Here we have shared the comparison between Kanha tiger reserve and Bandhavgarh tiger reserve with intention to provide a helpful information to our readers who are on dilemma which one to choose and when we have option to visit any one of them. Basically both the tiger reserves are counted among highly popular tiger safari destinations of India and are important part of most of the tiger safari tours of India. Here we have tried to share the comparison information based on features like location on political map, geographical location, key species seen during safaris, tiger density, park history, hunting history, forest river system, safari zones etc. All these characteristics will help to those visitors who are looking forward to decide any one of the tiger reserve, fitting in frame of their comparison criteria. It is very helpful note on right decision making, after a proper study.
Please study the below given comparative analysis exposing the difference of experience during visit to these 2 popular national park of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. Here we have tried to cover all the important features which could affect our decision like location, jungle safaris, animal sightings, topography, accessibility, stay experience, scenic beauty etc.
| Features | Kanha National Park | Bandhavgarh National Park |
| Forest location | It is spread over Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh state. Coordinates: 22.2995 N, 80.5864 E |
It is spread over Umaria and Shahdol districts of Madhya Pradesh state. Coordinates: 23.7184 N, 81.0202 E |
| Where in Madhya Pradesh ? | Kanha tiger reserve lies in south-eastern part of Madhya Pradesh state. | Bandhavgarh lies in north-eastern part of Madhya Pradesh state. |
| Geographical Position | Kanha forest is spread over Maikal-Satpura mountain range of Central India | Bandhavgarh forest is spread over Vindhya range of Central India |
| Declaration as Tiger reserve | Declared as a tiger reserve in the year 1972 with the launch of Project tiger. It is older than Bandhavgarh. | Bandhavgarh was declared as a tiger reserve in 1993. It is comparatively new. |
| Tiger reserve area | 917.43 sq.km. (Core area)+ 1134.36 sq.km. (Buffer area) = 2051.79 sq.km. It is larger than Bandhavgarh tiger reserve. | 716.90 sq.km. (Core area)+ 820.03 sq.km. (Buffer area) = 1536..93 sq.km. It is smaller than Kanha tiger reserve. |
| Airport connectivity | More airport connectivity options. For reaching Kanha national park, nearby airport options are Raipur, Nagpur, Gondia, Jabalpur. | Less airport connectivity options. Its nearby airport options are at Jabalpur and Khajuraho. |
| Topography | It is more hilly with undulating surface thus animals tracking & sighting is comparatively challenging. | Its Tala zone is hilly otherwise more plain than Kanha tiger reserve thus animals tracking and sighting is comparatively easy. |
| River system | Kanha tiger reserve forest is spread over Banjar and Hallon river valleys with some seasonal forest rivers. | Bandhavgarh forest lies in between rivers like Mahanadi in east and Son & Johila river in west. |
| High season | From Dec to mid of June. | From Feb to mid of June |
| Low season | July to Sept. | July to Nov |
| Tiger population | Tiger population is more than Bandhavgarh tiger reserve | Tiger population is less than Kanha tiger reserve |
| Tiger density | Tiger density is less than Bandhavgarh | Tiger density is more than Kanha tiger reserve |
| Tiger sighting probability | Lower than Bandhavgarh national park. | Higher than Kanha national park. |
| Top 5 safari attractions | Hard-ground Barasingha, tiger, leopard, Indian gaur, Wild dogs | Tiger, leopard, spotted deer, sambar, wild elephants |
| Core safari zones | Kanha zone, Mukki zone, Kisli zone, Sarhi zone | Tala zone, Magadhi zone, Khitauli zone |
| Buffer safari zones | Khatia zone, Khapa zone, Sijhora zone | Dhamokhar zone, Johila zone, Panpatha zone |
| Safari options offered by park management | Jeep safari, Canter safari (open bus), walking safari. | Jeep safari, Canter safari (open bus) |
| Safari achievements | Here tiger sighting probability is poor in compare to Bandhavgarh but sighting of Barasingha (swamp deer), Indian gaur, Wild dogs can make you feel proud. | It offers better chance for tiger sighting (especially in summers). Presence of wild elephants is its unique attraction. |
| Scenic beauty | Here scenic beauty of Kanha zone, Kisli zone, Mukki zone is very good. For nature photography, it is better than Bandhavgarh. | Here natural beauty of Tala zone is very good with dense hilly forest. Scenic beauty of Magadhi and Khitauli zone is average. |
| Birdwatching experience | In compare to Bandhavgarh, birding experience will be better. | In compare to Kanha NP, birding experience will be average. |
| Popular hotel cluster hotspots | Near Khatia gate, Mukki gate, Sarhi gate | Near Tala gate |
| Park management & conservation history | Its park management effectiveness is very good with great conservation history and practices. | Here park management effectiveness is average with no great conservation history |
| Re-introduced species | Black buck | Indian gaur, Hard-ground Barasingha |
| Historical background | It was under control of Gond dynasty. Later controlled by British India government. British officials did hunting in this forest. No such historical buildings visible during safaris. | It was private reserve of Baghel kingdom used for hunting expeditions. Historical buildings still visible during safari in Tala zone. |
| Hunting History | Here major hunting were done by princely state rulers of Chattiagarh estates and British India officers, based at Jubbulpore base | It was private hunting reserve thus used by kings of Baghela dynasty and their premium guests which are other kings or British India officials. |
On the basis of above comparison details, we will be able to take our decision. As per our safari priorities, we can decide which one of the tiger reserves will fulfill our safari aspirations. Here we can draw following conclusions, as per above information.
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