Facts & Figures :
| Area |
: |
1,945 sq km |
| Languages |
: |
English,Hindi |
| Best Time to Visit |
: |
April to June and November to January |
| Altitude |
: |
600-900 m above sea level |
About Kanha.... Situated
in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the picturesque Kanha National Park
was the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's unforgettable classic Jungle
Book. The romance of the Kanha National Park has not reduced over time-it is
still as beautiful.
If one were to point to the middle of India,
chances are he will pick out the forests of the Banjar and the Halon valley,
the two forming the western and eastern halves of the Kanha Tiger Reserve,
which have long been famous for their wide diversity of wildlife.
The
park was created in 1955 by a special law and, since then, it has dedicated
itself in preserving a variety of animal species. Many endangered species
have indeed been saved here. Today Kanha is among the few most scenic and
beautiful wildlife reserves in Asia. This 'Tiger Country' is the ideal home
for both predator and prey.
By far the most striking features of this
region are the open grassy meadows, where sighting blackbuck, swamp deer,
sambhar and chital is common. And, if one can transcend into time, a
barefooted Mowgli would perhaps come padding along the dusty trail, for this
is the land of Kipling's Jungle Book.
Mian
Attractions The main wildlife attractions in the park are
tiger, bison, gaur, sambhar, chital, barasingha, barking deer, black deer,
black buck, chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox,
porcupine, hyena, jungle cat, python, pea fowl, hare, monkey, mongoose,
tiger, and leopard.
The birds species in the park include
storks, teals, pintails, pond herons, egrets, peacock, pea fowl, jungle
fowl, spur fowl, partridges, quails, ring doves, spotted parakeets, green
pigeons, rock pigeons, cuckoos, papihas, rollers, bee-eater, hoopoes,
drongos, warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, finches, orioles, owls, and fly
catchers.
However, if one animal species were to represent Kanha,
it would probably be the barasingha, or the swamp deer. The barasinghas at
Kanha are unique, being the hard ground variety, which populate the large
open tracts of grass amidst the forests of teak and bamboo. Twenty years
ago, the barasingha was faced with extinction but some desperate measures
including the fencing-off of some animals helped save them and again the air
in Kanha bugle with their rutting calls.
The open meadows
during the cold winter months are usually teeming with barasinghas and there
is plenty of tiger activity around the fringes. A female with two small cubs
would circle around at least two or three times during the day and the swamp
deer would go berserk, their husky alarm calls ringing through the jungle.
Far from being the cunning, smart aleck, portrayed in Disney's adaptation of
the Jungle Book, the real "Sher Khan" is true blue-blooded
royalty.
There is a museum at Kanha depicting attributes
and activities of the park and tribal culture. It is closed every Wednesday.
Climate The climate of this
region is tropical. Summers are hot and humid with a maximum and minimum
temperature of 40.6°C and 23.9°C. Winters are pleasant with an
average maximum and minimum temperature of 23.9°C and 11.1°C,
respectively. The annual average rainfall is 152 cm. The park is closed from
July to mid-November during monsoon.
Outside
World STD/ISD as well as postal facilities are available at
different places near the national park. Internet facility is available at
Jabalpur.
Getting there By
Air.... Nagpur (266 km) is the nearest airport. It is
connected by Indian Airlines flights with Mumbai.
By
Rail....Jabalpur (175 km) is the convenient railhead to
visit Kanha.
By Road....Kanha
National Park is connected by road with Jabalpur (175 km), Khajuraho
(445 km), Nagpur (266 km), Mukki (25 km), and Raipur (219 km).
Local Transport....The
Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) operates a
jeep service for visitors to go around in the park. Booking can be made
through the Manager, MPSTDC, Log Huts, Kisli.
Where
to StayThere are several good accommodation options
available at Kanha. Apart from the government tourist lodges, rest houses,
and log huts, there are private hotels and rest houses for the tourists.
There are canteens and hotels at Kisli where one get both Indian and Western
cuisines.
Travel Tips Visitors
are advised to reach the gate half an hour in advance to complete the
formalities for entry into the park. Entry fee is Rs. 2 for adults and Re. 1
for children. For the entry of vehicles, the fee is Rs 15 for minibuses and
vans, and Rs. 10 for light motor vehicles like cars and jeeps. Photography
is free for still cameras, but a fee of Rs 10-200 is charged for video and
movie cameras depending upon the aperture used. The charges for guides range
from Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 depending upon the number of tourists.
