KANHA

Coverage Area:1945 sq. kms./ 94,000 hectares of national park.
Surrounded Area: Surrounded by 100, 500 hectares of additional buffer area.
Established In :1933 as a sanctuary, National Park in 1955 & As a Tiger Reserve In 1974.

Description :

Kanha's sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 940 sq km in dramatic natural splendour. This is original Kipling country, of which he wrote so vividly in his Jungle book. The same abudance of wildlife species exists today in Kanha National Park, which forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger. The park is only habitat of the rare hardground barasingha (cervus Duvaceli Branderi).
In the 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sancturies: Hallon and Banjar, of 250 sq km and 300 sq km each. Though one of these was subsequently disbanded, the area remained a protected one until 1947. Depletion of the tiger population in the years that followed led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952.
By a special statue in 1955, Kanha National Park came into being. Since then, a series of stringent conservation programmes for the protection of the park's flora and fauna has given Kanha its deserved reputation for being one of the finest and best administred National Park in Asia, an irresistible attraction for all wildlife lovers and a true haven for its animal and avian population.

There are 175 varieties of birds in Kanha National Park. So if you happen to be bird watcher, look forward to a full spotting itinerary. The terrain inside the park is varied, nonetheless enjoyable. Bamboo forests flow into Sal forests and meadows. There are herds of spotted deer to be seen with smaller herds of spotted deer to be seen with smaller herds of beautiful antelope, the black buck. With a little luck, you could also spot the timorous barking deer. It's snapping warns other denizens of the forest that a predator is around. There is also a very strong possibility that you will see the rare Barasingha, the Swamp Deer. Once there were only 66 of these in Kanha National Park, but careful conservation and management raised their population to over 400.

It was at Kanha National Park that the eminent zoologist George Schaller undertook the first ever-scientific study of the tiger. Another landmark at Kanha National Park is the preservation of the 'hard ground' Barasingha. This was achieved by extending the grasslands, relocating villages and by increasing habitat.

Mammals residing within the park: :

" Rhesus Macaque `" Wolf " Sloth Bear
" Small Indian Civet " Striped Hyaena " Tiger
" Indian Muntjac " Sambar " Gaur
" Indian Palm Squirrel " Hanuman Langur " Bengal Fox
" Smooth-coated Otter " Four-horned Antelope " Indian Hare
" Indian Grey Mongoose " Jungle Cat " Indian Spotted Chevrotain
" Chital " Nilgai " Blackbuck
" Indian Porcupine " Golden Jackal " Dhole
" Ratel Ruddy Mongoose " Leopard " Wild Boar
" Swamp Deer " Indian Pangolin

Visiting Season:

Months from November-June are favourable for visitation in the park; still the best period is February-April. The park is closed from July 1 to October 31 because of the monsoon.

Access :

By Air: The nearest airport or from Nagpur (7 hours drive). There are regular air services to Raipur and Nagpur (270 kms) from other airports in India.
By Rail: The most convenient railheads for Kanha National Park are Jabalpur and Nagpur.
By Road: Khatia ( 3 km from Kisli) and Mikki are the two main entry points to the Kanha National Park. From Jabalpur, Kisli is 165 km via Chiraidongri, and Mukki is 203 km via Motinala and Garhi. For travellers from Bilaspur (182 km), Raipur (213 km) and Balaghat ( 83 km), Mukki on State Highway No. 26 is more convenient. From Nagpur, Kisli is 259 km via Nainpur and Chiraidongri, and Mukki is 289 km via Balghat.

Temperature:
Months Morning Afternoon
October-March 10-15 º celcius 20-25 º celcius
April 20-25 º celcius 30-35º celcius
May-June 30-35 º celcius 40-45 º celcius