India Footprints Package Tours

Kanha National Park is one of the first nine, Tiger Reserve constituted in our country when "Project Tiger" was initially launched way back in 1973 to conserve tiger population in India..

There present Park area encompasses two important valleys vix the Banjar and the Halon.

In 1935, these valley forests were declared Sanctuaries Subsequently, the Banjar valley alone retained that Sanctuaries status till the upgradation as a National park in 1955.

The initial area of the National Park was 253 sq. km. km, which with subsequent extensions in 1964and 1970 assumed a size of 446 sq. km.

With the launch of Project Tiger in 1973, the Halon valley area was eventually integrated with the Park, there by increasing the total area to the present size of 940 sq. km..

Kanha tiger Reserve is constituted on a " core-buffer " strategy. The entire National Park area of 940 sq. km. km. is visualised as a "core zone", free from biotic. Disturbances of any sort.

A Buffer zone of 1005 sq. km. km. surrounding the core is treated as a multiple use area. The buffer zone comprises almost 40 percent forest area and the rest is costiuted by revenue land this zone has been notified by the state Government as a separate division and is under the unified controls of the management.

The Reserve is a part of the Gondwana tract inhabited traditionally and chiefly by the Gong and Baiga tribes. The villagers had free access to cut and burn the forest at will.

The system of shifting cultivation, locally called "Bewar" prevailed almost unhindered until 1870 on the hill slopes. Unrestricted grazing was permitted up to 1915, when grazing rules were introduced.

Wildlife Conservation in Bandhavgarh

The Bandhavgarh Fort, in the center of the Reserve, atop the Bandhavgarh hill, was the seat of the rulers of erstwhile Rewa State until they shifted to Rewa town in 1617 A.D.

The area of the Reserve, with its surrounding forests were the favorite hunting grounds of the erstwhile rulers and were zealously protected as such.

After independence and the abolition of the princely States, the process of degradation of forests accelerated due to lax control.

Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa was deeplu moved by the destruction of forests. On his proposal, an area of 105 sq. km. was declared a National Park in 1965. the area of the Park was increased to 448.84 sq. km.in 1982.

The area of the 105sq.km.old National Park was finally notified in 1968. the remaining part of the National Park i.e. 343.842sq.km. is yet to be finally notified.

Considering the importance and potentiality of the National Park, it was included int the Project Tiger Network in 1993.

The adjoining Panpatha sanctuary, which was crated in 1993 with an area of 245.847sq.km.was also declared a part of the Reserve.

Wildlife Conservation in Ranthambhore

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve was among the first nine Tiger Reserves declared in 1973 at the launch of Project Tiger in India.

It comprised the former Sawai Madhopur Wildlife Sanctuary of 392.5 sq.km. Reserved Forest (constituted in 1955).

Ranthambhore National Park with an area of 274.5 sq.km was constituted from within the Tiger Reserve in 1980.

In the then Tiger Reserve, the National Park area was being managed as the core and the rest as buffer until in 1992, Keladevi Sanctuary having area of 674 sq.km of Protected Forest (constituted in 1983),Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary with an area of 127 sq.km.

(Constituted in 1983),Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary with an area of 127 sq. km .(constituted in 1984), Kualji Close Area of 7.58 sq. km. And some other forest areas were added to the Reserve.

Archaeological Richness Ranthambhore fort and teples of medieval period.