Staying amidst nature is a different kind of high. And there are some places where you can enjoy nature at its best. And if you are an animal lover then it would be an added bonus for you. I am talking about the National Parks. Nothing can be better than visiting a national park if you are someone who enjoys nature and its products. Furthermore if you are in Madhya Pradesh then you have even more options. The number of total national parks in MP is 12. These National Parks in Madhya Pradesh are well maintained and attract a lot of visitors. In this article I will share a list of National Parks in Madhya Pradesh. These are some of the best national parks in Madhya Pradesh that you need to visit. So keep on reading about some of the best national parks in MP.
National Parks in Madhya Pradesh
How many National Parks in MP are found?
In Madhya Pradesh there are a total of 12 National Parks.
Kanha National Park
Also known as the Kanha Tiger Reserve, this is one of the most popular national parks in Madhya Pradesh. Other than being popular this is also the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. The area of this national park is 940 sq km and is located in the Mandla and Balaghat districts. Furthermore this is one of the national parks in Madhya Pradesh known for some great conservation success stories.
This national park was established in the year 1955 and was also one of the very first tiger reserve parks. Earlier in 1933 this park was declared as a wildlife sanctuary before becoming a national park. Famously this national park is also known as the Tiger Land.
Furthermore this national park is very rich with its wildlife. Other than tigers, this national park is also popular for Barasingha or stag deer which are almost on the verge of extinction. You can also spot animals like Hyena, Gaur, Chinkara, Fox, Leopard, Wolf here. Stag Deer of a special species is specifically found in this national park in MP. Here stag deer are known as the Jewels of Kanha. This stag deer is also the state animal of Madhya Pradesh as well.
What further enriches this national park are two rivers flowing by Banjar and Halon. It is one of the national parks in Madhya Pradesh that you simply cannot miss out on visiting.
Bandhavgarh National Park
This is again one of the most popular national parks in Madhya Pradesh. It is also one of the most visited spots by tourists as well. Located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, this national park is also known for its rich history. This national park is spread across an area of 437 sq km and was established in 1968. Furthermore this is one of the national parks in Madhya Pradesh that’s known for its substantial population of Royal Bengal Tigers. Also it is undoubtedly one of the best places for a tiger safari as well.
This national park is divided into three zones. These zones are Tala, Khitaulti and Magadhi. The Tala zone is the most popular as well as the most popular zone in this national park. During the Tala safari the ruins of forts within the park are one of the major attractions for tourists. Because of the presence of these historical remnants this location is considered rich historically.
Furthermore one of the important factors about this location is the surrounding area. This national park is surrounded by 32 hills. After its establishment in 1968, later in 1993 this national park was included in Project Tiger. This national park also has the highest density when it comes to tigers in India. Other than tigers you can spot many other animals here as well. These are Leopard, Sambar, and Spotted Deer etc. The sanctuary is also known for its huge variety of birds. Almost more than 250 species of birds are found here. While exploring the national parks in Madhya Pradesh do not miss out on this one.
Pench National Park
Out of all the national parks in Madhya Pradesh, this one is a bit more special. This national park is globally recognized as the inspiration behind the classic Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. The national park is named after the Pench River that flows by this park. Covering a huge area of 748 sq km, this national park is like real Mowgli land as described in Jungle Book. It can be extremely exciting for people of all ages to visit here as you will be able to witness the locations mentioned in the book. Some of these locations are Kanhiwara Village, Seeonee Hills and the Wainganga River and the gorge where Sher Khan was killed.
This national park shares its boundary with Maharashtra and lies on the south of Madhya Pradesh. Under the World Bank this national park is covered under the Sanctuary Conservation Project. Furthermore this national park is also famous for its rich faunal variety. It is one of the locations where the black leopards are spotted. Other than that you can also spot leopards, tigers, sambar, spotted deer etc.
It is also the national park which was the home for the late Collar Wali Tigress. This tigress wore a radio collar for scientific research while raising her cubs. She was also famously known as supermom for giving birth to 29 cubs in her entire lifetime.
Satpura National Park
This is again one of the most visited National Parks in Madhya Pradesh. Located in the Narmadapuram district the national park spreads across 524 sq km. The area of this national park includes the Satpura National Park, Pachmarhi Sanctuary and Bori Sanctuary. Also the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is a part of this national Park.
Furthermore this national park was established in 1981. Later in 2000 this national park was declared as a Tiger Reserve as well. This is a popular national park and is loved for its variation in topography and rich biodiversity. The Tawa River flows through this national park. It is also a location with higher elevation and the highest peak of Madhya Pradesh, Dhupgarh is located here. A good number of Indian beers, tigers, squirrels are spotted here. You can also find giant Indian squirrels, leopards, bears, blackbucks, antelopes etc here.
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Panna National Park
Located in the Panna and Chhatarpur districts, this is one of the popular national parks in Madhya Pradesh. Spread across an area of 542 sq km this national park is popular as a home to endangered vulture species. The national park was established in 1981 and in 1991 it was declared as a Tiger Reserve. Furthermore in 2011 August this national park was also designated as a biosphere reserve as well. This national park is also known for having the only Reptile Park in the whole of Madhya Pradesh. And the Vulture Protection Centre here has 7 endangered species of vultures.
Additionally the beautiful Ken River also flows by this national park. It is also known for its rich faunal variety. Popular animals include tigers, chital, leopards, nilgai, sambar etc. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Khajuraho Group of Temples is located just 25 km away from the national park. Also the location of this park is very easily accessible. And there are many other nearby spots that you can visit from here. Do not miss visiting this park while exploring the national parks in Madhya Pradesh.
Madhav National Park
This is one of the popular national parks in Madhya Pradesh located near Shivpuri town. This national park spreads across an area of 354 sq km. It is also one of the most notable tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh. One of the major attractions here is the presence of two lakes inside the park. The Madhav Sagar Lake and Sakhya Sagar Lake both named after Maharani Sakhya Raje and Madho Rao Scindia are present here. These lakes are also popular for the presence of crocodiles. Also it is a popular site for a lot of activities like bird watching, boating and sightseeing.
Furthermore this national park is a part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills. Previously it was a site for the hunting expeditions of the Emperors of Gwalior as well as the Mughal Emperors. The National Highway 46 that is the Agra Mumbai road passes through this park. Species like sambar, spotted deer and leopard are found here. This is one of the richest national parks in Madhya Pradesh. And you should not miss out on visiting this one.
Sanjay Dubri National Park
Spread across an area of 831 sq km it is one of the biggest national parks in Madhya Pradesh. A major portion of this national park is in Chhattisgarh after the bifurcation of the state. This national park was established in 1981. Furthermore in 2008 it was included in the Tiger Project as well. Exclusively known for its rich biodiversity, this national park houses varied flora and fauna.
One of the major attractions here is the critically endangered white rumped vultures. Also a huge number of spotted deer is also found here. Other than that Bengal tiger, sambar, chinkara, nilgai, leopards, civet are seen here. Along with that this national park is also known for a huge variety of avian species. Around 309 species of birds are spotted here. While exploring the varieties of national parks in Madhya Pradesh definitely include this one in your list too. You will be amazed with the beauty of this national park.
Wrapping Up!
These are some of the best national parks in Madhya Pradesh. If you are in Madhya Pradesh or you are visiting here make sure you explore the national parks in MP. For a nature lover visiting these national parks would be a treat for sure. Also a lot of these national parks in Madhya Pradesh offer many activities as well. You can enjoy safaris, boating, bird watching and a lot more. So for a good day visit any of these national parks in Madhya Pradesh. It would be an enriching experience to visit these national parks for sure. Let me know if you have visited any of these national parks in Madhya Pradesh. Also let me know if this article is helpful for you in knowing about the national parks in MP.
