Location : Madhya
Pradesh
Major Attractions : Tiger, Leopard
Best time to Visit : November to June
About Kanha National Park
Along with neighbouring Bandhavgarh, Kanha National Park are the two
wildlife habitats where owing to the large population of tigers and
leopards, a sighting is almost guaranteed. The numerous species of animals
and birds along with the lush forests and thick vegetation is probably what
inspired author Rudyard Kipling when he choose the place as the scene of
action for his famous novel, the Jungle Book. Situated in the central Indian
state of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha was declared a national park in 1955 and
further made a part of project tiger in 1974.
A major tourist attraction at Kanha is the sunset point or bamni dadar from
where a magnificent view of the sun setting behind the tall trees can be
had. Besides the
mighty tiger, which obviously steals the show at Kanha, other animals which
can be seen here include the leopard, bear, gaur and sambhar.
Wildlife Attractions in Kanha National Park
A most talked about animal at Kanha is the barasingha, which was brought
back from near extinction about twenty years ago through some stringent
conservation efforts levied by the forest department. The barasingha at
Kanha are of the hard ground type which can grow to a length of several
feet. Other prominent animals found at Kanha include the bison, mongoose,
gaur, monkey, chital, hare, barking deer, jungle cat, black buck and hyena.
Besides animals, Kanha National Park is also home to hundreds of bird
species including storks, fly cathcers, pintails, orioles, egrets,
woodpeckers, spur fowl, finches, partridges, drongos and green pigeons.
Elephant and jeep safaris are the two convenient means of moving inside the
park. While it is essential to take along a forest department guide on a
jeep safari, elephant safari can be availed only when you book a seat for
the tiger show in the morning.
Stay At
A number of quality accommodation options located in and around Kanha
National Park ensure your comfortable and enjoyable stay while getting a
feel of being in the lap of mother nature. Some of the best hotels and
resort near Kanha National Park are the Tuli Jungle Resort, Taal Resort,
Kanha Jungle Lodge, Krishna Jungle
Resort, The Wild Chalet Resort, Royal Tiger Resort and Hiawatha Resort.
Getting There
By Air : The nearest airport is located at Jabalpur,
however, not many direct flights are available to the destination. The most
convenient way to access the place by air is to travel to Nagpur which is
connected with all the major Indian cities through regular flights.
By Rail : Jabalpur is the nearest and most convenient
railhead. Indian Railways operates a number of daily trains to Jabalpur from
Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.
By Road : State transport corporation operates a number
of regular buses to Kanha from major neighbouring cities including Jabalpur.
Another option is to hire a taxi from these towns, however, the vehicle
should preferable be a sturdy 4 wheel drive as the condition of the roads is
not very good. Moving around inside the park is not a problem as the state
transport department operates a jeep safari inside Kanha National Park.
Important Information for Visitors
- It is recommended that you enter the park from the Kisli gate which
is the place where most of the tourist services are located.
- The park remains open every day from 6 AM to 12 noon and 3 PM to 5:30
PM.
- Park charges are Rs. 25 for Indians and Rs. 500 for foreigners
(including two safaris).
- Jeeps can be hired near the entrance at Kisli gate.
