Kanha National Park – complete detail – updated. Safari at Kanha

Kanha National Park – complete detail – updated. Dominant flora and fauna of Kanha National Park. Geography of Kanha National Park. How to reach Kanha National Park. Safari at Kanha National Park. The topography of Kanha supports Sal and Bamboo forest, Grasslands, scrub-thorn arid forests rocky landscapes, tropical forest, rocks, plateaus, meadows and valleys.

Kanha is well known for Royal Bengal Tigers. Total estimated population of Royal Bengal Tigers is about 131. Total area of Kanha NP is about 1949 km². Kanha was declared as a National Park in the year of 1955, and came under the “Project Tiger” as a Tiger reserves in 1973-74. 

Kanha National Park is one of the most well managed, tourist friendly & popular tiger reserves of India. Kanha is not only popular for tiger tourism but also the only natural habitat of highly endangered hard-ground Barasingha. Kanha National Park is divided in four major Zones. Kanha Zone – The most prominent places in this Zone are Kanha Meadows, Kanha Museum, Shravan Chita, Shravan Tal, Dashrath, Machaan, Bison Road, Nakti Ghati, and Umerpani. Kisli Zone – Digdola, Sonf Meadows, Kope Dabri, Magarnala, Mochidadar, Chimta Camp, Amahi, and Soonaghat………

National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed.

Kanha National Park

Kanha is a beautiful place, located in the Mandla & Balaghat districts of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Kanha is well known for Royal Bengal Tigers. Total estimated population of Royal Bengal Tigers is about 131.

In 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon (250 km²) and Banjar (300 km²). The area remained a protected one until 1947. Depletion of the tiger population in the year that followed led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952. Total area of Kanha is about 1949 km².

Click here to view state wise list of Indian national parks – updated

Kanha was declared as a National Park in 1955, and came under the “Project Tiger“ as a Tiger reserves in 1973-74. The total area of the Park is about 1949 km² (940 km² core zone and 1009 km² buffer zone).

Kanha National Park is one of the most well managed, tourist friendly & popular tiger reserves of India. Kanha is not only popular for tiger tourism but also the only natural habitat of highly endangered hard-ground Barasingha.

Kanha National Park is also famous for its beautiful jungles, forest management, magnificent landscapes, and rich wildlife.

Geography

The topography of Kanha supports Sal and Bamboo forest, Grasslands, scrub-thorn arid forests, rocky landscapes, tropical forest, rocks, plateaus, meadows and valleys.

Kanha abounds in meadows or maidans which are basically open grasslands that have sprung up in fields of abandoned villages, evacuated to make way for the animals.

These grasslands are interspersed with forests of sal and bamboo. The major feature of this region’s interesting topography is the horseshoe shape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of the Mekal.

The climate of this region is tropical. Summers are hot and winters are cold. The annual average rainfall is about 150 cm.

Kanha National Park is divided in four major Zones.

1. Kanha Zone – The most prominent places in this Zone are Kanha Meadows, Kanha Museum, Shravan Chita, Shravan Tal, Dashrath Machaan, Bison Road, Nakti Ghati, and Umerpani.
2. Kisli Zone – Digdola, Sonf Meadows, Kope Dabri, Magarnala, Mochidadar, Chimta Camp, Amahi, and Soonaghat.
3. Sarahi Zone – Jamuntola, Ronda Camp, Mahuadabri, Urnakhera Camp, and Silpura Meadows.
4. Mukki Zone – Bishanpura, Bamni Dadar, Duke’s Road, Ghorella, Sondar Meadows, Babathenga Tank, Lapsi Kabar, and Umar Jhola.

Coordinates – 22°20′0″N and 80°38′0″E

Total area – 1949 km² (940 km² core area and 1009 km² buffer area)

Altitude – 600 to 900 meter above sea level

Seasons

Winter – October to March

Summer – April to June

Monsoon – July to September

Temperature:       Maximum – 43^o C

                             Minimum – 1^o C

Rainfall – 100 to 150 cm

Dominant flora

Sal, Bamboo, Banyan (Ficus benghalensis), Ber (Zizyphus mauritania), Dhak (Butea Monosperma), Dhok (Anogeossispendula), Kadam (Authocephalus cadamba), Khajur (Phoenix sylvestris), Khair (Accacia catechu), Karel (Capparis decidua), Khejda (Prosopis specigera), Kakera (Flacourtiaindica), Mohua (Madhuca indica), Neem (Azadirachta indica) etc.

Dominant fauna

Mammals

Tiger, Barasingha, Indian wild dog, striped palm squirrel, common langur, jackal, wild pig, spotted dear, sambar, blackbuck, Indian Hare, Indian Bison, Nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox, hyena, jungle cat,  monkey, mongoose etc.

Birds

Storks, teals, pintails, pond herons, egrets, peacock, pea fowl, jungle fowl, spur fowl, partridges, quails, ring doves, spotted parakeets, green pigeons, rock pigeons, cuckoos, rollers, bee-eater, hoopoes, drongos, warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, finches, orioles, owls, fly catchers etc.

Various species of Reptiles, Arthropods, and Fishes are also found.

Other Attractions

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

Kanha Museum – There is a museum at Kanha national park, depicting attributes and activities of the park and the tribal culture of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Safaris at Kanha

There are 02 safaris authorized by the park authorities per day one is early in the morning and the other is in the afternoon. Every Wednesday the evening safari is closed at Kanha.

Safari Timing – October to January

MORNING – 06: 15 to 12:15 AM, 
EVENING – 02:30 to 5:30 PM 

Safari Timing – February to June

MORNING – 06:00 to 12:00 AM 
EVENING – 03:30 to 06:30 PM

Jeep safari Fee

Kanha Zone – Rs. 6500 for 6 Peoples

Kisli Zone – Rs. 6500 for 6 Peoples

Mukki Zone – Rs. 6500 for 6 Peoples

Sarahi Zone – Rs. 6500 for 6 Peoples

Note – Child below 5 years are Free.

Note – The Park is open all through the year except between 1st July to 15th October.

Book a Safari 

https://www.mponline.gov.in/Portal/Services/Forest/Search.aspx

How to Reach

By air – Nearest airport is Jabalpur airport located About 180 km from the Kanha National Park. Jabalpur has direct flight connectivity with Delhi, Mumbai etc. Second option is Nagpur airport which is about 300 km. Third option is Raipur airport which is about 250 km. These airports are well connected by road to Kanha National park.

By Rail: Nearest railway station is Jabalpur railway station located About 170 km from the Kanha National Park. Jabalpur station have direct train connectivity from major tourist destinations and cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Nagpur, Bhopal, Agra, Jaipur, Gwalior, Varanasi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune etc. Jabalpur railway station is well connected by road network to Kanha National park.

By road:  Kanha National Park is well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. There are a number of government and privately operated vehicles that go to Kanha National park at frequent intervals.

Distance from Major Cities or Places

Jabalpur – about 170 km

Khajuraho – about 450 km

Nagpur – about 270 km

Raipur – about 210 km

Bandhavgarh – about 260 km

Pench National Park – about 200 km

Amarkantak – about 260 km

Pachmarhi – about 380 km

Book a Hotel at Kanha

http://www.cleartrip.com/hotels/india/kanha/

http://www.makemytrip.com/hotels/kanha-hotels.html

Other National Parks in Madhya Pradesh. Name of National Parks, Year of Notification and Total Area is as follows………