500 due to conservation efforts.

Quick Fact
This enormous national park inspired Rudyard Kipling’s magnum opus, The Jungle Book. The mysterious terrain of Kanha has also attracted many filmmakers, leading to many movies, including the 1980s award-winning film for National Geographic.

History of Kanha National Park 

The fascinating history of Kanha National Park shows that this region was mainly a hunting ground for the Britishers, because of which their numbers were strongly depleted, and the forest was closed to hunting by 1931. Later, in 1933, the area of 250 sq. km was gazetted as a sanctuary. Further, in 1935, the adjoining Halon valley around Supkhar, with an area of 300 sq. km (116 sq. miles), was a sanctuary attached to “Kanha.” Later, Kanha National Park was upgraded to a National Park in 1955, and in 1973, it was declared a Tiger Reserve. The main reason for making it a National Park was to save the hardground barasingha, whose numbers had fallen to 550. The deer population began to increase with the protection given to them, and they caused extensive damage to tree saplings and villagers’ crops. 

Flora and Fauna of Kanha National Park 

The varied flora & fauna is the most iconic aspect of Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Besides such an enormous tiger population, unique species like Barasingha, swamp deer, and blackbuck showcase the magnificent wildlife of the national park. Other animals in good numbers are fox, honey badger, Indian wolf, hyena, sloth bear, jungle cat, wild boards, langurs, macaque, etc. In addition, the park had a great food ecosystem with grass and shrubs helping in the survival of barasinghas and other animals, and the plants and herbs growing on the water serve as the life sources for birds and wetland species. 

Places to Visit Near Kanha National Park

Besides being a wildlife enthusiast, if you are also into history and culture, the Kanha National Park area is surrounded by many attractions to keep you hooked.   

Kanha Museum

The museum is the ideal place to get information about the place’s topography or other interesting facts about the park. Run by the forest department’s authority, the Kanha Museum showcases the reserve’s history and exhibits the skeletons of various carnivores, reptiles, and herbivore creatures. 

Mandla

Famous for sky-high forts and sacred temples, Mandla is a fantastic tourist destination because of the incredible views of the nearby Rapta ghat and Rangrez ghat along the catchment area of the serene Narmada rivers and its tributaries. 

Kawardha Palace

Surrounded by an area of 11-acre lush green territory, Kawardha Palace is an Italian marble structure that offers panoramic views of the Maikal Hills range. 

Amarkantak

This place is blessed with natural beauty and is home to a variety of medicinal plants, making it worth visiting from an ecological perspective. Also, there are many rare species that you can find here. 

Jabalpur

Not far from the Kanha National Park, you can visit this city of colored-marble rocks, also known as Madhya Pradesh’s soul. The area has Dhuandhar Falls, Madan Mahal Fort, etc., along with other notable locations. 

Safari in Kanha National Park 

Jeep Safari

One of the best ways to experience the diverse fauna and dense forests of Kanha National Park is on a Jeep Safari. The Jeep Safari takes you into the heart of the national park on predetermined routes at predetermined times in the mornings and afternoons, all while being accompanied by a certified guide. Unfortunately, private vehicles are not permitted inside the park. Thus, the Jungle Safari is only available for vehicles registered with the park administration.

This safari system has an open Jeep that can hold a maximum of 6 people at a time and a minimum of 1 person every safari, along with a driver and a guide. Jeep safaris are possible in both the core and buffer zones. Families, groups of friends, nature enthusiasts, and photographers should do this.

This safari system has an open Jeep that can hold a maximum of 6 people at a time and a minimum of 1 person every safari, along with a driver and a guide. Jeep safaris are possible in both the core and buffer zones. Families, groups of friends, nature enthusiasts, and photographers should do this.

Kanha National Park Safari Timings

Summer Timings

  • Morning – 6:00 am to 10:00 am
  • Evening – 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Winter Timings

  • Morning – 6:30 am to 10:30 am
  • Afternoon- 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Elephant Safari

Elephant safari is one of those experiences that give you a better outlook of this jungle. With your large jungle companion, you can travel the untrodden path and experience much more than just riding in a Jeep.

It will ensure that you have an exciting and unforgettable safari. The elephant safari cost at Kanha National Park is dependent upon many factors, but the enjoyment is unlimited. It’s designed to let you appreciate nature while you are amidst it.

Kanha National Park Safari Timings

Summer Timings

  • Morning- 6:30 am to 1:00 am
  • Evening- 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Winter Timings

  • Morning- 6:00 am to 11:00 am
  • Evening- 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Canter Safari

This is a typical safari with 18 seats, which can hold 18 people at the moment. Therefore, a minimum of 12 individuals are needed to be present for the safari. This safari is shared and takes place in a large open Jeep. This is a budget-friendly safari choice. You cannot reserve this safari online.

Entry tickets can only be purchased online. Different fees for guides and jeeps must be paid at the gate.

Kanha National Park Safari Timings

Summer Timings

  • Morning- 6:00 am to 10:00 am
  • Evening- 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Winter Timings

  • Morning- 6:30 am to 10:30 am
  • Evening- 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Kanha National Park Walking Safari

Kanha National Park’s Nature Trail is a walking safari. Typically, it takes place along a predetermined path near the entrance gate. A nature trail is a guided walking safari available to tourists. Since there is no option for booking, it must be done at the entrance gate ticket counter with the proper payment and original ID information. 

Since it is not very well-known among tourists, we can easily have the chance to go on this safari. It is accessible to visitors all year round. If there is any tiger activity in the natural path forest, it will only be closed for a few days out of safety concerns. Since it is open from sunrise to sunset, we can get a safari ticket and take in the jungle slowly.

Kanha National Park Zones and Gates

The national park, which covers an area of 940 sq km, is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna that is spread over dense grassland. To enter Kanha’s huge area, 3 access gates and 3 zones are available. The best zones of Kanha National Park are listed below;

Zones of Kanha 

Khatia Zone

In the western part of the Kanha Tiger Reserve is the Khatia Safari Zone. It is ideal for travelers who have reserved resorts close to the entrance gate to Khatia. Visitors will use the same Khatia Gate on Safari in the Khatia Zone to enter the jungle. 

Tigers, spotted deer, sambhar, Indian gaur, sloth bear, wild boar, and other exciting wildlife attractions can be found here. We want to make this clear to our readers. Buffer zones will become more and more popular over time as more tourists go on safari. Currently, only full safaris are offered here; therefore, if you want to visit the Khatia Zone Safari, you will need to reserve exclusive safari drives.

Mukki Zone

Mukki is one of the oldest jungle safari zones in Kanha National Park because it was the second core zone after Kanha Zone to be offered to visitors. Despite being old, it remains a favorite among those who enjoy nature. It is close to tourists arriving from South India and located in the Kanha Forest’s southern part. 

The Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh state boundary is so near the south of the Kanha forest region, so the Mukki Zone is a popular destination for Chhattisgarh wildlife enthusiasts who choose to enter the tiger reserve through this entry. Via the Malajkhand-Gandhi route, Raipur City is only 230 kilometers from Mukki Gate. This forest area is well-known for its high success rate in tiger sightings.

Sarhi Zone

After the Kanha Zone and Mukki Zone, the Sarhi Zone was constructed in Kanha National Park. It is the Kanha Tiger Reserve’s northern region and has been largely unexplored for a long time. According to some sayings, the dense foliage in the Sarhi zone makes it challenging to see tigers there, although, in the summer, sightings are good.

In this area, it’s common to see many sloth bears, nilgais, dholes (wild dogs), and leopards. The jungle is gorgeous here, making it the ideal location for nature photography. Additionally, one can go on forest safari drives in the Sarhi Zone to see areas like the Halloween River Valley, Jamuntola, Umerkhera Camp, Ronda Camp, Mahuadanr, Ganeri-Dadar, and Khuluwa.

Meadows, or open grasslands, are abundant in the Kanha Tiger Reserve. These meadows were essentially abandoned villages that had been moved to create room for the animals. An illustration of this is Kanha Meadows. Numerous grass species have been identified at Kanha, some crucial for the Gaur and Barasingha to survive. 

Gates of Kanha 

There are multiple entry gates for accessing the different zones of the park:

  • Khatia Gate: Accesses the Kanha Zone and is one of the primary gates for entry into the park.
  • Mukki Gate: Provides entry to the Mukki Zone.
  • Sarhi Gate: Offers access to the Kisli Zone.

Resorts in and around Kanha National Park

Travelers have the best options for choosing an ideal hotel for the most relaxing stay, as the hotels and resorts in Kanha Reserve are divided into high-end, opulent, deluxe, and standard categories. When we fully concentrate on the quality of living.

  • Banjaar Tola 
  • Tuli Tiger Corridor 
  • The Baagh Resort 
  • Kanha Jungle Lodge 
  • Tuli Tiger Resort
  • Celebration Van Vilas 
  • Satya Ashoka Resort 
  • Kanha Meadows Retreat

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    BEST TIME TO VISIT KANHA NATIONAL PARK

    SUMMER SEASON

    (April to June)

    Kanha’s summer season lasts from March to June. The range of recorded temperatures for this time of the year is 24° C to 42° C. The mild weather makes it easier to go sightseeing and witness animals in their natural setting. During these months, the creatures rove the area looking for water and prey. The journey to Kanha is pleasant in the early summer because of the lush flora and calm mood.

    MONSOON SEASON

    (July to September)

    During the monsoon season, which lasts from mid-July to mid-October, Kanha National Park does not reopen. This is because this season offers frequent downpours that range in intensity from mild to heavy. In some places, the national park’s roads, meadows, and the entire region are flooded, while it is dangerous in other areas. Due to the terrible weather, visiting the national park during the monsoon is not permitted.

    WINTER SEASON

    (October to March)

    Winter is a great time to visit Kanha National Park to admire its natural beauty and unique landscape. The weather during this season is cool and comfortable, and the temperature ranges from 10°C to 22°C. You can spot a wide variety of animal species and some endangered birds that flock here during this time. The overall beauty of this park enhances during this season, bringing comfortable climate conditions to explore at any time of the day.

    HOW TO REACH KANHA NATIONAL PARK

     
    By Flight
    By Train
    By Road
    Kanha National Park does not have an airport, so Jabalpur Airport, located about 120 km, is the closest airport. To complete their final journey to the Kanha Tiger Reserve, travelers can easily take a taxi or cab after they arrive at Jabalpur Airport. Nagpur and Raipur airports, which are 300 km and 200 km away from Kanha, are also nearby.
    Train travel is a viable alternative for getting to Kanha National Park. Since trains are the most accessible and well-liked means of transportation, most visitors to Kanha National Park choose to go by them. Since there is no direct rail connection to this reserve park, Jabalpur is the closest railway station. The distance between Jabalpur Railway Station and the National Park is roughly 160 kilometers. Once folks get down, they may get the rest of the way there in a taxi or cab. Gondia, which is approximately 145 km and is the national park’s other closest railroad station.
    Jabalpur, Raipur, and Nagpur are the closest cities to Kanha National Park. National Highway 7 connects the national park with many important cities. The nearest city Jabalpur is roughly 165 kilometers away from Kanha Tiger Reserve, is the nearest one. Also, state authorities provide regular bus service to and from Kanha National Park.

    TIPS FOR KANHA NATIONAL PARK

    • Bookings for park tickets should be made 120 days in advance because a limited number of them are available.
    • To go on a safari, you must have an ID card. In addition, you must use the same ID you used to make your safari reservation.
    • To maximize the value of your excursion, bring binoculars, a camera, and a bird book.
    • Put on some comfortable walking shoes. To avoid scorpions and other creatures, always examine your shoes before putting them on.
    • Carry personal medications, hats, and caps (if any)
    • Avoid perfumes and deodorants, and dress in earthy greens and beige tones reminiscent of the forest.
    • Every Wednesday, the Jeep Safari’s afternoon shift is closed to guests.

    FAQs

    What is special about Kanha National Park?

    The park is known to have a significant population of royal Bengal tigers, sloth bears, Indian leopards, Indian wild dogs, and barasinghas. Interestingly, the famous novel of Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book, is inspired by the jungles of Kanha National Park.

    What should I bring to Kanha National Park?

    Tourists are recommended to wear light clothing for the months from October to March as the days tend to be warm. Secondly, bright colors may get you noticed, which may cause difficulty in sighting the animals. Hence, the clothes should ideally be in jungle shades of beige, green, and brown-earth-colored clothes. 

    Which zone is best in Kanha?

    The three main preferable zones in Kanha are Khatia, Sarhi, and Mukki.

    What other wild animals can be seen in Gir National Park?

    Any tourist can decently explore the Kanha National Park in 3 days, given the morning and evening safari options.

    How many tigers are there in Kanha?

    The park has over 500 tigers in the park, which is why it is famous for being one of the best tiger reserves in India. Besides, there is an abundant population of swamp deer, Indian wild dogs, and 300 species of birds. So, don’t just restrict yourself to tiger sightings but enjoy the Kanha’s biodiversity in totality.