Kanha National Park - Zones or Gates

Zones and Gates in Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the most visited forest reserve in India. Tourists from all over the world visit Kanha to spot the majestic king of the forest – Tiger and other wildlife, wildlife photography, enjoy the peaceful environs and spend time with family and friends. Most tourists visiting Kanha go for Jungle excursions in open Gypsy to enjoy the forest and spot wild animals.

Tiger in Kanha

When visiting Kanha you need to plan your jungle safari excursions and here is where many get confused. Kanha has zones for safaris and entry is through gates but mostly we get confused for zones as gates.

The Zones:

Safari in kanha is conducted by the forest department and tourists are permitted to visit only 4 zones – Kanha, Kisli, Sarhi and Mukki, in core area. Along with we have 3 buffer zones – Khatia, Sijhora and Khapa, also available for safaris. Rarely visited by tourists, Phen Sanctuary is a satellite core of Kanha, leopard and sloth bear sighting here is very good.

Tourism zones of Kanha National Park

The Entry points:

Kanha national park has many entries off which 3– Khatia, Sarhi and Mukki gates are open for tourists.

Accessibility:

·         Khatia gate (also known as Kisli gate) is the main entry gate for excursions. If you are staying near Khatia gate (we have many resorts in Khatia, Mocha and Boda Chhapri villages) you can go to any of core zones for safari as well as visit Khatia buffer.

·         Sarhi gate is the northern gate and we can visit Sarhi, Kanha and Kisli zones from this entry point. Sarhi gate does not have good accommodation although Madhya Pradesh Tourism is coming up with a property here and forest department runs some home stays. Rarely anyone stays at Sarhi side so most entry to Sarhi zone is from Khatia gate only.

·         Mukki gate is best for entry to Mukki, Kanha and Kisli zones.

·         Entry to Khatia, Sijhora and Khapa zones are easily accessible from Khatia, Sarhi and Mukki gates respectively.   

Kanha Tiger Reserve - Core and Buffer Map

How to plan your excursion:

When planning a jungle safari trip to Kanha keep accessibility in mind, for gate as well as zone. If you are staying towards Khatia gate you can visit any of 4 core zones. Here you enter from Khatia gate, reach Kisli zone first and take designated route to reach your permitted zone.  If staying towards Khatia gate we suggest not to take Mukki zone for evening rides as it is almost 45 minutes’ drive (although it is from inside the park / core area) since you have less time in evening excursions you will not get enough time in your designated zone. (The route we take to reach Mukki zone via Kisli zone and come back or vice a versa is one of the best for spotting tigers so if you are ready to take the risk, no issues there.) Remember, if you have booked your permits for Sarhi zone and staying at Mukki gate side you must drive down 40 Km’s (60 – 70 minutes) to Khatia gate for taking entry.

Kanha is the best forest to spot tigers

Khatia gate is easily accessible from Jabalpur, Raipur and Nagpur. Mukki side is easy to reach from Raipur and Bilaspur. Sarhi gate can be reached from Jabalpur, Raipur and Bilaspur easily.

Travel time between gates:

Travelling from Khatia gate to Mukki or Sarhi gate takes almost an hour. Travelling to Sarhi gate from Mukki takes almost 1 hour 30 minutes.

Suggestion:

A very common question from visitors is: Which is the best zone for spotting tigers in Kanha? A very difficult question to answer because sightings change due to many reasons but certainly Kanha and Mukki zones will come on top followed by Kisli and Sarhi. 

If you are visiting Kanha for 3 nights 4 days and taking 4 safaris, which are on day 2 and 3, I will suggest following itinerary for safaris –

If you are staying at Khatia gate side:

Option 1	Option 2
Safari 1 (Morning) – Kanha zone Safari 2 (Evening) – Kisli zone Safari 3 (Morning) – Mukki zone Safari 4 (Evening) – Kisli zone	Safari 1 (Morning) – Kanha zone Safari 2 (Evening) – Kisli zone Safari 3 (Morning) – Kanha zone Safari 4 (Evening) – Kisli zone

If you are staying at Mukki gate side:

Option 1	Option 2
Safari 1 (Morning) – Kanha zone Safari 2 (Evening) – Mukki zone Safari 3 (Morning) – Kisli zone Safari 4 (Evening) – Mukki zone	Safari 1 (Morning) – Mukki zone Safari 2 (Evening) – Mukki zone Safari 3 (Morning) – Mukki zone Safari 4 (Evening) – Mukki zone

These are suggested safari itineraries for Kanha and different combinations can be worked out. Do keep in mind before finalising the zone or booking permit for safari in Kanha do call your accommodation provider, check on social media or talk to someone who resides in Kanha (Guide / Gypsy Driver / Naturalist), you maybe suggested a different safari itinerary as per sighting and availability of permits. Also, we can only suggest but there is no assurance of spotting tigers since they are free roaming animals, tracking them takes a lot of hard work and experience and certainly your luck plays a big part here.  

Kanha forest has beautiful landscape

Hope the above will be helpful in better planning, making your jungle holiday toKanha an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Happy Tiger Tracking …….

Do comment and share if you like the post, Thank you

Best 5 Tiger Reserves of Central India

Spot the Stripes in Central Indian Forests

Travelling to forests of India to spot the striped big cat - Tiger, in its home - Jungle, is every wildlife lover and travellers dream vacation. Travellers from all over the world visit India to spot these majestic cats in the wild. Spotting Tigers and photographing them in the wild is an unforgettable experience. India boasts of maximum Tigers in the wild and one of the best places in the world to spot them. Today India has many Tiger reserves famous within the tiger lover community and choosing any one or two of them is not easy. 



Munna - The famous tiger of Kanha Tiger Reserve

Central India has the maximum number of Tiger Reserves with the state of Madhya Pradesh alone having 7. Here is a list of 5 best tiger reserves to chose from for your upcoming trip.

Kanha Tiger Reserve -

Spread over 940 Sq Kms, situated in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha national park is on top of the list. Also known as Kanha Kisli Tiger Reserve, it has one of the best developed tourism infrastructure. It can be easily reached from Jabalpur, Nagpur, Raipur and Gondia. Kanha has more than 100 tigers and is the only wilderness where you can spot Hard ground Swamp deer or Barasingha - the twelve tinned deer. Kanha's Sal and Bamboo forests are one of the best place to rejuvenate your body, mind and soul. Kanha is the best managed national park of India.



Hard Ground Swamp Deer of Kanha

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve -

Famous for spotting tigers and it's historically important ruins, Bandhavgarh is one tiger reserves you should not miss. With very good infrastructure and easy to reach from Jabalpur and Khajuraho it is always on top of list of wildlife lovers and photographers. It is located in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh forests are also famous for having the highest density of tigers as well as for white tigers. If it is only the tigers on your list Bandhavgarh will certainly be on the top.

Pench Tiger Reserve -

Famous as playground of famous writer Rudyard Kipling, it is said his novel  'Jungle Book' was written with forest of Pench as the set. Pench is dry deciduous forest patch and visibility is very high (especially in dry season) compared to other reserves. It is easily reached from Nagpur and Jabalpur as well as Pachmarhi. Pench forests also have very good bird population and known as bird watchers paradise. You can spot tigers with ease and if lucky leopard, wolf and host of birds as well.

 

Leopard in forests of Central India

 

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve -

One of the most famous and well known of all tiger reserves, Ranthamhore is situated in Sawai Madhopur District in Rajasthan state. With dry deciduous forest and 3 main ponds (namely Padam Talao, Raj Talao and Malik Talao) spread over the park, spotting a tiger here is relatively easy and ruins of Ranthambhore fort and old princely state make the spotting surreal. Famous for Tiger men of India - Late Shri Fateh Singh ji Rathore and longest living tigress Machli, it has been visited by many from the list of rich and famous. It has very good rail and road connectivity and well developed tourism infrastructure.

Panna Tiger Reserve - 

Khajuraho is famous for its temples and visited by tourists from all over the world. Panna is only 30 Kilometer from Khajuraho but rarely visited although it is one of the best reserves to spot Tigers and Leopards. Panna lost all its tigers to poaching sometime back but with hard work of forest department and support of locals they have come back and regained their kingdom. Panna forests are very good for bird watching and one of the last places in Central India where you can spot 8 species of vultures. Easily reached from Khajuraho and Satna, Panna is one place I will suggest not to miss.    

 

Tiger in forest of India

 

I will suggest to visit minimum 2 tiger reserves, 3 night stay at each and 4 safaris at both destinations. This will increase your chances of spotting tiger and you will be able to enjoy the wilderness to its best.

 

Happy Tiger Trailing .........



Spotting a tiger in wild is an unforgettable experience.

 

  
 

Phen Wildlife Sanctuary - A wildlife paradise

111 Sq Kms of pristine forest, North East of Kanha Tiger Reserve, a mini satellite core of Kanha – Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, is in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. A nature lovers’ paradise, it is best for bird watchers and ones who love forest.  With Sal, Teak, Saja, Aonla, Tendu, Jamun, Bel, Bamboo and Bargad it has more than 800 known species of flora. Mammals and bird life abound, we can spot more than 200 bird species along with Hyena, Fox, Sloth bear, Gaur, Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat and Blue Bull and other wildlife. A few very lucky ones even spot a Tiger – the King of Indian forests.

“Bamhani Dadar used to be like this when we used to visit in October” exclaimed Kalim bhai. At places our 4x4 Gypsy could not be seen under tall grass in the beautiful meadows.  “Yes, it reminds us of 20 years back, when Kanha had less tourist influx and most of it was open for tourism.” Kamal added. Ravi our guide provided by forest department had excellent knowledge of local fauna which was a treat and increased our knowledge.

“We should come back between mid-November till mid-February for bird watching, to spot migratory birds” I add. Due to very few tourists visiting the sanctuary animals here are very cautious of any sound or sight of humans. Sir, ‘Tendua’ (Leopard) exclaimed Ravi, the rosettes could be seen clearly. Walking through dense foliage it climbed up a tree, away from our prying eyes. Sloth bear pugmarks could be seen at many places. We were lucky enough to spot Jungle Cat, Blue Bull, Gaur, Wild Boar and Spotted deer amongst others.  

Kanha national park management has worked hard on restoration of forest. Villages from inside were relocated making the forest inviolate - void of human interference. Old school building of one time human settlement is being used by forest department for management purpose which has saved a lot of money on developing fresh setup, a move worth commendation.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism is starting a wildlife lodge near the entry gate, till than the only option is to live nearby at any resort in Kanha. We were carrying our own jungle hamper and thank our stars for it. Since still very few tourists visit Phen the infrastructure is not well developed and it does not have a cafeteria. Hopefully soon Phen Sanctuary will set a leading example on Responsible wildlife  Eco-Tourism in India.

If you love nature just do not contemplate, plan your tour and enjoy wilderness – undisturbed and pristine.

Step by step guide to book your safari excursion

Want to spot a tiger in the wild?
Planning a wildlife holiday to Madhya Pradesh?

Tiger at Kanha National Park

Book your safari well in advance to have a great safari experience......

Here is a how to book your own safari, a step to step guide to make your wildlife experience a perfect one and end dependency on others:

1 - Go to website https://forest.mponline.gov.in/Search.aspx

2 - Choose your Destination - Following options are available at present - Kanha national park, Bandhavgarh national park, Pench national park, Panna national park and Satpura national park. Here we have chosen Kanha.

3 - Choose your date of travel
4 - Choose your ticket type - You have 2 options to choose between full vehicle permit and single person permit. If only 2 - 3 people are going for holiday and you are comfortable with sharing with others single vehicle permit is a good option. If you are going for photography or with a larger group of 4 - 6 guests it is better to book full vehicle permit.
5 - Click on - 'Excursion Availability' tab

6 - Click on date for which you want to book safari excursion. Here in example we have clicked 01-12-2016 for full vehicle permit.

7 - Fill Zone (Kanha / Kisli / Sarhi / Mukki) and round details (morning / evening).
8 - Leave vehicle type and other details as it is and click on 'Proceed for tourist details' tab.

9 - Fill full details as required, do not forget ID proof number of all guests. Click at 'I agree' tab at last and Continue tab.

10 - Check all details, note down the booking id generated. Click payment tab.

11 - Make payment online. You will get a confirmation that your ticket is booked.

Carry your ticket printout along with original ID proof as filled while booking permit, get it checked at entry gate and enjoy your safari.

Present safari permit rate (2016 - 17 Season) is 1500/- for a full vehicle permit. You also have to pay Rs. 50/- extra as portal charges. Vehicle charges and guide charges are extra which you have to pay at the hotel or entry gate. Safari vehicle charges are between 1800/- to 2500/- at different national parks.

Enjoy your forest excursions at Tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh, Cheers!!!

Safari details for season 2016 - 17

The Tourism Rules for season 2016 - 17 has been notified by Madhya Pradesh forest department through MP Online.
2)      Here onwards, there will be no more differential rates for Indian & Foreign Tourists in all Parks of MP
3)      The Park Entry Fees will be Rs. 1500/- Per Permit (the increase is approx 10%)
4)      Premium Zone Concept abolished, No more Premium Zones in Kanha & Bandhavgarh.
5)      Single Seat introduced with 10% Quota from On-line Tickets & in Current Bookings.
6)      Premium Ticket Concept is scarped.
7)      Add-On Facility will be continued with following changes ...
·         In the Original Ticket, Minimum 2 tourist names are must with the photo ID number.
·         Now, We will pay Only Rs. 1500/- as One time Charge for this Add-On facility (not per add-on of guest)
·         We can add maximum 4 Guest through this add-on facility.
·         Only One Time Edit, will be possible.

8)      Wait Listed Ticket Concept: 25% of the Day’s Ticket Quota, will be issued as Wait-Listed Tickets, such tickets will be automatically stands cancelled, if not confirmed before 6 days of date of travel.

9)      Any photo ID of the tourist will be acceptable at the gate for verification.

10)   Guide Charges will be Rs. 360/- Per Round from the coming season

11)   No entry fee for children up to 5 years of age, Half Entry Fee for Children between 5-12 yrs in single permit

12)   In all tiger reserves of MP, the date of tiger census will be declared well in advance to avoid any inconvenience to the tourist.

Enjoy your holiday with Tigers in national parks of Madhya Pradesh