History of Kanha National Park
Originally part of Gondwanas — the land of the Gonds — Kanha was home to Baiga and Gond tribes for centuries. Today the reserve spans Banjar and Hallon sanctuaries across Mandla and Balaghat districts.
Kanha Tiger Reserve Timeline
Gond rule & forest use
Gond and Baiga tribes practised slash-and-burn cultivation; the area was little known beyond local communities who understood animal behaviour.
First forest rules
Unauthorized felling of teak, sal, bija and shisham was prohibited — the foundation of formal forest management.
Reserve forest declared
Kanha area received reserve forest status under British administration.
The Jungle Book inspiration
Rudyard Kipling's landscapes drew from the forests of central India including Kanha and Pench.
Sanctuary status
Kanha forest area was declared a wildlife sanctuary.
National park created
Kanha National Park was established, beginning a new era of wildlife research and conservation.
Project Tiger
Kanha became a tiger reserve under India's flagship tiger conservation programme.
Barasingha saved
A special enclosure protected hard-ground barasingha from extinction — numbers rose from 66 to 400–500.
George Schaller's research
American scientist George Schaller published The Deer and the Tiger, a landmark study of Kanha's ecosystem.
Land of the Tigers film
National Geographic's award-winning documentary was filmed at Kanha alongside growing visitor numbers.
Best tourism-friendly park
Department of Tourism, Government of India, recognised Kanha as the best tourist-friendly national park.
Plan Your Kanha Wildlife Trip
Book jeep safari, tour packages and jungle lodges with GTI Travels — permits, zones and transfers handled for you.