A wild roar in Madhya Pradesh

Every year, thousands of tourists from around the world, armed with fancy cameras make a beeline to Madhya Pradesh to see one of the most popular Indian attractions – the tiger. Madhya Pradesh is home to a large number of tiger reserves offering an opport

Madhya Pradesh, the ‘Heart of India’, where the majestic tiger once roamed unchallenged, is the largest state in India, dazzling with forests and is a haven for wildlife. The region accounts for one-third of the total forest cover in India and is home to the magnificent Indian Tiger.

Tiger reserves are open again to tourists! The Supreme Court has finally lifted the ban on tiger tourism in core areas of reserves and sanctuaries. According to the new guidelines, tourism is allowed in at least 20 per cent of the core areas of tiger sanctuaries and NTCA has proposed a new conservation fee for the tourism industry, which will be used in improving the ecology and the quality of life of the local community living nearby. In July, the Supreme Court had banned tourism in core areas of all tiger reserves in the country based on an existing policy of the Centre.

Madhya Pradesh is a multi-faceted state, offering incredible wildlife reserves, intricate temples and palaces, and a dazzling tradition of arts, crafts and cuisine. The forests of Madhya Pradesh are a haven for wildlife. Madhya Pradesh is a pioneer state in the national movement for conservation of the Tiger. Madhya Pradesh is also known as the 'Tiger State' as it harbors 19 per cent of India's Tiger Population and 10 per cent of the world's tiger population. At present, there are five Tiger areas in the state namely – Kanha, Panna, Bandhavgarh, Pench and Satpura.

Bandhavgarh was the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Rewa: their old fort still dominates a hill rising out of the forest. Tiger-Spotting is virtually guaranteed at Bandhavgarh as it has the highest tiger density in India.

Kanha's sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq km in dramatic natural splendour which form the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger. This was the park that the Central Indian Barasingha, also known as the hard ground barasingha, was brought back from the virtual edge of extinction. By a special statute in 1955, Kanha National Park came into being. Since then, a series of stringent conservation programmes for the protection of the park's flora and fauna has given Kanha its deserved reputation for being one of the finest and best administered National Parks in Asia, an irresistible attraction for all wildlife lovers and a true haven for its animal population.

Panna is home dominated by the splendid Ken river, altering valleys and plateaus, grasslands, gorges and escarpments, Panna National Park is an ideal tiger country. Relics of Gondwana period ( rule of the tribal people of Central India) are scattered all over the Reserve. Besides the wildlife watchers (around 12000 annually), Panna gets visitors ( around 20000 annually) who exclusively visit the famous Pandav Fall.

Pench Tiger Reserve comprises the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Mowgli Pench Sanctuary and a buffer. The Park nestles in the Southern slopes of the Satpura ranges of Central India. The river Pench, which splits the National Park into two, forms the lifeline of the Park. The area of the present tiger reserve has a glorious history.

Satpura Tiger Reserve is a welcome change to the regular wildlife circuit in India. The reserve is spread over 1,500 km of pristine wildlife habitat and is truly one of the few modern day wilderness spots left in the country. What makes Satpura unique is the variety of options it offers, to experience the flora and fauna is this magnificent forest. It is the only park in central India which allows people to explore tiger country on foot. Further the forest department is working towards offering non- motorized ways of discovering the tiger reserve. In addition to walking, guests can also opt for jeep, canoeing, elephant and motorboat safaris. At the park, one will get to see close glimpse of animals like sambar, cheetal, nilgiri, wild boar, barking dear, black buck sloth bear, wild dogs, leopards and the elusive Tiger.