The
herds are shut in byre and hut
For loosed till dawn are we.
This 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)
Tiger
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 in the park 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).
The
reptile residents of the park consist of Monitor Lizards, Pythons and a
large variety 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 when 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 in the park 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.
