Kanha National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh’s Maikal range of Satpuras, which constitutes the central Indian mountainous region. The national park is known as the Tiger Reserve, and it has been designated as one of the world’s best wildlife locations. Kanha National Park, which stretches over two revenue districts, Mandala and Kalaghat, was designated as a forest reserve in 1879 and repriced as a wildlife reserve in 1933. In 1955, its status was elevated to that of a national park.
The Kanha National Park covers an area of 940 square kilometres in the Maikal range of Satpuras. By combining the buffer and core zones, the Kanha Tiger Reserve has a total size of 1945 square kilometres.
The vistas and encircling rich meadows, as well as the woody strands and deep maroons of woods, deliver splendid sightseeing possibilities for nature enthusiasts. The perfectly clear streams within the deep forest purify the environment and make the fauna unrivalled, making the area more stunning and appealing. This vibrant region motivated famous author Rudyard Kipling to write “The Jungle Book”.
About Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park is the largest national reserve in Madhya Pradesh, covering 941 square kilometres, and is regarded as one of the finely governed and maintained parks in India. It’s among the Navratnas from ‘Project Tiger’.
Kanha is abode to both beautiful Royal Bengal tigers and barasingha, a species that was on the verge of extinction. The species was later reintroduced thanks to a successful conservation initiative at Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh. As a result, the park is praised across the world for preserving the barasingha from going extinct. It’s worth noting that the Kanha National Park’s mascot is ‘Bhoorsingh the Barasingha’.
Apart from the barasinghas, bison can also be found wandering freely in Kanha National Park. The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is a hunting area for leopards and feral dogs, as well as a haven for over 350 avian species and 1000+ varieties of plants.
Travelling through Kanha National Park will allow visitors to see the original places from National Geographic’s award-winning documentary film, ‘Land of the Tigers,’ which was filmed in the same location.
Another unique experience for the visitors is the chance to get to know the Baiga tribe members who live in the region. Visitors could even learn to produce tribal silver jewellery from Baiga tribe members. The artefacts are sold as decorative items or as souvenirs in the Kanha National Park. Other activities available in Kanha include learning about animal history at the Kanha Museum, elephant bathing, hiking, and wildlife watching from Machaan.
The elevated plateau of Bamni Dadar is a heightened attraction inside the Park that presents the most awe-inspiring background of the setting sun alongside roaming sambars and gaurs, amplifying the region’s natural grandeur.
A day or night jungle vehicle safari in the park, along with bird viewing, provide visitors with a once-in-a-lifetime exhilarating experience.
Areas in and around Kanha National Park
Areas of interest in and around Kanha National Park comprise the following:
Bamni Dadar: The Bamni Dadar location is close to the Kanha Tiger Reserve and is a great spot for visitors. This is also known as the sunset point, and it is spectacular at its finest. This location offers the greatest sunset view for visitors. The famous natural splendours of the reserve region are also present at this sunset spot. The region is also flourishing with various grazing animals such as sambar deers, gaurs and other fauna to enhance the beautiful atmosphere.
Kanha Museum: Another feature in the area is the Kanha Museum, which is situated nearby. The Kanha Museum may be the best spot for wildlife enthusiasts to learn about the park’s geography and other fascinating characteristics. The museum also shows many aspects and operations of the park as well as Madhya Pradesh’s tribal culture.
Bandhavgarh National Park: Nestled 250 kilometres from Kanha Reserve, the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is most renowned for having India’s largest tiger population. The Bandhavgarh region, which was originally the hunting area for the Monarch of Rewas, is also an ideal habitat for the critically endangered white tigers. The renowned Bandhavgarh Fort may also be found to emphasise the ancient stories of the prehistoric age and to view a huge number of tiger varieties.
Temperature at Kanha
The temperature during summers may reach 43° C in Kanha due to the tropical temperature, but the central highland region of Madhya Pradesh is also notably soaked with heavy monsoon pours, with an average precipitation of 1,800 mm, making the surroundings more picturesque and emerald. On the converse, winters in Kanha’s deep woods may be more chilling, with temperatures down to -2°C.
Conclusion
The Kanha National Park is a great habitat for a diverse variety of wildlife, including tigers, the most populous Barasingha, and innumerable types of plants, birds and other insect and reptile species. With its well-developed infrastructure designed just for them, this reserve has captivated many tourists from all over the globe. The ideal place to view the sunset is at Bammi Dadar, typically known as Sunset Point. Aside from its vast fauna and bird species, the most popular attraction in Kanha Wildlife Sanctuary is the regular occurrences of tigers wandering in the wild.