Kanha Tiger Reserve – Safari

Kanha Tiger Reserve – Safari

There are four safari zones in this tiger reserve namely Kanha, Kisli, Sarai and Mukhi. Kanha zone is the famous among the four zones. The chances of sighting the tigers are more in Kanha and Kisli Zones.

Jeep Safari:

Jeep Safari is the most common and popular way to explore the wildlife in the reserve. The safaris are conducted in 4x4 open jeeps, accompanied by a trained guide and a driver.

Elephant Safari:

This safari is one of the best ways to explore the wildlife in their natural habitat in this reserve. This safari help the visitors to access the places inside the park which is not accessible by jeeps. This safari requires written permission of Field Director of the National Park.

Jungle Walk (Nature Trails):

The walking trail is another option to explore the wildlife in this reserve. It is allowed only in the buffer area. The forest department has made jungle trails near Khatia entrance gate and Chhapri village. The jungle trail at Chhapri is famous for bird watching.

Safari Timings:

The reserve remains open for visitors from 16^th October to 30^th June. The safari timings are:

Timings	Morning Safari	Afternoon Safari
16th October to 15th February	Sunrise to 11:00 AM	02:00 PM to Sunset
16th February to 15th April	Sunrise to 11:00 AM	03 PM to Sunset
16th April to 30th June	Sunrise to 10:00 AM	03:30 PM to Sunset

The reserve remains closed during the monsoon season (July 1^st to October 15^th). The entry to the reserve remains closed for the visitors on every Wednesday afternoon and Holi.

Vehicles Entry:

The number of vehicles permitted to enter inside the reserve in each shift are as follows:

Safari Zones	Kisli Zone	Kanha Zone	Mukki Zone	Sarhi Zone
Morning Shift	18	40	40	27
Afternoon Shift	18	40	40	27

Fees:

·      Entry Fees: ₹ 1370 per entry for Indians & double for foreigners

·      Guide Fees: ₹ 360

·      Gypsy Charge (max six persons): ₹ 2000

Kanha Tiger Reserve – The Tiger Reserve

Kanha Tiger Reserve – The Tiger Reserve

The tiger reserve encompasses a core area of about 940 km2 (360 sq mi) in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat. The surrounding buffer zone is about 1,067 km2 (412 sq mi). The neighboring Phen Wildlife Sanctuary of about 110 km2 (42 sq mi) also forms part of the Kanha Tiger Reserve. The reserve is located in the Maikal Range which forms the eastern base of the triangular Satpura Range. The altitude of the park ranges from about 600 m (1900 ft.) at Kanha Village to 870 m (2900 ft.) at Bamhni Dadar. The major topographical feature of this reserve is the horseshoe shaped valley.

The reserve is surrounded by the spurs of the Mekal. The Surpan River flows through the central grasslands of the reserve. These grasslands covers the extensive plateau. The reserve is divided into six ranges namely Kisli, Kanha, Sarhi & Mukki in the western block and Bhaisanghat & Supkhar in the eastern sector which are closed to the public. The park is open for visitors from October 16^th to June 30^th. The park remains closed during the monsoon season (July 1^st to October 15^th). The best time to visit this park is from November to March. 

Flora:

This tiger reserve is home to over 70 species of trees and 1000 species of flowering plants. The tiger reserve comprises of moist peninsular sal forests, southern tropical moist mixed deciduous forests, and southern tropical dry deciduous mixed forests. 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 from bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) on slopes. A notable Indian ghost tree (Davidia involucrata) can also be seen in the dense forest. The major trees found here are Saja, Lendia, Dhawa, Tendu, Palas, Bija, Mahua, Aonla, and Achar. Several species of climbers, forbs and grass can also found here.

Fauna:

The mammals found in the reserve are Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, dhole, sloth bear, Bengal fox, porcupine, hare, jungle cat, barasingha, gaur, chital, sambar, barking deer, Indian tree shrew, small Indian civet, common palm civet, ruddy mongoose, Indian wolf, common mongoose, flying squirrel, ratel, nilgai, Indian pangolin, Indian flying fox, fulvous fruit bat, greater false vampire, Indian pipistrelle, hyena, chausingha, langur, wild pig, and Indian jackal. It is also the first tiger reserve in India to officially introduce a mascot, Bhoorsingh, the Barasingha. Barasingha is called the jewel of Kanha National Park.

Some of the reptiles found in the reserve are python, Indian cobra, Russell’s viper, Indian krait, common rat snake, common skink, Indian monitor lizard, fan throated lizard and Indian garden lizard. Some of the fishes found in the reserve are giant danio, common rasbora, mud perches, brown snakehead, and green snakehead. The butterflies found in the reserve are lime butterfly, common rose, crimson rose, yellow orange tip, Indian cupid, striped tiger, plain tiger, gaudy baron, common crow, common jezebel, Daniad egg fly, common evening brown, common tree brown, tawny rajah, black rajah, and Indian skipper.

Avifauna:

The reserve is home to around 300 species of birds. Some of the birds found in the reserve are black ibis, Asian green bee-eater, cattle egret, plum-headed parakeet, Indian pond heron, common teal, crested serpent eagle, Indian grey hornbill, Indian roller, lesser adjutant, little grebe, lesser whistling teal, minivet, Malabar pied hornbill, woodpeckers, pigeon, Indian paradise flycatcher, hill myna, Indian peafowl, red junglefowl, red-wattled lapwing, steppe eagle, Tickell's blue flycatcher, white-eyed buzzard, white-breasted kingfisher, white-browed fantail, wood shrikes, warblers, racket- tailed drongo, golden-hooded oriole, Indian treepie, Rufous treepie, wolly necked stork, brown fish owl, white rumped shama, white bellied drongo, spangled drongo, twany babbler, jungle babbler, Indian scimitar babbler, grey francolin, painted francolin, black naped flycatcher, common Iora, eurasian blackbird, gold mantled chloropsis, Jerdon’s leaf bird, black hooded oriole, Malabar pied hornbill, Asian brown flycatcher, Tickell’s flowerpecker, verditor flycatcher, twany fish owl, barred jungle owlet, spotted owlet, Indian scops owl, mottled wood owl, shikra, common kestrel, changeable hawk eagle, pariah kite, oriental honey buzzard and Indian pitta.

Medicinal Plantation Conservation Area:

Medicinal Plantation Conservation Area (MPCA) is located at Boda Chhapri village. This village is situated at about 2 kms from Mocha village. This place is situated inside the dense forest. It is advisable to visit this place with permission from forest officers and a guide with good knowledge of plants.

Bamni Dadar:

Bamni Dadar is famously known as Sunset Point. It is situated at an elevation of 1,667 feet. This place is known for its spectacular sunsets. It offers a breathtaking view of the landscape of Kanha Tiger Reserve.

Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

Phen Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Mandla District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. It is situated in the southern region of Kanha Tiger Reserve close to Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh state borders. The sanctuary was established in 1983 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. It is better known as satellite micro core of Kanha tiger reserve and has been managed by the Kanha tiger reserve management since 1990.

The Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary covers an area of about 111 square kilometres. It is situated adjacent to Kanha National Park in the north east direction and is considered as buffer zone of Kanha National Park. It is located near Mukki entrance gate of Kanha tiger reserve. It is connected to Kanha Tiger Reserve through Motinala buffer range. This forest is an important connective linkage for Kanha - Achanakmar wildlife corridor, through Mawai range in North as well in south and Rajanandgaon of Chattisgarh part.

This sanctuary is known for its varying landscapes and is surrounded by 18 villages within 5 km radius from the boundary. This sanctuary is home to 800 known species of flora. The trees found in the sanctuary are Sal, Teak, Saja, Aonla, Tendu, Jamun, Bel, Bamboo and Bargad. The animals found here are Tigers, Leopard, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Hyena, Fox, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Jungle Cat, Blue Bull, and Sambar.

Safari

The wildlife safari was started in 2017 after it was announced as buffer zone of Kanha Tiger Reserve. The Safari permits are issued by the management of Kanha National Park. This zone is open for jungle safari drives from 15th October to 30th June. During the monsoon period i.e. from July to September, it remains closed for tourists. During safari drives, guide service is compulsory on each safari vehicle. Tourists need to book hotels near Mukki entrance for their convenience.

Safari Timings:

·      From Oct – Feb: 06.30 AM – 11.00 AM & 02.00 PM - 05.30 PM

·      From Mar – June: 06.00 AM – 10.00 AM & 03.00 PM – 06.00 PM

·      Closed on every Wednesday evening, on Holi & Diwali

Fees:

·      Rs. 250 for Single Seat in Jeep

·      Rs. 1500 per Whole Jeep (max 6 Persons)

·      Jeep Hiring Cost: Rs. 2500 per Jeep

·      Guide Cost: Rs 480 per guide

Connectivity

The sanctuary is located at about 10 Kms from Motinala Bus Stop, 11 Kms from Motinala, 49 Kms from Mukki, 68 Kms from Kawardha, 79 Kms from Mandla, 158 Kms from Bilaspur, 175 Kms from Jabalpur Airport and 186 Kms from Raipur. The sanctuary is situated at about 10 Kms to the north east of Motinala Bus Stop on the Mandla to Kawardha route.

Location

Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Kanha Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve located in Mandla and Balaghat Districts of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. This reserve is also known as Kanha – Kisli National Park. This tiger reserve is the one of the biggest tiger reserves and the largest national park in India. The reserve is located in the Maikal Range which forms the eastern base of the triangular Satpura Range. This park is the only habitat for rare hard ground Barasingha in India.

History

The forests of Kanha region was declared as a reserve forest in 1879 CE and then declared as sanctuary in 1933. Kanha National Park was created on 1 June 1955 and was designated a tiger reserve in 1973. The forests of Kanha were described in the book called “The Highlands of Central India” written by Captain J. Forsyth. The book was published in 1913. Captain J. Forsyth was an officer in the Bengal Staff Corps and discovered Pachmarhi hill located in Satpura National Park. A book called “Wild Animals in Central India” written by A. A. Dunbar Brander in 1923 was solely focused on Kanha National Park. The Jungle Book, an immensely popular and much-loved wildlife novel by Rudyard Kipling, is based on Pench and Kanha National Parks.

The Tiger Reserve

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/01/kanha-tiger-reserve-tiger-reserve.html

Safari

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/01/kanha-tiger-reserve-safari.html

Connectivity

Kanha Gate is located at about 9 Kms from Kisli Gate, 18 Kms from Mocha, 29 Kms from Sarai Gate, 38 Kms from Baihar, 42 Kms from Chiraidongri Railway Station, 45 Kms from Bamhani, 52 Kms from Mukki Gate, 59 Kms from Mandla, 104 Kms from Balaghat and 155 Kms from Jabalpur Airport. Kanha Gate is situated at about 18 Kms to the south east of Mocha on Baihar to Bamhani route.

Location

National Fossil Park, Ghughwa – The Fossil Park

National Fossil Park, Ghughwa – The Fossil Park

This park covers an area of about 75 acres in Ghughwa, Umaria, Deorakhurd, Barb Spur, Chanti-hills, Chargaon and Deori Kohani villages. The fossil record consists of mainly plants belonging to the topmost Cretaceous to early Tertiary periods dating back to about 65 million years. Fossils belonging to 31 genera of 18 plant families have been identified in this park. About 65 million years ago, this area was covered by forests similar to the evergreen and semi evergreen forests of the present Western Ghats and northeast India.

The forests were made up of moisture-loving plants. There was a three-tier forest structure consisting of low trees or shrubs growing below moderate to large-sized trees. The middle level had mostly palm-like trees. Ghughua enjoyed a humid and equatorial climate in ancient times, with uniform temperatures throughout the year and an annual rainfall above 2,000 mm or more, as compared to about 1400 mm now. It is said that it also had a very long rainy season during those times.

Mollusk fossils found here as well as at Matka-Deorikhohani, Palasunder, Silthar-Chanti Hills and Chargaon, indicates the presence of a large waterbody in these areas in those times. Some scientists postulated that an ancient branch of the sea called the Tethys Sea extended up to this area. The park has well preserved fossils of woody plants, climbers, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and shell fossils. Some of the fossilized plants include ancient forms of date palm, neem, jamun, banana, rudraksh, jackfruit and aonla.

The most prominent fossils found here are the palm fossils. Many of these fossil plants have living relatives. Some of these occur in the Western Ghats, Sikkim, and northeast India, while many others are native to Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. The presence of the species native to these countries proves that at one point of time in the distant history of the earth, India, Australia, and Africa formed a single huge landmass called Gondwana.

Petrified trunks of trees have been identified as gymnosperms and Angiosperms Monocotyledons and palms. There are certain Bryophytes also. A eucalyptus fossil found at Ghughua is the oldest fossil of its type ever discovered and are native to Australia. This fossil originally belongs to Gondwana. The dinosaur egg fossil is one of the impressive fossils discovered in this park. There is an interpretation centre situated in the park. It provides comprehensive information on the fossils found here.

National Fossil Park, Ghughwa, Madhya Pradesh

National Fossil Park, Ghughwa, Madhya Pradesh

National Fossil Park is a national park located in Ghughwa Village in Shahpura Taluk in Dindori District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. This national park is the largest fossil park in Asia and second largest in the world. This park is situated close to the Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks.

History

The site was discovered in 1970 by Dr. Dharmendra Prasad, a statistical officer of the Mandla district and honorary secretary of the district archaeology unit. Dr. S.R. Ingle from Science College, Jabalpur and Dr. M.B. Bande from Birbal Sahani Institute of Paleobotany, Lucknow then conducted systematic study of these fossils. Considering the scientific importance of the fossils found, the government of Madhya Pradesh notified the site as the Ghughua Fossil National Park in 1983.

The Fossil Park

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/01/national-fossil-park-ghughwa-fossil-park.html

Connectivity

This park is located at about 13 Kms from Shahpura Bus Stand, 14 Kms from Shahpura, 23 Kms from Niwas, 65 Kms from Umaria Railway Station, 70 Kms from Dindori, 83 Kms from Jabalpur and 88 Kms from Jabalpur Airport. This park is situated on the Shahpura to Niwas route.

Location