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INTRODUCTION
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.
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.
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.
SITE
NEARBY
Near Kanha National Park is Bamni Dadar
visited by every tourist who comes to the national park. This place
is also known as the sunset point. The Kanha National Park is at it
scenic best at this point. The sunset from this spot is mesmerizing.
The eminent natural splendor of the park comes to the fore here. The
grazing sambhar, barking deer, gaurs, and other animals make the
ambience magical.
REACHING 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.
STAYING THERE
There 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. |
