Located in the Central Highlands, in the Maikal range of Satpuras, Kanha National Park is one of the largest parks in Madhya Pradesh . Reclining across a sprawling area of 1,949 sq. km, with 940 sq. km of core area and 1,009 sq. km of buffer zone; in the Madala and Kalaghat districts, Kanha National Park makes for an ideal tiger country . The enchanting park encompasses Banjaar and Hallon valleys.

One of the first Tiger Reserves to work for Project Tiger, Kanha was established as a sanctuary in 1933, declared as a National Park in 1955 and eventually in 1973 was made a Tiger Reserve. It is commonly believed that Kanha got its name from the texture of the soil found there, which is locally called Kanhar.

In the 19th century the reserve was originally a part of the Gondwanas i.e. the land of the Gonds. The land of Kanha was occupied by the Gonds and the Baigas, the two major tribes of Central India who still live at its outskirts.

The lush Sal and Bamboo forests of both Kanha and Pench are believed to have provided inspiration to Sir Rudyard Kipling for his famous narrative, “The Jungle Book”. Yet, Kanha’s greatest achievement, has been the preservation of Hard Ground Swamp Deer or Barasingha, from near extinction.

Kanha’s undulating landscape is dotted with dense groves of vegetation, hillocks and open meadows. Of all these habitats, it is Kanha’s meadows that are its lifeline, as they sustain large numbers of Chital, Sambar, Barasingha and Gaur. These in turn support populations of predators and co-predators like Tigers, Leopards, Wild Dogs, Jungle Cats and Foxes.The park is primarily a moist Sal and moist mixed deciduous forest where Bamboo, Tendu, Sal, Jamun, Arjun and Lendia, Sindoor Tree or Vermillion Tree flourish. Home to over 1,000 species of flowering plants and about 300 species of birds, Kanha’s flourishing habitat and natural beauty makes it one of the prime wildlife destinations in the world. The natural landscape and highland beauty of Kanha has been appreciated worldwide making it one of the prime wildlife destinations.

The magical land of Kanha offers a wealth of abundant resources and adventures to enthral every visitor. Here are a bunch of things that are a must-do while at Kanha:

An adrenaline pumping tiger safari can transport you to a whole new world of adventure. Jeep safari is an exclusive experience of sighting Kanha’s teeming wildlife and flourishing natural habitat. Navigate through the core or buffer forests of Kanha in an open top jeep safari, which ride off at the crack of the dawn, or venture out in the afternoons as the sun beats a retreat into the transiting evening sky. Accompanied by experienced naturalists in these open jeeps, the safari experience offers a getaway to new vistas in exploration and adventure. Places of interest inside the park include Shravan Tal, Kanha Meadows and the Interpretation Centre. Kanha tiger reserve is also the forest that inspired the popular novel by Rudyard Kipling ‘The Jungle Book’ about a boy who was raised by wolves. It is also famously known as ‘Kipling’s Country’. You would still find Baloo, the sloth bear nosing around for termites, Bagheera, the leopard hunting silently; and the langurs swinging from tree to tree. The mighty Sher Khan still roams free in these magical forests, that comprise one of the last strongholds of this most magnificent of cats, the Royal Bengal Tiger .

Allow the exquisite flora and fauna of Kanha bewitch you on exclusive nature and birding trails, and cycling expeditions.   
Nature Walks: Nature trails can enhance your five senses and rev up your inner well-being. A truly therapeutic experience, a serene jungle walk is for those who wish to explore nature and wildlife from close quarters, while being on foot. A guided walk through the lush landscape may throw up unique surprises, of birds and bird sounds you never knew of,or sighting the most incredible beings that home in the tranquil wild.
Cycling Trails: Explore the forests and stumble upon wildlife on an exhilaratingly, unique bicycle ride. Become one with yourself and the mysterious forests, while on a cycling expedition, through the meadows and uneven terrain. During these excursions, you can also spend some unique moments exploring a few small lakes, or immerse in moments of solitude by the Banjaar River, with a picnic basket for company.   

Khatia Walking Trail by the Forest Department – The Khatia walking trail takes place in the Khatia buffer zone of the park, for a duration of approximately two hours. A permit needs to be obtained from the forest department for this walk. Accompanied by a local guide from the forest department, this walk can lead to chance encounters with spotted deers, sambhars and some other wildlife. Soak in the surreal sights of myriad flora and fauna. Enjoy the perks of bird watching, butterflies flitting from bush to bush or even sighting some unique reptiles.

A tribal market or haat (as it is locally called) is a perfect way to soak in the local flavours. Bustling with activity and bursting with a riot of colours, these bazars showcase a fascinating array of products. These may include local artefacts, pottery, tribal jewellery, fresh organic greens or the catch of the day. Some of the tribal bazaars happen at Mocha, Kumadehi and Sarekha.

Kanha National Park is one of the most visited forest reserves in India. Tourists from all across the globe visit Kanha to spot the majestic tiger and other wildlife, relax and unwind in the peaceful lap of nature and engage is some magical wildlife photography. Kanha offers some of the best photographic opportunities. Most tourists visiting Kanha go for jungle safaris. The forests are divided into two major zones:

Core zone is the central part of the tiger reserve and it shares its boundary with the buffer zone. Core zone is basically an important area where the conservation of wildlife and natural resources is strictly protected by the forest department. Buffer Zone is the area that surrounds or adjoins the core areas where nature is conserved alongside compatible human uses of the land or water.
The Core Zones of Kanha are: Kanha, Sarahi, Mukki and Kisli
The Buffer Zones of Kanha are: Khatia, Sijhora, Phen and Khapa
In Kanha the four major safari zones are declared as the core zones. Kanha buffer zones are accessible from different entrance gates. Currently there are three entrance gates to accesss the national park: Khatia gate, Mukki gate and Sarahi gate . The four core zones which are accessible from different entry gates. All these core zones are very popular among tourists.

The buffer zones can also be accessed as follows:

Kanha buffer zones are accessible from different entrance gates. At present three safari entrance gates are existing i.e. Khatia gate, Mukki gate and Sarhi gate.

All the popular tiger reserves have many zones open for tourists. Park tickets are available zone wise. It is best to do a mix of different zones to experience the entire park. Some zones in the same park tend to have a different habitat, resulting in diversity of flora & fauna. Tiger sightings also tends to move around from one zone to another, depending on a tigress with cubs, water and food availability, etc. Many parks also offer zones in both core and buffer forest of the tiger reserve.

Though Nagpur is an international airport and has well connected flights worldwide, Jabalpur serves as a better option for people flying down from Delhi. Nagpur is a good option for people boarding flight from Mumbai & Bangalore while Raipur is a convenient option for people boarding flight from Kolkata. Spice Jet, Air India and Indigo and Vistara offer daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Jabalpur, Nagpur and Raipur.
Tickets can be booked on individual airline sites or from www.cleartrip.com or www.makemytrip.com Jabalpur is the nearest airport to Kanha at a distance of 170 km from Kanha and travelling time is 3.5 hours. Second best option is Raipur airport. Distance to be covered by road from Raipur to Kanha is 225 km and travelling time is 4.5 hours. Another way is to take a flight till Nagpur. Distance to be covered by road from Nagpur to Kanha is 270 km and travelling time is 5.5 hours.

Jabalpur is the nearest and convenient rail head to visit Kanha. Distance to be covered by road from Jabalpur railway station to Kanha is 170 km and travelling time is 3.5 hours.
Gondia is another rail head from where Kanha is accessible. But there are no trains form Delhi to Gondia. It is convenient for the people travelling from Mumbai and Kolkata. Distance to be covered by road from Gondia to Kanha is 120 km and travelling time is 3 hours. M.P. Sampark Kranti is the most suitable train to reach Jabalpur from Delhi. Nizamudin Jabalpur Super Express is an alternative. Details could be checked and bookings can be done on www.irctc.co.in and www.indianrail.gov.in.

Kanha National Park is well-connected by road with Jabalpur 170 Km, Khajuraho 445 Km, Nagpur 270 Km and Raipur 219 Km. NH12 from Jabalpur to Mandla will take you to Kisli gate. Mukki gate is accessible from Nagpur via Gondia, Balaghat and Baihar. Bus and cab services are available.

Kanha Earth Lodge , by Pugdundee Safaris is a serene sanctuary where dew drops unfurl in the early morning mist, birds flint from one branch to another; while you sip on your morning cuppa, and lord over tiger country.
Tucked away in a small tribal hamlet bordering Kanha’s buffer zone, Kanha Earth Lodge is built in less than 5% of the 16 acres of natural forest that surrounds it. The lodge and its furniture is constructed and designed using local waste wood and recycled wood; a true reflection of impeccable standards in green architecture.
Facilities We offer twelve, luxury bungalows with spacious verandas that promise unhindered, stunning views.

Inspired by traditional Gond architecture, the cottages have been meticulously designed using locally available materials such as mud plaster, stone, terracotta tiles, rough-hewn timber beams. The furniture has been delicately crafted using waste and recycled wood, thereby blending seamlessly with the natural forest setting.

An oasis of relaxation, our Infinity pool is set between Mahua trees of a fringe forests. Let the stress melt away, as you unwind under the alluring, blue skies, dotted with candy floss clouds, forming a canopy over the verdant forest cover.

Our spacious lounge overlooking the forests, is adorned with local artefacts. This tastefully done up space with furniture designed using recycled wood and inspired by the Gond tribal culture, is a cosy nook for our weary guests.
The library or reading room stocks a wealth of literature on the biodiversity of Central India and Kanha. Equipped with a presentation screen to host special wildlife documentaries, you can spend a few relaxed evening here. Watch some well-known documentaries, or intriguing presentations by our naturalists; while the staff serves you the freshly plated hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

Our multi-cuisine dining hall serves and curates an array of regional, Indian and continental flavours, rustled up by our expert chefs. Our dishes are made from locally sourced, fresh food produce. Tantalise your taste buds with the unique flavours of Tikkar Roti (flat bread oven roasted in camel foot leaves), Lamb Booti curry, Chakri, Basil and Beetroot ice cream and an exclusive variety of other dishes.

Safari tickets to Kanha National Park can be booked online through the website: mponline.gov.in .You can also book the tickets through the hotel/lodge where you are going to stay.
The entry tickets can also be collected from the booking window at the entrance gate of the National Park. Additional expenses such as booking charges, park rates, guide fees etc are termed under the additional expenses other than the entry tickets.
Trespassing different routes is not allowed.
Like all the other parks of M.P. Kanha allows a total of six guests in a jeep plus a park guide & a driver are mandatory. 8 people in a jeep can be very crowded, it is best suited to have 4 guests + 2 and for photographers it is best to be just 2 guests in a jeep.
There are four zones in Kanha namely, Kisli, Kanha, Mukki, and Sarhi. Kanha like other major National Parks of Central India remains open from 1st October to 30th June. The park is closed on Wednesday evenings. (check) The timings of the jeep safaris are as follows and slightly vary according to the season.

Make sure you book at least 3 months in advance, especially if you are looking at booking multiple safaris. Safari tickets get sold out very quickly, right at the beginning of the season. The payment also includes payment for the safari jeep and the safari guide.
Booking tickets from the safari gate on the day of the safari is a tedious task, and mostly difficult to get. But in case you are still trying your luck last minute there is an option of booking a Canter/open bus which is purely on shared basis, and more viable if one is in a large group.
The other option in this case is to try for the buffer zone safari. Sightings might be limited, but then you still will get to experience the exhilarating Kanha forests.