Kanha National Park
About Kanha
Kanha National Park is one of the most well-known tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh. It lies in the Maikal range of the Satpura hills. The reserve covers forests, meadows, streams and grasslands.
Kanha is famous for its Bengal tigers and hard-ground barasingha. The reserve played an important role in bringing the barasingha population back from the brink of extinction. The species now remains one of the main attractions of the park.
The forest has large stretches of sal trees along with bamboo and other mixed deciduous vegetation. Open meadows break up the forest and provide good areas for watching deer, gaur and other animals.
Kanha also has a strong connection with The Jungle Book. The forests and landscapes of this part of central India helped inspire Rudyard Kipling’s famous work.
A safari in Kanha can bring sightings of tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, gaur, sambar and chital. The reserve also supports a large variety of birds and reptiles.
Kanha Tiger Reserve includes a core area of about 917 square kilometres and a buffer area of about 1,134 square kilometres. The total area covers about 2,052 square kilometres.
Kanha Safari Packages
Best Seller
Big Cats Marathon
Duration : 16 Days
Destination : Nagpur › Tadoba › Pench › Kanha › Bandhavgarh › Panna › Khajuraho › Delhi
Golden Triangle and Tiger Tour
Duration : 15 Days
Destination : Delhi › Agra › Jaipur › Kanha › Bandhavgarh › Nagpur
Wildlife in Kanha
Kanha has a wide range of wildlife. Bengal tigers remain the main attraction, but the reserve supports many other mammals, birds and reptiles.
The open meadows are good places to watch chital, barasingha and other herbivores. Gaur often move through the forest and grasslands. Leopards usually stay more secretive and need patient tracking.
Dholes, also called Indian wild dogs, live in packs and can cover large areas while searching for prey.
Kanha is also known for its birdlife. The forest supports raptors, waterbirds, woodland birds and many smaller species. The reserve has around 300 bird species, 43 mammal species and 26 reptile species.
Mammals
- Bengal Tiger
- Leopard
- Dhole
- Sloth Bear
- Gaur
- Hard-ground Barasingha
- Sambar Deer
- Chital
- Wild Boar
- Golden Jackal
Birds
- Indian Peafowl
- Crested Serpent Eagle
- Changeable Hawk-Eagle
- Indian Roller
- Malabar Pied Hornbill
- Common Hoopoe
- Indian Grey Hornbill
- Black-hooded Oriole
- White-bellied Drongo
- Lesser Adjutant
Reptiles
- Indian Python
- Common Cobra
- Indian Rat Snake
- Common Krait
- Indian Flapshell Turtle
- Indian Softshell Turtle
- Bengal Monitor
- Common Garden Lizard
- Russell’s Viper
- Indian Rock Python
Safari Zones in Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park has four core safari zones: Kanha, Kisli, Mukki and Sarhi. The park also allows safaris in selected buffer zones. Each zone covers a different part of the forest, so the landscape and wildlife sightings can vary between them.
Kanha Zone
Kanha Zone is one of the most popular safari zones in the park. It has open meadows, sal forests and water sources. Visitors can spot tigers, barasingha, chital, sambar and gaur in this area.
Kisli Zone
Kisli lies close to the Kanha area and has a mix of dense forest and open grasslands. The zone supports tigers, leopards, deer, gaur, wild dogs and many bird species.
Mukki Zone
Mukki is a popular entry point for Kanha safaris. The area has dense forests, bamboo patches and open stretches. It offers good chances to see tigers, gaur, sambar, chital and sloth bears.
Sarhi Zone
Sarhi offers a quieter forest setting with open meadows and dense woodland. Visitors can look for tigers, leopards, deer, gaur and other wildlife during a safari.
Buffer Zones
Kanha also has several buffer areas where visitors can take safari drives. Khatia, Khapa and Sijhora are some of the better-known buffer zones. These areas can offer wildlife sightings with fewer vehicles than some core areas.
Best Time to Visit Kanha
Ideal Times for Wildlife Watching in Kanha
Kanha National Park Climate
Kanha has hot summers, cool winters and a monsoon season from July to September.
Summer: March to June stays hot, with temperatures reaching around 40°C to 42°C in April and May.
Winter: November to February brings cool days and cold mornings. January can see temperatures close to 1°C.
Monsoon: July to September brings heavy rainfall. Regular safari tourism remains closed during this period.
Kanha climate chart
| Temperature | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min (°C) | 1 | 10 | 22 | 30 | 35 | 25 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
| Max (°C) | 15 | 25 | 35 | 40 | 42 | 41 | 34 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 25 |
How to Reach Kanha National Park
By Air
Jabalpur Airport: Around 160 km from Kanha. It is a convenient choice for reaching the park, especially from the Khatia and Sarhi side.
Nagpur Airport: Around 300 km from Kanha. Nagpur has good flight connections with major Indian cities and works well for visitors heading towards the Mukki side.
By Road
