Brief
The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974, under Project Tiger. Stretching over 940sq km, the vegetation, chiefly made of sal and bamboo forests, grasslands and streams, this park is the sole habitat of the rare hardground barasingha. The forests of the Banjar valley and Halon valley, respectively forming Kanha's western and eastern halves had even, at the turn of the century been famous for their deer and tiger population. By a special statute in 1955, Kanha National Park came into being. Since then a string of stringent conservation programmes have been launched for the overall protection of the park's fauna and flora. It is one of the most well-maintained National Parks in Asia, and a major attraction for avid wildlife buffs all overthe world.

Reasons to visit
Kanha boasts of about 22 species of mammals. Some of the inhabitants of this park are the gaur, the largest of the world's cattle; the sambar, the largest Indian deer; and the chausingha, the only four-horned antelope in the world. Other frequent visitors include the Nilgai antelope, the sloth bear, the dhole, or Indian wild dog, and an occasional panther. The best areas are the meadows around Kanha, where blackbuck, chital and barasingha can be seen throughout the day.

The Bamni Dadar
The Bammi Dadar Known as Sunset Point this is one of Hardground Barasingha is found only at Kanha The most beautiful areas of the park, from where a spectacular sunset can be watched. The dense luxuriance of Kanha's forests can best be seen from here. Animals that can be sighted around this point are typical of the mixed forest zone: sambar, barking deer, gaur and the four-horned antelope.

Mammalian Species     
Kanha has some 22 species of mammals. Those most easily spotted are the striped palm squirrel, common langur, jackal, wild pig, chital or spotted deer, barasingha or swamp deer, sambar and blackbuck.

Avian Species    
Kanha has some 80 species of birds. Watchers should station themselves in the hills, where the mixed and bamboo forests harbour many species, and in The grassy forest clearings. , Water birds can be seen near the park's many rivulets and at Sarvantal, a pool that is frequented by water birds and the area in front of the museum. The sal forests do not normally yield a sight of Kanha's avifauna. Early mornings and late afternoons are best for birdwatching; binoculars are an invaluable aid to the watcher.

Less commonly seen species
Tiger, Indian hare, dhole or Indian wild dog, barking deer and Indian bison or gaur. Patient watching should reward the visitor with a sight of: Indian fox, sloth bear, striped hyena, jungle cat, leopard, Mouse deer, chausingha or four-horned antelope, nilgai, ratel and porcupine.

Very rarely seen species
The Wolf which lives in the far east of the park, chinkara to be found outside the park's northern boundary, Indian pangolin, the smooth Indian otter and the small Indian civet.

Commonly seen species
The cattle egret, pond heron, black ibis, common peafowl, crested serpent, rackettailed drongo, hawk eagle and red-wattled lapwing; various species of flycatcher, woodpecker, pigeon, dove, parakeet, babbler and mynah; Indian roller, white-breasted kingfisher and grey hornbill.