Kanha National Park
This
park is situated in the heart of Sal forests of the Central high lands of
Mandla and Balaghat districts. It covers 940sq.km in area. It was set up in
1995. The nearest town Mandla is 65 km, Jabalpur which is160 km from the park
is both rail head as well as air port; Nagpur is 270 km from the park.
The park has sparsely wooded grassy plateau, sprawling slopes
with lush green, trees and bamboos. There are also plenty of smaller plants,
creepers and mushrooms. The landscape, rich in vegetation presents a spellbinding
view and is eminently suitable for providing shelter to a variety of mammals
and birds.
This area was initially made a sanctuary in 1955 to
protect the magnificent barasingha-swamp deer from extinction. The fauna of
the park consists of barasingha, cheetal sambar, black duck, barking deer,
gaur, hog deer, chausingha, bison, boar, tiger, leopard, hyena and wild dog.
It is also the tiger reserve under project tiger. The number of tigers has
doubled and barasingha have crossed the 450 mark. There are nearly two hundred
bird species such as storks, teals, pintails, egrets, peafowl, partridges,
doves, pigeons, cuckoos, eagles, kites, etc.
February to June are the best months for visiting the park.
Bandharvgarh
National Park
Situated in Shahdol and Jabalpur districts, the park with an area of 437 km
was set up in 1968. The nearest town from the park is Umaria, 35 km away.
This town is also the nearest rail head. The nearest airport is at Jabalpur
at a distance of 160km.
The park contains moist deciduous forests with Sal and
other trees with large stretches of grass lands with bamboo groves. The fauna
consists of tiger, panther, leopard, gaur, chausingha, nilgai, chinkara, sloth
bear, bear, wild boar, and a variety of birds.
March to June are the ideal months for visiting
the park.
Madhav National
Park
Set up in the year1959, the park is spread over 337 sq
km in the district of Shivpuri. The nearest town is Shivpuri 6kms away. The
rail head is Jhansi 100 km from the park and the nearest airport is Gwalior
at a distance of 116 km.
The park consist of dry forests of anogeisus lotifolia.
The fauna found are tiger, panther, leopard, spotted deer, black buck, sambar,
hyena, chausingha, langur, nilai, crocodile and python. The spoonbills, waterside
birds and demoiselle cranes. The park has several rest houses and motel. April
- June and October - February are suitable months for visiting the park.
Panna National
Park
Spread over an area of 543sq.km in the districts of Panna
and Chhatarpur, this park was established in 1981. The nearest town from the
park is Panna 20 km away and the rail head is at Satna which is at a distance
of 95 km. The nearest airport is Khajuraho 20 km away.
The forests of the park are tropical dry deciduous. The
fauna found are leopard, panther, tiger, chinkara, sloth bear, wolf, wild pig,
nilgai, gharial ,mugger, crocodile, and peafowl.
The best month for visiting the park are
November to April.
Satpura National
Park
The park is located in the district of Hoshangabad covering
an area of 502sq.km. The nearest town is Pamchamarhi. The nearest railhead is
Piparia at a distance of 55 km and the nearest airport is Bhopal at a distance
of 210 km.
The fauna comprise leopard, tiger, barking deer, Sambar,
nilgai and bison. Hornbill and peafowl are the common birds.
The best month for visiting the park are January to June.
Van Vihar National Park
This park was established in 1979 in the district of Bhopal with an area
of 4.45sq.km. The state capital is only 3km away from the park. Bhopal airport
and railhead are at a distance of 12km and 7km respectively from the park.
The fauna of the park comprise leopard, tiger, ratal, bear, Sambhar, black
buck etc.
July to September are the best months for visiting the park.
Fossil National
Park
Established in the year1983. The fossil National park
is located in the district of Mandala in an area of 0.27sq.km. The nearest town
from the park is Shahpura at a distance of 13km. The nearest railhead and airport
are at Jabalpur, 87km from the park. The park contains botanical fossils.
The best period for visiting the fossil National park
is November to May.
Pench National
Park
This park was established in 1979 in the district of
Seoni in an area of 293sq.km. Seoni, the nearest town from the park is 50km
from here, Nagpur serves as the airport and the railhead for visiting the park
which is at a distance of 90km from it.
The park contains dry mixed deciduous forest. The fauna
of the park comprises tiger, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, gaur, chital, barking
deer four horned antelope wild dog and wild boar.
March to June is the best period for visiting the park.
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