Kanha National Park spreading across 772 sq.m including the buffer area is one of the oldest Tiger Reserves of the country and interestingly is being declared as one of the finest wildlife areas in the world. The landscapes and the surrounding luxurious meadows along with the wooded strands and the dense maroons of forests offer magnanimous sightseeing experiences for the nature lovers. Making the land more beautiful and adorable, the crystal clear streams amidst the dense jungle cleanses the surroundings and makes the wildlife unrivalled. This vivacious land has been the source of inspiration for Rudyard Kipling, a famous writer for his outstanding creation- “The Jungle Book”. The park today is divided into 4 zones – Kanha zone – this is in the heart of the park and is the premium zone, Kisli, Mukki and Sarhi. The park is home to over 1000 species of flowering plants. The lowland forest is a mixture of Sal and other mixed forest trees, interspersed with meadows. The Indian ghost tree can also be seen in the dense forest (Gum tree). The Kanha National Park is the ideal home for wide ranges of wild creatures; right from the mighty tigers to the most populated Barasingha and the countless species of plants, birds, reptiles and insects. The park is also home to other majestic animals like leopard and wild dogs. Bamni Dadar, or the sunset point, which offers an amazing view of the landscape dotted with grazing sambars and gaurs. A safari through the park where you can see animals in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience!
Safari Zones or Gates
Kanha boasts 8 safari zones that include 4 gates of the buffer zone (Khapa, Khatia, Phen, and Sijora) and 4 gates of the core zone (Kanha, Kisli, Sarhi, and Mukki).
Kanha Zone
Adorned with open meadows and bamboo trees, the Kanha gate has a unique historical background. Shravan Taal and Kanha Museum are also tourist attractions here. The meadows are preferable for tiger safaris because maximum tiger spotting is very high here. You can also enjoy elephant rides and tiger shows in this zone. Kanha zone is the premium zone as tourists need to pay extra fees to do safari here.
Sarhi Zone
Sarhi zone is popular for the Saunf Meadow for spotting Barasingha for the first time in 1966. In the dry deciduous forests, one can sight tigers easily. Sarai Zone is a newer addition to the tourism infrastructure at Kanha. Here you will find dense mixed forests which are absolutely scenic. However, this gate does not have accommodations therefore tourists stay at the Khatia village. The entry for the tiger safari at Sarhai zone is through the Khatia Gate which is also used for entry into Kanha and Kisli Zones. Here you will find the Nilgai or Blue Bull antelope alongside tigers.
Mukki Zone
Mukki zone is the most popular zone of all. It has Saal, bamboo, and lush grasslands that help good tiger sightings It is here that you can look out for Tigers, Hard Ground Swamp Deer, Indian Bison, Wild Dogs, and Leopards. Even the water streams are home to many water birds. This territory is considerably less hilly and has marshy grasslands at Sounder and Bishanpura.
Kisli Zone
Bamboo vegetation, picturesque grasslands, and deep Saal forests – Kisli zone also is well-known for tiger sightings.