Kanha National Park spans over an area of approximately 940 square kilometers (363 square miles). The terrain consists of dense forests, open meadows, and large plateaus. The park is renowned for its Sal and Bamboo forests.
Kanha National park, officially known as the Kanha Tiger Reserve brings all the fascinations for a true nature lover with its amazing landscapes. The climate and atmosphere is simply outstanding that draws multiple attentions while touring across its corners.

Area: Kanha national park is shaped like a figure “8” on its side, with a length from west to east of approximately 80km and a width ranging from 8 to 35km. The Park’s total area is 1945 square km which consists of a core area of 940 square km surrounded by buffer zone of 1,005 sq km. There are nearly 155 villages in the buffer zone and over 255 villages within the radius of 10km.

Further the park is being divided into 6 ranges for better management: Kisli, Kanha, Sarhi and Mukki in the western block; and Bhaisanghat and Supkhar in the eastern sector which are closed for the public.

Geography: Kanha dwells in the central Indian highlands and amazingly hosts nearly half of India’s forests. The Kanha Reserve is located in the Maikal Range which forms the eastern base of the triangular Satpura Range. The park lies 160 km (100 miles) southeast of Jabalpur and 270 km (170 miles) northeast of the city of Nagpur (Maharashtra). The exact geographical coordinates of Kanha are: Latitude: 22° 7′ to 22° 27’N; longitude: 80° 26′ to 81° 3’E.

Kanha National Park has the alluring features to captivate many visitors round the corners out of which the varieties of wild lives make the whole environs more blissful. The tropical central highlands of this arena make a perfect habitat for the splendors of wild animals. Although the list is subtly endless but the fact is that it is the wild species only that creates the whole aroma of the natural environment livelier. Kanha National Park is the host of the major animals (mammals) including the Barasingha or swamp deer ((Rucervus duvaucelii), Indian wild dog and the most famed the India Tiger. This park is mostly renowned as the “Tiger Reserve” due to the significant amount of population of tigers in the Kanha land. Apart from that the most famed Barasingha can be found in abundance in this reserve and thus this species can be suitable called as the “jewel of Kanha National Park”.

Barasingha- the jewel of Kanha Traditionally known as Dolhorina which is similar to the English name (Swamp Deer), Barasingha is the most abundant species found in Kanha Reserve. This species is being recognized as the sub- Himalayan terai of North India, the hard ground Barasingha is an exclusive graminivorous deer species that totally depends on grasses and grasslands and shows a preference for aquatic plants. It is the most peaceful species in Kanha that easily interacts with Chital. They are often found to wade into water, frequently dipping its stifle to feed on water plants. Hunting, poaching and diversion of the long grassland to agriculture in Central India has been the main causes of their depletion in counts and thus the reserve officials have taken some necessary steps so as to conserve their population.

Reintroduction of Barasingha With the rewarding conservation efforts of the Kanha National Park, the officials of this reserve entirely focused on the preservation of the swamp deer who were the victims of poaching for their skin and beautiful horns. Their objectives of wild life conservation included the relocation of Gaur to Kanha and Barasingha to Satpura Tiger Reserve. With this effort at least 500 Barasingha were introduced in this national park to eight or nine different locations. Additionally, another project for the conservation of the tigers was also introduced that captured about twenty tigers to relocate them to the Satpura Tiger Reserve.

After that many other initiatives in Wildlife Conservation have been taken that include:

The enactment of the wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and, subsequently, the forest (Conservation) Act, 1980;
The addition of wildlife conservation in the Concurrent List of the constitution;
The enlargement of the network of national parks and sanctuaries;
The launch of project tiger in 1973;
The crocodile breeding project, 1975;
Project Elephant, early 1991;
Project Hangul, 1970;
Manipur Brow – antlered Deer Conservation Project, 1973;
Regulation of wildlife trade and commerce;
Strengthening of education and training facilities, further motivated in the establishment of the wildlife Institute of India;
Various efforts to increase general awareness about nature conservation

The Kanha National Park is stretched over an area of 940 km² in the Manada and Balaghat districts by dwelling across the longitude of 80°- 26′-10″ to 81°-4′-40″ and latitude of 22°-1°-5″ to 22°-27′-48″. The tiger reserve has majestically two divisions- the core zones and the buffer zones. The core zone which is called as the Kanha National Park is spread across 940 km² and the multiple use area covers at least 1009 sq km thus bringing the total coverage area of 1,949 sq km.

Apart from that there is also the Phen Wildlife Sanctuary scattered around the area of 110.740 sq km in the vicinity of the Kanha Tiger Reserve. Kanha is located 160 kilometers (100 miles) south east of Jabalpur by stretching across 22° 7′ to 22° 27′ N and 80° 26′ to 81° 3′ E.

The park has two entrance gates at its opposite ends, one at Khatia-Kisli and other one is at Mukki Gate. The distance between these two gates is of 40 kms. The boundary line of the tiger reserve touches the Raipur City of Chattisgarh. India’s second national park, the Kanha Tiger Reserve is the pride of the dense forests between the Vindhaya and Satpura ranges to offer the variety of flora and fauna.

04 WD Open Jeep safaris are the best way to observe wildlife at the thick & lush green forest of Kanha National Park. 04 X 04 Open Jeeps with groups of tourists, individuals accompanied by an experienced naturalist are allowed into the park at fixed timings during early morning and afternoon. The jeep has to follow a fixed route and leave the park by the end of the appointed time. Many popular wildlife experts and wildlife photographers have observed and photographed the largest cat family member of Kanha National Park by doing jeep safaris. Since the jeeps follow fixed routes, the animals are not unduly disturbed.

Jeep safaris keep one enthralled for the adventure and provide the flexibility to explore especially those places, which are difficult to travel via any other mode of transportation.

At Kanha National park in a single day jeep safari can be done 02 times. One in the early morning hrs & the other one in the late afternoon by using 06 seater open vehicle. In each vehicle 6 passengers were allowed to travel along with one naturalist and one driver. Before entering into the National Park one has to complete some necessary paper formalities at the entrance gate regarding vehicle details, naturalist details, visitor’s details etc. All these formalities take almost 15 to 20 minutes.

Visitors are advised to drive slowly and with care. Drawing at the national park is different from driving in city roads or highway. A deer on the road or a tiger by the roadside, if without interruption provides more pleasure than the one that run away. Sighting wild animals in Kanha is exciting. All the animals at the national park are wild. Getting close to them is not only prohibited, it is dangerous also. Respect the wild animals and always maintain a safe distance from them remember you are in their home and they get the first priority. Bright colors can disturb the animals therefore during safari rides for the national park, clothes should ideally be in muted jungle shades of beige, brown, green and such like, preferably neutral and earth colored clothes. Keep your all senses open during park safari for better wildlife viewing and avoid loud conversation which can disturb the animals & can reduce the possibility of sighting animals. Always take services of officially authorized guide during game drive as they are local, experienced & well familiar with the surroundings & can take you to the right places in right time to see the exceptional wildlife of Kanha National Park.