Kanha National Park extends across Mandla and Balaghat districts covering an area of about 949 km. It was divided into two parts or sanctuaries in 1939 – Hallon and Banjar.
Owing to the shrinking population of wildlife, this forest came to be recognized as a National Park and Tiger Reserve in 1955. It is a deciduous forest, abundant in Sal and Bamboo trees. This forest also houses some of the rarest species of animals.
The Kanha Forests had formed the very base for Rudyard Kiplings’ world famous story – Jungle Book. Some amongst the large variety of creatures found here are – White Tiger, Indian wild dog, Barasingha (found only in Kanha with only 69 left in this world), sloth bear, black bucks and leopards.