Kanger Valley National Park, located in the 34-kilometre-long and gorgeous Kanger Valley Biosphere Reserve, is one of India’s most attractive and stunning national parks. The lovely park is situated on the banks of the Kholaba River, about 27 kilometres from Jagdalpur (Location: Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, India). The Park takes its title from the Kanger Creek, which runs through it and is spread over 200 square kilometres of mostly steep terrain.
Kanger Valley was designated a National Park in 1982 due to its scenic beauty and unique and diverse fauna. Aside from fauna and vegetation, the park has several tourist sites including the Kutumsar Caves, Kailash Caves, Dandak Caves, and Tirathgarh Waterfalls. Kanger Dhara and Bhaimsa Dhara (a Crocodile Park) are the Park’s two most attractive and unusual picnic spots. The Park also has a substantial tribal community and may be a perfect location for wildlife enthusiasts, environment lovers, researchers, anthropologists, and anybody else interested in discovering the finest of Chhattisgarh wildlife and the region’s distinctive tribes.
The biosphere reserve’s gorgeous section has a lot to offer tourists. Other attractions include waterfalls and unusual rock formations, in addition to the lively animals. There are also several tribal villages in the reserve, so you may see some indigenous people.
Kanger Ghati National Park
The Kanger Ghati National Park, known as one of India’s densest national parks, boasts rich biodiversity, spectacular vistas, natural waterfalls, gorgeous limestone caverns, and is a place of residence for the state bird of Chhattisgarh, the Hill Myna. The park is situated in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur, Bastar district. Kanger Ghati (Valley) National Park, a nature reserve, is spread over 200 km square and is located within the magnificent Kanger Valley, which spans 34 km. The park is mostly made up of unusual topography and is inhabited by sizable tribal people.
The park’s vegetation is mostly composed of mixed wet deciduous woods with a majority of Sal, Teak, and Bamboo species. In fact, the Kanger Valley is the only place in Peninsular India that has one of the remaining pockets of pristine and unspoiled woods. Aside from fauna and vegetation, this National Park is inhabited by three extraordinary caves, Kutumbasar, Kailash, and Dandak, which are known for their amazing geological formations of Stalagmites and Stalactites. The existence of subterranean limestone caverns with dripstone and floston is well recognised in the National Park. The production of stalagmites and stalactites is still rising. Holes in the National Park offer habitat for a variety of animal species. The Bhainsadhara is situated in the eastern portion of the National Park, where one can view the pristine beaches where alligators (crocodylus palustris) are commonly found.
Kanger Valley National Park has Tirathgarh Waterfall. Crocodile Park is well-known in Kenjhardhara and Bhainsadhara. Gypsy Safari is provided for travellers to discover the park’s natural splendour.
Major Attractions inside the Kanger Ghati National Park
1. Darha Bhainsa
Darhas translate as river-created pools of water. Bhainsa Darha is one water pool, situated 65 kilometres from Jagdalpur. The water at this facility is natural and clean. Crocodiles and tortoises located in the water are a major draw here. Because the Darha is surrounded by rich flora in all aspects, you may also arrange a picnic or trek in this region. During the wet season, the Darha stays closed. As a result, the best time to visit this location is during the winter. Travelling by bike or other two-wheeled vehicles might be dangerous due to the small and slick roads here. It is preferable to go by automobile.
2. Waterfall of Kanger Dhara
Kanger Dhara is a picnic area inside Kanger Ghati National Park, 35 kilometres from Jagdalpur. To visit the waterfall area, authorization from the Governing body: Conservator of Forest (placed at the park’s entrance gate) is necessary. The cascading cascades are quite appealing. You may also soak in the natural water. Summer is the greatest season to see the waterfall since the temperature of the water is warm enough to swim in. During the monsoon season, the falls are closed.
3. Rock Formations
These natural boulders are among the many sights worth exploring. These rock formations are classified into two categories: the Cuddapah and Vidhyan groups. Another feature inside Kanger National Park is Tirathgarh Falls. This waterfall, often known as the ‘Milky Way,’ is a popular attraction in the area.
4. The Kutumsar Caves
Kutumsar Caves, approximately 40 kilometres from Jagdalpur, run for around 1370 metres and are 35 metres deep. This captivating cave, made of solid limestone, is situated on the western part of Kanger Ghati National Park, near the Kanger River. During the early 1900s, several famous explorers looked for this cave. It is among the most well-known caves in Chhattisgarh.
A Note of Flora
The park’s woodland area is mostly covered by moist deciduous woods. These are the trees sal, bamboo, and teak. In reality, the Kanger Valley is one of the remaining areas where pristine and pure woods may still be found. According to numerous assessments conducted by research agencies, the park has 555 herbaceous species. 45 of them are thought to be uncommon, while 12 are new and just added to the collection. The park’s rich and magnificent floral diversity includes a variety of medicinal herbs, vines, grasslands, wild sugarcane, ferns, batons, succulents, teak, bamboo, sal, and other species.
Conclusion
Kanger National Park is located near Jagdalpur. It can be reached via road from Jagdalpur. Visitors may access the national park by hiring a private car or by public transportation. Kanger National Park is unquestionably a one-of-a-kind marvel. There is a lot to see and do within the reserve, including animals. As a result, it is among the most popular tourist spots in Chhattisgarh.