Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park is Kipling country and the nearby forests were the setting for the "Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling. It's an outstanding national park and wildlife reserve of Central India, noted for its last remaining population of the hard-ground race of the Swamp Deer (approximately 380). Spotting wild animals is always a matter of luck, but Kanha is so rich in wildlife that the odds are titled in your favour. Most people are keener to meet Kanha's most famous citizen: the Tiger. There are a healthy numbers of the Tiger found over here, which may be seen during the day, and is one of the best places left to see them.

There are 175 varieties of birds in Kanha National Park. So if you happen to be bird watcher, look forward to a full spotting itinerary. The terrain inside the park is varied, nonetheless enjoyable. Bamboo forests flow into Sal forests and meadows. There are herds of spotted deer to be seen with smaller herds of spotted deer to be seen with smaller herds of beautiful antelope, the black buck. With a little luck, you could also spot the timorous barking deer.

It's snapping warns other denizens of the forest that a predator is around. There is also a very strong possibility that you will see the rare Barasingha, the Swamp Deer. Once there were only 66 of these in Kanha, but careful conservation and management raised their population to over 400.

Of this area, the core- about 940 sq km- is the national park; around it is the buffer zone. Porcupines, jackals, sloth bear, jungle cat, macaque, Dhole (wild dogs), bison and a stunning spectrum of birds inhabit Kanha, and make a trip to the sanctuary a must for any wildlife enthusiast. It is a truly thrilling experience, made more so by sightings of the tiger, 'gaur', or even the tiny mouse deer (muntjac) or the rare hard ground Barasingha, found only in Kanha. Go bird watching on a misty winter morning, and you're likely to see beauties like the racquet tailed drongo, crimson breasted barbet, crested hawk eagle and golden oriole.

Kanha Tiger Reserve is closed to visitors during the monsoon months, from July to November. Winter, between November and January, is a comfortable time to visit the park, when the weather's pleasant. April to June is when the summer sets in; it can get pretty hot at this time, but if you're a die-hard wildlife fan, this is when a visit can reward you with satisfactory wildlife-watching at the park's waterholes.

Best time to visit:
February to June the cool season is much more comfortable and still very good for wildlife. (The park is closed from July 1 to 31 because of the monsoon)
For those planning a visit, a stay of at least three nights is recommended in order to have a good chance of seeing the more elusive animals - although, of course, a brief visit will also be very interesting.