Kanha Tiger Reserve
Madhya Pradesh
Stopping your vehicle beside one of the large golden grass meadows with the sunbeams angled by the tall sal forest behind you; a morning mist and the unseen crack of horns from a pair of barasingha stags clashing and you might well be reminded of Mowgli’s forests made famous by Rudyard Kipling. These lowland forests are a mixture of great sal hardwood trees, once heavily felled for railways sleepers and other mixed species of forest. It is interspersed with grassy meadows - the habitat of spotted deer, the rare hard ground barasingha and ambush ground for the tiger. The higher forests are more tropical with bamboo growing in clusters within which gaur, wild pig, sloth bear and sambar deer make their homes. With all this prey, tigers are numerous too (over 100 at last count) and habituated to jeeps, ensuring memorable sightings. The Reserve lies in the east of the Central Indian highlands of the ancient Satpura mountain range. Here, flat-topped hills support grassy meadow...s and the river Sulkum flows through the valley. The Banjaar and Halon valleys used to be hunting grounds of the British who would hunt the barasingha deer but their rapid decline in numbers forced the authorities to gazette Kanha as a Sanctuary in 1933. In 1955, a 250 square kilometre patch of land was declared the Kanha National Park. The Mukki Valley was added to the Protected Area in 1970 and then, thanks to Project Tiger, a vital part of the upper Halon Valley was also included. Today it stretches over an area of 940 square kilometres with a surrounding buffer zone of 1,134 square kilometres. Along with the neighbouring Phen Sanctuary, it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve. There are four tourist zones here, each worth a visit - Kanha, Kisli, Mukki and SarhDestination Information
Park Timings
The Park is open for visitors for c.4.5 hours after sunrise and c.2.5 hours in the afternoon before sunset. Please check park opening times with the gate as they vary slightly between summer and winter months depending on sunrise and sunset. The Reserve is closed from 16th June – 30th September every year and is also closed for afternoon safaris every Wednesdays and on the festivals of Holi and Diwali.
Getting Around the Park
Jeeps called ‘gypsies’ that are registered with the authorities and carry 4 to 6 people are available and the only vehicles allowed inside. Book through your operator, lodge or at the gate. Cost from R 2,800 per game drive.
Entry Fees
For Jeep: R 1,750 per jeep for all nationals R 250 per seat for all nationals Cost of Park Guide: R 600 for each safari
By Air: Jabalpur to Kisli (160 km), Jabalpur to Mukki (200 km), Nagpur (270 km). Transport can be hired to drive to the park. By Road: Kanha is a 3½ drive from Jabalpur and a 5½ drive from Nagpur. Mandla is 100 km from Mukki and 60 km from Kisli gate.
Eco-friendly properties in the area
Kanha Jungle Camp
With a strong focus on conservation, sustainability and local community, Kanha Jungle Camp sits in an enviable position near the Mukki Gate of Kanha National Park.
Singinawa Jungle Lodge
Located in 110 acres of reclaimed and restored jungle, Singinawa is appropriately named in Sherpa language meaning ‘Protectors of the Sacred Forest’.
Kanha Earth Lodge, Pugdundee Safaris
Kanha Earth Lodge is tucked into 16 acres of reforested lands, adjoining the buffer forests of Kanha. Lying close to a small quintessential village community and rich farmlands,
Other Destinations To Combine
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve
West India
The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is arguably one of India’s most exciting Tiger reserves,
Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary
India
This small wildlife sanctuary covering an area of 245 sq km in the Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh
Satpura Tiger Reserve
Madhya Pradesh
Satpura National Park is one of India’s finest Tiger reserves, and was the winner in 2010
Pench Tiger Reserve
Madhya Pradesh
Since 1992 Pench has been included under the umbrella of Project Tiger as the 19th Project
Kanha Tiger Reserve
Madhya Pradesh
Kanha is considered by some as the India’s greatest park, an excellent habitat for many mammals
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh is set amongst the Vindya Hills of Madhya Pradesh and consists of a core area of
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