For those who adore animals and the wild, the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh has an infinite store for you. Rich with flora, fauna and avifauna, the state is a treasure trove, especially for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. It also has the biggest preserved forested landmass with the richest biodiversity and pride in having the most national parks in India with a total of 11. Thus National Parks in Madhya Pradesh take account of sheltering a few of the rarest animals and plants on earth such as the Indian White Tiger, the Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Bison and others. Myriads of plants and shrubs, pretty insects, exotic birds and reptiles also find a home in this thriving haven.
Take a quick rundown on the most famous National Parks in Madhya Pradesh for wildlife inspiration.
National Parks In Madhya Pradesh
Discover the wild side of your soul by exploring the national parks in Madhya Pradesh, a natural paradise in the heart of India. Wander through the mystical woods and spot the most amusing view and find serendipity in the wild of this mini Africa.
Panna National Park
Panna National Park, a tiger reserve area, is an ideal wildlife destination for spotting big wild cats. Dwelling in this abode is the Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, species of antelope and deer, over 260 birds, insects, reptiles and other flora and fauna. Aptly nestling in the Vindhya mountain range, Panav and Raneh in Panna and Chhatarpur District, the woods are immensely lovely to explore. The river Ken adds tremendous beauty to this national park allowing visitors to take a river safari and enjoy nature at the same time. Other attractions in this reserve include trekking, elephant ride, boating, hiking to the mesmerizing Pandav and Pahen waterfalls and land safari.
Best Time to Visit: December to March is a hype time to visit this ethereal place.
Places To Stay: There are accommodation options available within the Banks of Ken or Panna. Preferably visitors like staying at Khajuraho as it has great infrastructure.
How to reach: Visitors can reach Khajuraho via rail, air and road to reach Panna National Park which is 30 km away.
Air – The Khajuraho Civil Aerodrome offers great access to Panna National Park.
Train – The nearest railway stations to the park are Satna and Katni which are 85 km and 120 km respectively. Despite fewer frequencies of trains, visitors can also access trains from Khajuraho.
Road: Khajuraho is a city well connected with other inter-cities and other parts of the state.
Bandhavgarh National Park
Featuring intriguing attributes such as the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, having the highest number of tigers in India, and is mentioned in the ancient Hindu Epic, Bandhavgarh National Park in Umaria District is a renowned tiger reserve in India. It is also one of the most crowd-pleasing National Parks in Madhya Pradesh accommodating a rich biodiversity. Once, this 1536 sq km protected area was a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Rewa. Nevertheless, now it becomes the world’s largest tiger reserve area.
Catch sight of majestic creatures such as the Indian White Tiger, Bengal Tigers, Ratel, Sloth Bear with cubs and other amusing wildlife in its natural habitat. Take your time admiring the gleaming beauty of the landscape. Bring to life the joy of safari, photography and studying wildlife at another level.
Best Time to Visit: October to June stays ideal to visit the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Places To Stay: Katni and Jabalpur serve as the nearest spots to halt for travellers visiting the national park. Visitors can choose from a number of accommodations, also they can choose to stay near the reserve forest.
How to reach:
Air – Khajuraho Airport is the nearest airport to Bandhavgarh National Park.
Train – Umaria railway station serves as the nearest railway station to Bandhavgarh National Park. The distance is about 35 km.
Road: The Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation offers excellent road connectivity from other parts of the state to the national park. One can also prefer driving to the reserve forest from nearby cities.
Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park claims to be the largest among the national parks in Madhya Pradesh. It is also ranked as one of the best national parks in Asia with its distinction in housing the most critically endangered species called ‘Barasingha’. Barasingha is a local name for Indian Swamp Deer which is often seen solo or in groups. The grassland provides a safe breeding ground for the endangered deer that were often hunted for meat and shaman medicine in earlier times. Aside from this, motley leopards, wild dogs, and a generous smattering of assorted wildlife reside in this lush green park. The Bengal Tiger is also one of the top attractions here. Visitors can enjoy the lively and blossoming landscape of the grassland, take a safari or recreate their memories from Rudyard Kipling’s Book – The Jungle Book which makes a big mention of this national park.
Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Kanha National Park is from October to May. The park remains closed during monsoon season.
Places To Stay: Visitors can pull up a stay at Kanha, Kisli or Muki. These are the three zones where you can find a lot of options for accommodation.
How to reach:
Air – Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Airport in Nagpur and Dumna Airport in Jabalpur are the nearest airports to Kanha National Park. The distance from the airport to the National park is about 167 km.
Train – The nearest railway stations to the park are in Jabalpur and Nagpur.
Road: The Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation offers excellent road connectivity from other parts of the state to the national park. Besides the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and private operators help connect the closest places to Kanha National Park.
Pench National Park
The inviting woods of the Pench National Park in Seoni and Chhindwara district is the best weekend getaway spot for wildlife lovers. The enchanting reserve site embellished with the Pench River, the lofty terrains, greeneries and the abundance of wildlife makes Pench National Park one of the best national parks in Madhya Pradesh. With a span of 750 sq km, the national park is part of Project Tiger, a mission to protect and preserve the population of tigers in the world.
The prime attractions here are the Royal Bengal Tiger and the Indian Vulture which is considered extremely endangered. Get an occasion to spot other grand animals such as the Indian Leopards, wild boar, Indian Bison, varieties of birds and wild plants. Do get yourself a ride on the back of an elephant, take a walking safari and breathe the same fresh air of the animal kingdom.
Best Time to Visit: February to April and October to Mid-December Topps the best time to visit Pench National Park.
Places To Stay: While visiting Pench National Park, Nagpur serves as the right point to halt for the nights. The city offers arrays of stays for various budgets.
How to reach:
Air – The nearest airport to the Pench National Park is Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Airport at 115 km.
Train – Nagpur and Jabalpur are the nearest railway stations to Pench National Park.
Road: The Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and a few private operators offer excellent road connectivity from other parts of the state to the national park. One can also prefer driving to the reserve forest from nearby cities.
Madhav National Park
The national park defends some exquisite species such as the Indian Gazelle, Sambar, Basingha, four-horned antelope, blackbuck, Sloth Bear, Langur, Leopard, Chital and many other varieties of bird species. Sakhya Sagar Lake adds a serene landscape to the park while also providing a laid-back boating experience. Explore the wood cabins, and tree houses or take a crocodile safari on the lake in this park. Visit nearby places such as the Churanchaj Wall paintings, Georg Castle, the watch towers, and the springs of Tunda Barka and Bhura-Kho.
Madhav National Park is yet another eminent national park in Madhya Pradesh spreading across 375 sq. km. The Shivpuri District of Gwalior Division takes pride in possessing this tropical wetland. It attracts a crazy amount of nature enthusiasts all year round. Truth be told that this combined forest reserve and wetland national park was once a hunting spot for the royals of the Mughals and the Britishers during their respective reigns.
Best Time to Visit: The park is fully adorned with the burst of spring during April. Although it is open all year round the ideal time to visit is from October to May.
Places To Stay: Accommodations are easily available near the Madhav National Park. Hotels such as Hotel Anand Palace, Hotel Solitaire Inn and others provide great services for guests.
How to reach:
Air – The nearest airport to Madhav National Park is the Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Airport in Gwalior at 120 km.
Train – Jhansi and Gwalior railway stations are the nearest railway stations to Madhav National Park at a distance of 95 km and 20 km.
Road: the state of Madhya Pradesh and the surrounding states offer great road connectivity to Gwalior. One can also prefer driving to the reserve forest from Gwailior.
Satpura National Park
Take an immersive wildlife experience at Satpura National Park in Hoshangabad District. Featured as one of the major national parks in Madhya Pradesh and India, this park once won the prestigious TOFT Wildlife Tourism Award for the most visitor-friendly wildlife destinations in 2010. This enormous forest provides the best ecosystem making it a perfect home for various wild dwellers. The infamous Royal Bengal Tiger resides in this predestined sanctuary along with sloth bears, Indian Bison, Asiatic Wild Dogs, four-horned antelopes and others.
Spreading across 524 sq km on the range of Satpura Hills, visitors can enjoy a real wildlife deal. Besides land and water safari, camping near the Denwa River or visiting nearby villages are ideal things to do at Satpura National Park.
Best Time to Visit: October to April appears ideal to explore this beautiful national park.
Places To Stay: Itarsai, Bhopal, Nagpur, Pippariya, and Hoshangabad provide excellent accommodation options for tourists.
How to reach:
Air – The nearest airport to Satpura National Park is Raja Bhoj International Airport, Bhopal at 180 km. Tour Operators can arrange airport-hotel transfer services on a request basis.
Train – Itarsi railway station is the nearest railway station to Madhav National Park at 93 km. Passengers heading to Satpura National Park can also get down at Hoshangabad and Pipariya railway stations.
Road: The state of Madhya Pradesh offers great road connectivity around the towns of Satpura National Park. Buses from nearby towns in the state run at regular intervals. One can also prefer driving to the reserve forest from Gwailior.
Mandla Plant Fossils National Park
It comes with no surprise when Mandla Plant Fossils National Park is named one of the most exceptional national parks in Madhya Pradesh. Recognised as Asia’s largest Fossil Park, it offers delightful pleasure for historians and archaeologists. Evidence of plant fossils such as banana, neem, date, jackfruit and many others are lavishly found here.
Get your camera equipped while jaunting on this ancient ground and capture every intriguing detail of what you found. Run through the various fossil collections of various fossils and preserved seeds at the mini-museum within the park. Not to forget the mesmerizing landscape of the wood whispering the secret tales of the old.
Best Time to Visit: The park is fully adorned with the burst of spring during April. Although it is open all year round the ideal time to visit is from October to May.
Places To Stay: There is nothing to fret about for stays in Mandla National Park. Various stays including homestays are available in and around the park.
How to reach:
Air – Located at 110 km, Jabalpur has the nearest airport to Mandla Plant Fossil National Park.
Train – Umaria railway station is the nearest railway station to Mandla Plant Fossil National Park at a distance of 70 km.
Road: The state offers excellent transportation service that connects Mandla National Park with other major cities. Buses and taxis ply regularly to and from Jabalpur and visitors can easily reach the national park.
Van Vihar National Park
The blissful Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal is the ultimate stamping ground for wildlife lovers. Flaunted by massive greenery, a charming lake, exotic flora, fauna and avifauna, this imposing zoological park is an absolute wealth Madhya Pradesh acquired. Keeping close to their natural habitats are panthers, cheetahs, tigers, bulbuls, leopards, nilgai and others. It is amusing to watch various flocks of birds and migratory birds filling the area with their colours and mellifluous chirps.
Tourists can enjoy walking, cycling or joy-riding in the park and spotting various types of animals, birds and plants.
Best Time to Visit: Plan venturing to this wildlife nirvana from July to October and February to April.
Places To Stay:
Bhopal has a multiple stays option with a friendly budget for all types of travellers.
How to reach:
Air – The city of Bhopal serves as the rendezvous point for every traveller heading to Van Vihar National Park. Bhopal Airport is the nearest airport to the zoological park which is just 10 km away.
Train – 8 km away from the national park is Bhopal train station which is the nearest railway station.
Road: From Bhopal, one can drive a private vehicle, take public transport or arrange a taxi to the zoological park of Van Vihar.
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