Kanha National Park.

Spanning over 2,000 square kilometers of lush Sal forests in eastern Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is one of India’s most iconic wildlife reserves. This breathtaking landscape famously inspired Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling’s timeless classic, The Jungle Book. A stronghold for tigers in Central India, Kanha is a key source population for surrounding reserves, playing a pivotal role in wildlife conservation and species recovery through connected forest corridors.

The park’s ecosystem is anchored by the Banjar and Halon river valleys, which nourish its diverse habitats. Moist deciduous Sal forests with thick undergrowth provide ideal conditions for tigers, offering them excellent cover for stalking prey. Vast rolling grasslands and tranquil streams support large herbivore populations, ensuring a stable food chain for apex predators. Recognised as one of the best-managed national parks in India, Kanha excels in both conservation and sustainable wildlife tourism.

One of Kanha’s most celebrated conservation success stories is the revival of the hard-ground Barasingha, fondly known as the “Jewel of Kanha.” Once reduced to just 66 individuals, this rare deer species has rebounded to a population of 600–700 through focused efforts like captive breeding and habitat restoration. This remarkable turnaround has earned Kanha accolades from the Government of India as a model for tourism-friendly and conservation-centric wildlife management.