For loosed till dawn are we.

Here is the hour of pride and power,

Talon and tush and claw.

Oh, hear the call!- Good hunting all

That keep the Jungle Law!

- Rudyard Kipling, Jungle Book

Kanha National Park in the Mandla District spreads over 1,945 sq.km of dense sal forests, interspersed with extensive meadows and trees and clumps of wild bamboo. This area known as Kipling Country’ is where all the jungle books of Rudyard Kipling were conceived.

Geographical Details :

- Longitude – 89″-32′ to 89″-45′ E .

- Latitude -22″-13′ to 22″-27′ N.

- Topography Code – B

- Altitudinal Range – Elevation range of 1480 to 2950 feet (450-900 meters) above mean sea level

- Average Rainfall – 152 cm

- Temperature -Min 10, Max 35 (deg.Cel)

Kanha Tiger ReserveTiger population:

- 1979 – 71

- 1984 – 109

- 1989 – 97

- 1993 – 100

- 1995 – 97

- 2001- 107

On the wild trail !!!

Flora:

The slopes of the plateaus are very thickly forested with Bija, Haldu, Dhaora as the main trees giving away to strands on almost pure Sal, then Ban-rahar, Bamboo and Sindhur. The park, especially in the cooler and greener months is amazingly scenic and a landscape photographer’s dream come true.

Fauna:

Kanha National Park is world famous for it’s tigers. Tiger sightings are not as rare as in most other parks of the country. The only other reserves in the country that can claim to have as many sightings as Kanha are Ranthambor and Kanha’s own neighbour, Bandhavgarh. Other than the tiger, some of the more frequently seen animals around the block consist of Leopards, Gaur, Sambar , Chausinghas, Nilgais , Sloth Bears, Barking Deer , Swamp Deer (Barasingha) , Blackbuck, Langurs, Wild Boars, Porcupines, Mouse Deer, Hyenas, Jackals and Wild Dogs (Dholes).

Kanha Tiger ReserveThe reptile residents of the park consist of Monitor Lizards, Pythons and a lot of avenues of other snakes.

Best time to visit:

Kanha Tiger Reserve is closed to visitors during the monsoon months, from July to November. Winter, between November and January, is a comfortable time to visit the park, when the weather’s pleasant. April to June is when the summer sets in; it can get pretty hot at this time, but if you’re a die-hard wildlife fan, this is where a visit can reward you with satisfactory wildlife-watching at the park’s waterholes.

The excursion timings are:

- Nov. 1 – Feb. 15 Sunrise to 1200 hrs., 1500 hrs. to sunset.

- Feb. 16 – Apr. 15 Sunrise to 1200 hrs., 1600 hrs. to sunset.

- Apr. 16 – Jun. 30 Sunrise to 1100 hrs., 1700 hrs. to sunset.

How to get there:

Khatia (3 km from Kisli) and Mukki are the two main entry points to the Park. The nearest town is Mandla (65 km).

By air: Nearest airports are located at Jabalpur (170 km), Raipur and Nagpur (270 km).

By rail: The closest railheads are at Jabalpur and Bilaspur.

By road: A daily bus service is available for Kisli and Mukki from Jabalpur, and back. It is advisable to reach Kisli before sunset, as vehicles are not allowed around the block after dark.

Accommodation:

Accommodation for tourists visiting Kanha consists of MPSTDC log huts (befittingly named the `Bagheera Log Huts’, in tribute to Kipling’s leopard from Jungle Book) and a youth hostel. Rooms here cost between Rs 700 to 900, and can be booked through the MPSTDC offices in Delhi, Bhopal and Jabalpur. Dorm beds at the youth hostel cost Rs 300, inclusive of meals.

In spite of large number of National Parks/Tiger Reserves greater tourism is limited to the above forests. The reason is high density of tigers and hence easy visibility. Though tigers are present in good numbers elsewhere especially in South India the visibility is lacking due to nature of the habitat. Periyar and Wynaad are examples.

To cater to ever increasing numbers of tourists on tiger safaris the accommodation has been steadily increasing. Initially the rest houses belonging to forest and other government departments were the only places one could stay. In recent times the influx of hotels, jungle camps and resorts has been catering to the tourists.

The concept of holiday accommodation in Indian jungle is steadily changing. The tourists prefer fully equipped wildlife resorts for a stay. These resorts are now being built on the principle of sustainable eco friendly tourism. The ambiances though highly modern is built on the exteriors were eco friendly sustainable resources have been used.

Most of the eco resorts are built using the same technology as the ethnic dwellings of the tribal villages. Kanha Tiger Preserve leads in this aspect. The new concept has been encouraged by responsible eco friendly tourism which is the need of the hour. Even the energy is obtained from solar panels as much as possible. Though for temperature control electricity is a must. But much of the power is generated using solar panels.

The ethnic construction is environmentally well heeled and cottages and rooms maintain an amiable temperature reducing the need for temperature control. As in ethnic dwellings the walls are used using locally available mud in conjunction with natural materials used by the tribal. The construction is safe, stable and rock solid as has been proved through centuries.

The appearance of the resorts is that of beautifully sculptured dwellings in harmony with the surroundings. All this, without sacrificing modern comforts and utilities that the guests look for in luxury accommodations. The eco resorts are well equipped with wildlife interpretation center, trained naturalists, and professional managers and wait staff. The resorts offer in house activities relating to eco tourism iike tribal dance and music – this way they provide lively hood to the locals.

In time to come eco friendly resorts at Kanha will be the preferred accommodation.  The tourists on wildlife safari do not wish for city type hotels anymore in wild habitats. With increasing tourism awareness of our wild heritage is growing among the tourists. They are more and more becoming conscious of responsible tourism practices.

Kanha and other tiger reserves our life sustaining eco systems. The support vast diversity of life forms with which our lives are linked. Conducting proper tourism will help save these vital ecosystems, and sustain lives of the local communities as well. The tribal are the real sentinels who conserve our green belts.