Kanha National Park
| Kanha National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Spotted deer (Axis axis) at Kanha |
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| Location | Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Nearest city | Mandla |
| Area | 940 square kilometres (360 sq mi) |
| Established | 1955 |
| Visitors | 1,000 (in 1989) |
| Governing body | Madhya Pradesh Forest Department |
Kanha National Park is a national park and a Tiger Reserve in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh, India. In the 1930s, Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar, of 250 and 300 km² each. Kanha National Park was created on 1 June, 1955. Today it stretches over an area of 940 km² in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat. Together with a surrounding buffer zone of 1,0067 km² and the neighboring 110 km² Phen Sanctuary it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve. The park has a significant population of Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, the sloth bear, Barasingha and Indian wild dog. The lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel "Jungle Book " [1]
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Flora
Kanha National Park is home to over 600 species of flowering plants.[2] The lowland forest is a mixture of sal (Shorea robusta) and other mixed forest trees, interspersed with meadows. The highland forests are tropical moist dry deciduous type and of a completely different nature with bamboo on slopes (Dendrocalamus strictus). A very good looking Indian ghost tree (kullu) can also be seen in the dense forest.
Kanha Tiger Reserve abounds in meadows or maidans which are basically open grasslands that have sprung up in fields of abandoned villages, evacuated to make way for the animals. Kanha meadow is one such example. There are many species of grass recorded at Kanha some of which are important for the survival of Barasingha (Cervus duvauceli branderi). Dense forested zones with good crown cover has abundant species of climbers, shrubs and herbs flourishing in the understory. Aquatic plants in numerous "tal" (lakes) are life line for migratory and wetland species of birds.
Transportation & facility
Jabalpur has the nearest Airport (175 km) which is connected with Delhi while Nagpur airport is the next closest (275 Km). Nagpur airport is connected to most of the big cities in India. Mandla (70 km) is well connected with Kanha. In order to visit Kanha National Park, there is a regular tourist taxi service from Jabalpur. From Nagpur, you have to go via Seoni and Nainpur and take the diversion at Bamhni. In Seoni and Nainpur, overnight stay can be made before heading to Kanha.
Mandla, Nainpur and Seoni have sports clubs, Internet cafes, guides, churches (Catholic and Protestant) and hundreds of beautiful temples around the city. There are three gates for entrance into the forest. The Kisli gate is best accessible from Jabalpur. The Kisli gate stops at village Khatia which comes inside the buffer area. The second gate is Mukki. The third and recently opened gate is Serai gate.
General information
- Area: (core) 940 km²
- Terrain: sal and bamboo forests, plateaus, meadows and meandering streams
- Best Season: February to June
- Morning Visiting Hours: 6:30 am to 12:00 noon
- Evening Visiting Hours: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Closed: 1 July to 15 October
The Nearest Airport is Nagpur & Jabalpur ( Distance 275 Km. & 175 Km. Respectively)
References
- ↑ "Kanha Tiger Reserve". Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. http://210.212.144.202/kanha/. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ↑ "Kanha National Park". Reservation Portal Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. MPOnline Ltd. , JV between MPSEDC of Govt. of Madhya Pradesh & TATA Consultancy Services. http://www.mponline.gov.in/Portal/Services/Forest/FinalForest/kanha.html#Wildlife%20Tourism. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- K. K. Gurung & Raj Singh: Field Guide to the Mammals of the Indian Subcontinent, Academic Press, San Diego, ISBN 0-12-309350-3
External links
- Kanha National Park travel guide from Wikitravel
- About Kanha National Park
- Wildlife Times: The Central Indian Tiger Pilgrimage - A trip report
- About Kanha National Park
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