Kanha National Park
Best Time to Visit: March to June
World
renowned for its population of tigers, Kanha provides excellent
opportunities for observing the magnificent in the wild. Kanha, with an area
of 1940 sq. km. at an altitude of 1500 ft. is situated in the State of
Madhya Pradesh in the heart of India, a region that is a rich variety of
habitat, encouraging a wide diversity of wildlife.
A forest of deciduous hardwood, including Sal, is interspersed with bamboo and
colorful flowering trees. The valley and plateaus are primarily meadowlands
in pleasant contrast to the surrounding lush woodlands. The wildlife in Kanha
is a good representation of the general diversity of India's fauna. One can
see large herds of Indian Bison or the Gaur. Kanha also is well known for having
a rare species of Barasingha or Swamp Deer, which has adapted to hard-ground
habitat in contrast to its marsh-living cousin. This species survives only in
Kanha while the other one can be seen in Dudhwa and Kaziranga. Kanha is known
better as Tiger country with ample opportunities for viewing the tiger from
Elephant back. The other cat species found in Kanha are Leopard, Jungle cat,
Leopard cat and Fishing cat. Also a major predator is t
he
Indian Wild Dog or Dhole seen hunting in packs.
Kanha is also
avian heaven with birds like Racket-tailed drongo, Magpie Robin, two species
of hornbill seen in large numbers. During winters Kanha has large number of
migratory birds such as Common Pochard, Lesser Whistling Teal and Black
Stork. Raptors like Shikra, Honey Buzzard, Sparrow Hawk, lesser Kestrel,
Crested serpent eagle, Crested Hawk can also be seen in the park along with
vultures like Long-billed and Scavenger Vultures.
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Ranthambhore National Park
Best
Time to Visit: October to June
Earlier
the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the Park at Ranthambore was
once the scene of royal hunting parties. Today, it is famous for its tigers
and is one of the best places in the country to see these majestic predators
in the wild.
Tigers can be spotted quit often even during the day,
at their normal pursuits - hunting and taking care of their young. With the
strict measures that have been taken for their accustomed to human activity
and are not disturbed by it. A good time to visit is between November and
April when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes sightings common.
Ranthambore has large numbers of sambar, chital and nilgai. Sounders of boar
and an occasional gazelle - the chinkara can be seen, as also the Indian
hare, mongoose and monitor lizards.
The lakes and pools at the Park are where the deer congregate and where it
is easiest to see the animals. Among the other local fauna are the leopard,
hyena, jackal, jungle cats, sloth bear and marsh crocodile. Jacanas. painted
stok and white necked stork are seen along the water bodies. Peafowl are
found in abundance and other birds include Bonelli's eagle, Crested serpent
eagle, the great Indian horned owl, quail, partridge, spur fowl and the
paradise flycatcher.
The Park which covers an area of 392 sq. km.
is set between the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Its deciduous forests were
once a part of the magnificent jungles of Central India.
The
terrain is rugged and there are rocky ridges, hills and open verfteys with
lakes and pools. Ranthambore's royal past manifests itself in the
picturesque ruins that dot the Park.
There are lake palaces,
chhatris, old fortifications and a majestic thousand year old fort. On a
height overlooking the Park. The forest rest house at the foot of the
Ranthambore fort is located in the lovely Jogi Mahal. It overlooks a tank -
the pretty Padam Talao, afloat with water lilies.
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Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary
Best
Time to Visit: October to June
The picturesque Siliserh Lake lies along the
edge
of the Sariska Tiger Reserve and a charming hunting lodge overlooking it, is
a marvelous place for visitors to stay.
The dry Deciduous forests
of the ancient Aravalli range, are excellent tiger country and Sariska, was
once the royal reserve of the rulers of Alwar'. Declared a sanctuary in
1955, it became a Tiger Reserve in 1979 under Project Tiger.
Herds
of sambar, chital, nilgai and sounders of wild boar - the prey population
for predators like the tiger and leopard, roam the 765.80 sq km Reserve.
Other carnivores include the hyena, jungle cat, and caracal. Interestingly
enough, the dhole or wild dog has been sighted in the Park only in the last
few years.
The Park has hides carefully located near the water
holes. These afford fine opportunities for viewing and photographing
wildlife. Splendid ruins scattered in the vicinity of Sariska give it an
added interest.
The Neelkanth temples (6th-13th century AD) are
just 32 km. from the Park and the historic Kankwari Fort inside the Reserves
is where the Emperor Aurangzeb one imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh..
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Bandhavgarh National Park
Best
Time to Visit: February to June
Bandhavgarh an ancient stronghold of many kings, a land with history dating
back to roughly 4000 years ago. This area had many dynasties ruling over it
and finds mention in the Ramayan. This park once the private game reserve of
the ruling family of Rewa also h
olds
the distinction of being the home of the last White Tiger in the wild. The park
is dotted with many caves with ancient rock paintings and carvings. The majestic
Bandhavgarh Fort dominates center of the park with its own history dating back
thousands of years. Various temples with statues depicting incarnations of Lord
Vishnu dot the fort.
Bandhavgarh has an
undulating landscape with around 32 hills some with flat plateaus and
overhanging cliffs. Some perennial streams and rivulets crisscross this park
creating fertile vegetation on the riverbanks. The area's combination of
hills, rivers and valleys, meadows and marshes has created a unique
biodiversity evident in the varied luxuriant vegetation. Bandhavgarh's
forests are generally of the moist deciduous forest type. The sheltered
valleys are covered with moist evergreen Sal forests, while the drier slopes
and plains are covered in mixed forest. Dense tracts of bamboo are scattered
throughout the valleys. The Chakradhara and Rajbehra meadows are two major
meadows of this park.
The chances of seeing a Tiger in Bandhavgarh is greater than in any of India's
other forests. In summer's Tiger can quite often be seen at couple of major
waterholes in the park like Chakradhara, Gopalpur, Jurmani and Barwanala.
Other important cats in Bandhavgarh are Leopard and the jungle cat. As many
as 37 species have been listed for this park including 3 types of antelopes
- Blue Bull, Chinkara and the Chausingha. Deer species like Chital, Sambar,
Barking Deer, 4 species of bats, 2 types of squirrels, Indian Pangolin, Indian
Porcupine, Palm Civet , Rare Indian Wolf, Indian Wild Dog, Ruddy and Common
Mongoose, Honey Badger, Jackal, Wild Boar, Indian Hare, Common Langur and Rhesus
Macaque.
The park also has over 70 species of
butterflies and around 255 species of birds. It provides ideal habitat for
various species of Stork ( White-necked & lesser Adjutant), Hornbill
(Malabar Pied & Common Grey), herons, cranes and birds of prey like
Crested Hawk, Crested Serpant Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Shikra, Lesser Kestrel.
In winter Bandhavgarh attracts large number of migratory birds such as
Nakta, Lesser Whistling Teal and Ruddy Shelduck. One can also see smaller
birds like Gery Tit, Baya Weaver bird, Spotted Munia, the Green and Bearded
Bee-eater, flycatchers and three species of parakeet- Alexandrine, Plum
Headed and Rosering.
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