|
|
|
Information about
Kanha |
|
Kanha's
sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and
meandering streams stretch over 940 sq km in dramatic
natural splendour which form the core of the Kanha
Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger. The
park is the only habitat of the rare hardground
Barasingha (Cervus Duvaceli Branderi).
By a special statute in 1955, Kanha National Park came
into being. Since then, a series of stringent
conservation programmes for the protection of the
park's flora and fauna has given Kanha its deserved
reputation for being one of the finest and best
administered National Parks in Asia, an irresistible
attraction for all wildlife lovers and a true haven
for its animal and avian population.In the
1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two
sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar, of 250 and 300 sq km
each. Though one of these was subsequently disbanded,
the area remained protected until 1947. |
 |
|
Depletion
of the tiger population in the years that followed led
to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952. |
|
|
|
|
|
What to see |
|
 |
Guided Visits
Forest Department guides accompany
visitors around the park on mapped-out circuits which
enable viewers to see a good cross-section of Kanha's
wildlife. The best areas are the meadows around Kanha,
where blackbuck, chital and barasingha can be seen
throughout the day.
Bamni Dadar
Known
as Sunset Point, this is one of the most beautiful areas
of the park, from where a spectacular sunset can be
watched. The dense luxuriance of Kanha's forests can be
seen from here. Animals that can be sighted around this
point are typical of the mixed forest zone: sambar,
barking deer, gaur and four-horned antelope. |
|
Wildlife (Mammalian Species)
Kanha
has some 22 species of mammals. Those most easily
spotted are the Striped Palm Squirrel, Common
Langur, Jackal, Wild Pig, Chital or Spotted Deer,
Barasingha or Swamp Deer, Sambar and Black Buck.
Less commonly seen species
are:
Tiger, Indian Hare, Dhole or
Indian Wild Dog, Barking Deer, Indian Bison or
Gaur. Patient watching should reward the visitor
with a sight of: Indian Fox, Sloth Bear, Striped
Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard, Mouse Deer, Chausingha
or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and
Porcupine.
Very rarely seen species are:
Wolf which lives in the far East of the park,
Chinkara found outside the Park's Northern
boundary, Indian Pangolin, the smooth Indian Otter
and the small Indian Civet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Avian Species
Kanha also has some 200 species of birds. Watchers
should station themselves in the hills, where the
mixed and bamboo forests harbour many species, and
in the grassy forest clearings.
Water birds can be seen near the park's many
rivulets and at Sarvantal, a pool that is
frequented by water birds and the area in front of
the museum. The Sal forests do not normally yield
a sight of Kanha's avifauna. Early mornings and
late afternoons are best for birdwatching;
binoculars are an invaluable aid to the watcher.
Commonly seen species include:
Cattle
Egret, Pond Heron, Black Ibis, Common Peafowl,
Crested Serpent, Racket-Tailed Drongo, Hawk Eagle,
Woodpecker, Pigeon, |
 |
|
|
Dove,
Parakeet, Babbler and Mynah, Indian Roller,
White-Breasted Kingfisher and Gray Hornbill. |
|
|
|
JEEP
AND ELEPHANT HIRE
MPSTDC jeeps are available on hire for touring the
park. Elephants are used for tiger tracking and
should a tiger be located, the elephant can take
the visitors to the site.
For jeep hire, see the MPSTDC Manager, at the
Baghira Log Huts, Kisli and Kanha Safari Lodge,
Mukki. Bookings for a morning run should be made
the previous day. Please bear in mind that jeeps
are not always available during peak visiting
periods.
FOOD
Kisli has a restaurant and a canteen. The
restaurant serves both Indian and Western food.
The canteen is cheaper, serving reasonably-priced
meals and snacks. The Kanha Safari Lodge at Mukki
is served by a multicuisine restaurant. If boiled
water is required, please ask for it specially
(water served at the Lodge is generally filtered.)
Cold drinks and beer are usually available.
INFORMATION
There is no facility for encashing Travellers'
cheques at Kisli or Mukki- the nearest bank
dealing in foreign exchange is the State Bank at
Mandla.
Khatia (3 km from Kisli) and Mukki are the main
entry points to the Kanha National park. From
Jabalpur, Kisli is 165 km via Chiraidongri, and
Mukki is 203 km via Motinala and Garhi. For
travellers from Bilaspur (182km), Raipur (213km)
and Balaghat (83km), Mukki on State Highway No. 26
is more convenient. From Nagpur, Kisli is 259 km
via Nainpur and Chiraidongri, and Mukki is 289 km
via Balaghat. |
|
|
|
|
|
Wild Madhya Pradesh |
|
 |
Barasingha
This handsome deer is similar to the sambar,
but with a shorter coat, lighter colouring
and lighter build. The stags bear fine
antlers, sometimes up to 12 tines (or
points) - hence the name barasingha (bara -
12, singha - tines).
Kanha holds the only remaining population of
barasingha in peninsular India. In 1970
these were down to only 66, but now after
careful management, the population numbers
about 400. These are found mainly on the
meadows around Kanha village, but recently
they seem to have been spreading to other
areas of the Park.
Barasinghas congregate in mixed herds,
all-male herds or female-and-young herds,
and are sometimes seen singly. The rut
occurs in the cool season - during this
period the stag can be heard making their
'bugling' rut call (like a very |
|
|
loud and repeated donkey's bray), and seen
fighting with locked antlers. This helps establish
and maintain dominance orders within the group. |
|
|
Food
Grasses.
|
Breeding
Peak rut January. Usually single fawn.
Local name: BARASINGHA|
|
Male
Size: Large stag,
135 cm at shoulders.
Weight: About 170-180 kg. |
|
|
|
Blackbuck
Small numbers of this beautiful antelope
occur on the Kanha meadows. Adult males have
superb black and white coats, the black
turning to rusty brown during the moult.
Young males, females and fawns are pale
sandy-brown and white. Only the males bear
the long, spiralled horns.
Despite their small numbers, they are always
to be seen, as they keep to the open
meadows. The blackbuck seems to have no
alarm call, but rather an alert posture with
body erect and head raised in the air. When
fleeing they are often seen to 'stot' - this
action involves bounding along in a series
of high, springly hops. One possible
explanation for this is that it enables the 'stotting'
blackbuck to look for predators from a
higher viewpoint. |
 |
|
Another
theory is that by 'stotting' the blackbuck
is in effect saying to predators "Look how
high I can jump! You'll never catch me, so
don't try!" At
Kanha, the males hold territories of about
20 acres during the breeding season.
Blackbucks seem to form breeding herds
composed of one or more bucks plus fawns and
does between February and November, with
bachelor bucks living in all-male groups. In
the cool season, however, less rigid
groupings occur.
|
Food
Grasses.
|
Breeding
Peak ruts in April and
August / October. One, sometimes two, young
born after six months gestation period.
Local name:
HIRAN |
Size
Height at shoulder
(buck)
about 80 cm.
Weight: 40 kg.
Antlers: Up to 65 cm in length.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How to Reach |
|
By Air
Khajuraho is connected to Delhi & Agra with regular flights.
By Rail
The nearest railheads are Mahoba (64 km)
and Harpalpur (94 km). Jhansi (175 km) and Satna (117 km) are
convenient railheads for visitors from Delhi, Mumbai,
Calcutta, Chennai, Agra & Varanasi.
By Road
Khajuraho is connected by regular bus services with Mahoba,
Harpalpur, Satna, Jhansi, Gwalior, Agra, Jabalpur & Bhopal. |
|
|
Best
Season |
|
September to
March. |
|
|
Chat
