Wildlife adventure tourism in Central India
Wildlife tourism in India has its own place in world
wildlife adventure tourism map. India is a vast country with good natural
heritage including national parks, tiger reserves, reserve and protected
forests as well as areas not so well protected but having very good tourism
potentials. Wildlife adventure tourism in India includes tiger
safari, bird watching, jungle walks and allied tourism activities. Most of
the nature and wildlife tourism in the country is through its tiger
reserves where tourists from all over the world visit to spot free
roaming wild tigers and other wild animals in their natural habitat. India
has some good tiger reserves in almost all states be it Kashmir in the north,
Kerala in the south, Rajasthan in the east or Orissa in the western part. Out
of all these the best place is certainly the central part with the state of Madhya
Pradesh leading the wildlife tourism baton in the country.
Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has some best
managed and most frequented tiger reserves of the country including Kanha,
Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna and Satpura national parks and tiger reserves. These
and other destinations around them are also good bird watching sites in India
and certainly one of the best places to enjoy a quiet holiday with nature. With
Kanha and Bandhavgarh being at the helm of tourism Pench, Panna
and Satpura are fast catching up the tourism graph.
Kanha National Park, Tigers eyes |
Kanha national park:
One of the best managed tiger reserves in India, Kanha
forests are famous for not only spotting the striped cat but also Hard
ground swamp deer or Barasingha as it is locally known as, one of the
rarest deer species in the world. Spread over 940 Sq Kms, with predominantly Sal
and Bamboo forest and meadows Kanha is on top of list for any natural
history fan and wildlife photographer. You can visit Kanha national park
to see 22 species of mammals, 259 species of birds, 117 species of
butterflies and many other flora and fauna. With more than 1000
flowering species of flora Kanha is also a treat for people mainly interested
in the green cover of the earth.
Kanha has a very well
developed tourism infrastructure and caters to need of luxury and budget
tourists alike. Some of the best places to stay in Kanha include KanhaVillage Eco Resort, Flame of the Forest, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Banjar Tola (Tajsafari), Kipling camp, Singinawa jungle lodge,Tiger corridor by Tuli and Kanha earth lodge for luxury and mid luxury segment tourists. Budget accommodation in
Kanha includes Kanha Eco Lodge, Koushalya Resort, Mahua Tiger Resort, Baghira
log huts, Tourist hostel (Kisli) and Kishkindha Safari lodge amongst others.
Bandhavgarh national park:
Butterfly in Kanha natonal park |
Well known amongst tiger enthusiasts as a tiger reserve with
highest density of Tigers per Sq. Kms., Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is one
of the most visited national parks within wildlife buffs and photographers
alike. Bandhav garh gets its name from the fort of Bandha, once under
the Royal family of Rewa. It is one of the oldest known inhabited places in
central Indian history where archeological surveys has unearthed relics dating
back to thousands of years. Once royal hunting grounds of Maharaja of Rewa,
today it is one of the best tiger reserves of the country, thanks to the royal
family. Spread over 105 Sq. Kms. its topography
varies between steep ridges, undulating, forest and open meadows. With 22
species of mammals and 250 species of birds, Bandhavgarh forests are
best known for its biodiversity and spotting Tigers.
This white tiger country as it is also known as (Since first
wild white tiger cub – Mohan, was caught here by Maharaja Martand Singh
ji) has excellent tourism infrastructure with good alternative for all budgets.
Mahua Kothi (Taj safaris), Tiger garh, Syna tiger resort, Tree house hideaway, Samode
Safari Lodge, Bandhav Villas, Hotel Monsoon Forest and Maharajas Royal Retreat are some premium
properties catering to luxury tourists. For mid segment and budget tourists TheWildflower resort, Tiger trails, Green woods, Wild Haven, Mrigvan resorts, and Tiger
Trails Resort are good choice.
Wildlife in Central India |
Pench national park:
Spread over 299 Sq. Kms. of dense forest Pench Tiger
reserve is located towards the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh. Most
of the park is covered with dry deciduous forests and is situated around River
Pench with predominantly Teak forest. With 39 known species of mammals, 13 species
of reptiles, 210 species of birds and many other small and big living beings
this is one of the best tiger country in Central Indian state of Madhya
Pradesh. Flora in Pench national park includes around 1200 flowering
species of trees, shrubs and bushes.
Tourism infrastructure in Pench is very well
developed thanks to its proximity to Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Jabalpur (Madhya
Pradesh). Some of the best accommodation in Pench include Baghvan (Taj Safari),
Jungle home Pench, Tuli Tiger Corridor and Pench Jungle camp. For budget and
mid segment options V Village resort, Tiger N Wood Resort and Tribal Camp
Resort are the best.
Pug mark of Tiger - Wildlife excursion in Central India |
Panna national park:
Famous for the wrong reason of once losing all the wild
Tigers to poaching, Panna has bounced back to tiger conservation and
tourism map again due to hard work and dedication of forest department of
Madhya Pradesh and field staff of this spectacular tiger reserve. Once
royal hunting grounds of royal families of Panna, Chatterpur and Bijawar this
park has seen a lot of ups and downs in its time. Ken River, home to Indian
Ghariyal flows through the forest presenting some stunning scenery on its
way. With 543 Sq. Kms of core area this tiger country attracts lots of bird (around
200 known species) and has 19 known species of mammals including otters. It is
a very good breeding ground for vultures and yearly vulture estimation is
attended by many birding enthusiasts and volunteers.
Tourism infrastructure in Panna is not very well
developed since most visitors prefer to stay at nearby temple town of Khajuraro.
Some of the good places to stay in Panna national park include Pashan Garh (Tajsafaris), Sarai at Toria, Ken River Lodge, Panna Tiger Resort, Jewel of Jungle
and forest rest house.
Wild cat in Central Indian national parks |
Satpura national park
A bio diversity hot spot, one of the biggest tiger
reserves of central India, Satpura national park covers an area of 1427
Sq. Kms. including Bori wildlife sanctuary and buffer zone. Famous hill
station of Madhya Pradesh – Pachmarhi falls under this beautiful national
park. With many still unlisted species of plant species Satpura boasts
of more than 1300 flowering species with many of them having medicinal use.
Here tourists can spot 29 mammal species, almost 190 butterfly species and many
reptiles, birds and other big and small living beings. Falling under Satpura
mountain ranges, landscape of Satpura forests is very diverse. A
hotspot for photography enthusiasts and natural history educationists this is
one of the least visited of all national parks in Madhya Pradesh but has
one of the best biodiversity of all others.
Tourists planning to visit Satpura national park can
stay in forest guest houses or at hotels and resorts in Pachmarhi. Some good accommodation
in Satpura includes Forsyth lodge, Reni Pani Jungle Lodge, Denwa backwater
escapes and Madhai wildlife resort.
Bird watching in Central Idnia |
Madhya Pradesh has many other and some of the finest natural sites of
tourism interests including bird sanctuaries, reserve forests and national
parks but most of them do not have good tourism infrastructure except basic
accommodation being provided by the forest department. Tourism along River Narmada is a very thrilling one and needs very meticulous planning but is full of adventure and experience you will not get anywhere else. When planning a wildlife
tour to Madhya Pradesh do check all the options and plan your trip with
keeping any of above national park as your base. For any help or guidance writer
can be contacted or good travel tour makers can also help in preparing a tailor made package as per your requirement.
Note (Disclaimer): Suggestions of hotels / resorts in national parks of Madhya Pradesh is as per my own choice and is not a recommendation nor is the author responsible or liable in any way if guests stay at any of above refferred accommodations is not good.
Note (Disclaimer): Suggestions of hotels / resorts in national parks of Madhya Pradesh is as per my own choice and is not a recommendation nor is the author responsible or liable in any way if guests stay at any of above refferred accommodations is not good.