Tiger, Tiger, burning bright. Review on Kanha National Park

Now this is the Law of the Jungle -- as old and as true as the sky;

And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back --

For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

(From The Jungle Book)

Welcome to Kipling country. Welcome to the Kanha National Park. Before we move on some facts about this breathtaking National Park. It is one the largest wildlife sanctuary in the whole of Asia and one of the first Project Tiger reserves in India. The total area is 1945 kms with 1005 km being a buffer zone to the reserve. The core area covers 940 sq. kms of bamboo thickets, extensive grasslands and dense sal forests. In many ways it is the biggest success story in the amazing initiative known as Project Tiger. Successful conservation has resulted in the tiger population to double since 1976.

Perhaps the most scenic forest in our country this prime tiger habitat lies on a series of plateaus, which stretch across the eastern segment of the Satpura ranges in Madhya Pradesh.

We start our journey from Jabalpur a convenient railhead. Chances are that you may arrive at Jabalpur at night and have no option but to stay there over night. Stay at the MPTDC hotel located very close to the railway station. Next morning depending upon your budget opt for the MPSRTC bus that leaves the city at 7 in the morning or book a jeep from the hotel. The roads are a bit dicey at places but the scenic beauty that is on offer on the way makes you ignore that and by noon you should be in Kanha. Other cities that offer direct bus service to Kisli, and to the two park entrances, at Khatia and Mukki are Raipur (219) and Nagpur (266 km, the nearest airport).

It would be a good idea to relax on the first day and take a leisurely walk along the periphery of the National park. Take your own time to visit the Kanha Museum, which focuses not just on the flora and fauna of the area, but also on the local tribes. All of these are suggested as an appetizer and make you prepare for the rendezvous that awaits you next morning. Accommodation in Kanha is catered to tourists of all types (budget wise). It may be a good idea though to opt for the MPTDC log huts, appropriately named as the `Bagheera Log Huts’ (remember the leopard from Jungle Book). The huts are reasonably priced between Rs 700 - 900. There is a canteen, which is perfectly equipped to take care of you. Good night!

It is time to get up as the sun rises in the horizon. You may hire a jeep from the MPTDC office located just outside the park. I would suggest you go for the elephant safari, which is an experience in itself. Check with the office about the Mahouts (one of them has become a legend in his own rights, forgot his name though), who can be crucial in your chances of spotting wildlife while exploring the park. You are allowed to enter the park at designated times only. Normally it is from sunrise to noon, and then from afternoon to sunset. If you stay at Kanha for more than a day, it would be good idea to opt for both the options. Please bear in mind that if you want to see a chunk of wildlife available at the park, the best time to visit would be between April to June (it is going to be hot though). A visit during this time will be a satisfying one and you would be able to see almost all the residents at the waterholes. The residents of Kanha incidentally are jackals, sloth bear, the rare barasingha, jungle cat, macaque, dhole (wild dogs), bison, leopard, tiger, gaur and the tiny mouse deer (muntjac). A visit during the winter between November and January will be a pleasant one but chances of catching the amazing animals mentioned would be less. A spectacular array of birds would be there to offer you a visual feast though.

Did you know that the Barasingha (Cervus durauceli branderi) fondly known as the ''The Jewel of Kanha'' is found only in Kanha. It is a sub species of the Swamp deer but is somewhat different in having a darker coat and well-knit hooves instead of the splayed hooves of the other subspecies. This deer was on the brink of extinction in the early 1970s but successful conservation has pushed its number to the region of 500.

Don't forget to tell your guide to take you to Bamni Dadar for the sunset of your life. Known as Sunset Point this offers you great views of the jungle and you may be joined by the sambar, barking deer, gaur and the four-horned antelope, who seem to enjoy the breathtaking view as well.

The National parks of Kanha and the nearby Bandavhgarh are the perfect places to catch the tiger in action. You do need some luck but if you visit the park in summer you could be rest assured that the friendly forest officials would help you to catch a glimpse of the most magnificent animal on earth.

Do visit Kanha and give the Eco-tourism efforts taken a boost. Lets join hands to save the tiger and indeed all the species. Following is a poem by a 12 year kid named Nicole:

It Only Takes One

It only takes one light,

One candle,

One shimmer in the darkness,

To help the love grow

For the tigers that we all know.

It only takes one light,

I want to be that one light,

I want to be the first light,

To help the love grow.

Nicole, age 12

(source: https://5tigers.org/Kids/fun/Poems/poems.htm)

Cheers.