Kanha National Park
Often called the 'Tiger State of India', Kanha inspired Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. Its vast sal and bamboo forests support thriving populations of tigers, leopards, and the rare barasingha.
Area (km²)
940
Established
1955
District
Mandla
Nearest City
Jabalpur
Quick Facts
Kanha is credited with saving the endangered barasingha (swamp deer) from extinction.
It is believed to have inspired Rudyard Kipling's iconic novel The Jungle Book.
The park has one of the most successful Project Tiger programs in India.
Kanha was one of the first reserves to implement village relocation to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Habitat & Best Time to Visit
Habitat Types
Best Time to Visit
Oct – Jun
Park closed July–September. Best tiger sightings October to May.
Designations
Gates & Safari Zones
Khatia Kisli
Zone Core
Main entry; best for barasingha and tiger.
Mukki
Zone Core
Southern entry; excellent meadows.
Sarhi
Zone Buffer
Phen
Zone Buffer
Barasingha
Rucervus duvaucelii
Indian Gaur
Bos gaurus
Tiger
Panthera tigris
Sloth Bear
Melursus ursinus
Sambar Deer
Rusa unicolor
Four-horned Antelope
Tetracerus quadricornis
King Cobra
Ophiophagus hannah
Lesser Florican
Sypheotides indicus
Blackbuck
Antilope cervicapra
Indian Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Indian Rock Python
Python molurus
Red Junglefowl
Gallus gallus
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Dhole
Cuon alpinus
Chital
Axis axis
Rusty-spotted Cat
Prionailurus rubiginosus