A Geological Hot Spot

Kanger Valley National Park

The state of Chhattisgarh has abundant natural resources including forests and wildlife. 44% of the state is covered with forests, ranking it third in India in terms of forest cover. The state falls under the Deccan bio-geographical zone.

Among the various Protected Areas (PA) in the country, Kanger Valley National Park in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh is one of the most beautiful and densest national parks, well known for its biodiversity with picturesque landscape, magnificent waterfalls, very famous subterranean geomorphologic limestone caves, home for the Bastar Hill myna, the state bird of Chhattisgarh.

Kanger Valley National Park is noted for its highly heterogeneous land formations ranging from low flat and gentle areas to steep slopes, plateaus, valleys, and stream courses. The vast undulating terrain of the Kanger Valley National Park harbors diverse habitats which offer an ideal site for diverse kinds of flora and fauna, thus making it a hotspot of biodiversity in Central India.

Kanger Valley National Park has been situated 24 km, Southeast of Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district, on Jagdalpur -Darbha Road. The National Park derives its name from the Kanger River, which flows centrally from the Northwest to the Southeast direction.

Kanger Valley National Park came into existence on 22nd July 1982 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh Gazette. It was carved out from the Kanger, Darbha, and Machkote ranges of the Central Bastar Forest Division. The National Park comes under Jagdalpur Wildlife Circle and comprises two ranges viz: Kotumsar and Koleng range.

The total area of the National Park is 200sq.km. The Valley starting from Tirathgarh waterfalls to the Kolab river (Orissa state boundary) is nearly 33.5 km in length and the average width is about 6 km.

Distance in KM

0
Raipur-Jagdalpur
0
Visakhapatnam-Jagdalpur
0
Vijaywada-Jagdalpur
0
Rajnandgaon-Jagdalpur

General Information

Area

200 Sq. KM.
Height from sea surface 38m-781m.

Temperature Winter

300C Maximum,
30C Minimum

Temperature Summer

420C Maximum,
200C Minimum

Rainfall

Average 152 C.M.
(Generally 110 days annually)

Visiting Period

The Park will remain open 1st November to 28th/29th February in winter season and 1st March to 30th June in summer season the visiting hours are from 8am to 4pm.

Forest Type

Moist Peninsular Sal

How to Reach

By Air

Nearest airport is Jagdalpur connected with Mumbai, Delhi, nagpur, Bhubneshwar, Kolkata, Ranchi, Visakhapatnam and Chennai.

By Train

Jagdalpur is the nearest Railway station on the Visakhapatnam.

By Road

Tourist can use their private jeep/car on hire it from Bilaspur, (Raipur - Jagdalpur - 303Km., Visakhapatnam - Jagdalpur - 313Km., Vijaywada - Jagdalpur - 435Km., Hyderabad - Jagdalpur - 565 Km., Rajnandgaon - jagdalpur - 320Km.)

DO'S & DON'TS

Kanger Valley National Park Vehicle Safari

DO'S

  • Abide by these Park rules. Non-obedience will lead to legal action.
  • Obtain a valid permit before entering the Park It is compulsory to take official guide with every vehicle.
  • Always carry drinking water.
  • Always obey the Guide for your own safety.
  • Maintain silence & discipline during excursions.
  • Animals have the right of the way. Wait if they are crossing the road.
  • Inform any undesirable or suspicious activities seen during excursion to the nearest forest officer/ employee.
  • Wear light-coloured clothes blended with nature during excursion.
  • Minimum distance between vehicles while spotting wildlife should be maintained at 50 meters. Respect their privacy.
  • Vehicles shall not monopolize a wildlife sighting for more than 15 minutes.
  • Visitors shall keep a minimum distance of more than 20 meter from all wildlife, cordoning, luring or feeding of any wildlife is prohibited.
  • Speed limit is 20 km. per hour.

DON'TS

  • Don't enter the Park with fire arms or explosives
  • Don't carry cigarette or match box.
  • Don't consume or carry alcohol, smoke or light fire. Negligence, however trifling, may cause a widespread fire.
  • Don't carry or play transistor or tape recorder inside the park.
  • Don't blow horn. Don't play music.
  • Don't litter with cans, bottles, plastic bags, etc. Keep garbage inside the vehicle and dispose off safely outside the park.
  • Don't get down, unless told by the guide.
  • Take nothing back except photos and memories.
  • Don't chase, lure or tease animals by any means.
  • Don't remove any forest property including plants or animals from the park.

Tourist Places

Nearest view points

Jagdalpur

Nature Trail

There is a 3 km nature trail on the way to Tirathgarh.This trail holds a wonderful experience for all nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. They can study the surroundings, take pictures and learn more about jungle life as they stroll away deeper into leisure. Cliffs are present in the Tirathgarh waterfall area and in the western portion of Kanger ValleyNational Park along the Kanger River and the Kolab River. They provide ideal habitat for bats, eagles, pigeons, swifts, and some reptile species. The bouldery drainages can be seen at the Tirathgarh waterfall region, Kanger Dhara, and at points where the KangerRiver flows from a steep height. Sandbanks are observed along the Kanger River, especially at points where the Kanger River takes a curve. Sandbanks are seen at Bhainsa Darha located on the eastern portion of the National Park where mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) use it for basking purposes. Smooth Indian Otters are also found using this habitat. Kanger River is among one of the very few perennial rivers of Bastar and herein lays the importance of the river and the park. Kanger River is the lifeline and hills are its recharging reservoir; the whole National Park is the catchment of the Godavari River.

Jagdalpur

Tirathgarh Waterfall

Tirathgarh waterfall is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Bastar and it is on the western boundary of Park on Munga Bahar Nallah (runnel) which is a perennial Nallah. The water from the Nallah falls on the sedimentary rocks which are present in a step-like manner and it presents a cool and amazing scenery to thetourists. The waterfall is about 50 meters deep and it is partitioned by sedimentary rock structures and hence giving the view of a three-tier waterfall.

Jagdalpur

Kanger Dhara

Kanger river witch waters the national park, in the course of its eastward jounery forms a beautiful cataract at one point known as kangerdhara. This is a favourite photo spot for the visitors of National Park.

Bastar

Kotumsar Cave

Kotumsar Cave is a subterranean limestone cave located near the banks of the Kanger River in the western portion of the National Park. KotumsarCave is 330 meters long and some 40 meters deep from ground level. The cave is honeycombed in its structure, consisting of many irregular chambers. Itharbors a variety of fauna like bats, frogs, snakes, crickets, spiders, fishes, millipedes, etc. Fishes and frogs are found in the ditches of the cave whereas bats, spiders, and crickets are found on the ceilings and walls of the cave

Jagdalpur

Kailash Cave

Kailash Cave was discovered in 1993 and is situated on the Lower Kanger Valley Road near Milkulwada village. The local tribals knew about this cave earlier before its exploration. It is situated on a limestone hillock with thick vegetation. Unlike KotumsarCave, this cave does not have underground nallah. So, water pools are not present.The dripstone formations (Stalagtites and Stalagmites) are of different types than KotumsarCave. The ceiling has long pointed needle-like formations and has channel formations.

Bastar

Dandak Caves

Dandak Cave was discovered in April 1995 and is situated in Compartment No. 84 near the Kanger River. This cave has two chambers connected by a very narrow passage. One has to crawl in the connecting narrow passage for about 2 meters and hence the name “Dandak”.

Bastar

Kanger Stream

Near Kutumsar Village Kanger is a small waterfall which falls down from many places as brooks, Stony Rocks, Shallow Cistern and Ripping Sound of continuously flowing water is the main attraction over here.

Wildlife

Mammals, Birds & Reptiles

MAMMALS

Leapard, Chital, barking deer, Sloth bear, Indian fox, Mouse deer, Pangolin, Hyaena, Langur, Porcupine, Civet, Mongoose, Wild dog, Hare, Jackal etc.

BIRDS

Bastar hill myna, Racket tailed drongo, spotted owlet, Red jungle fowl, crested serpent eagle, Black eagle, Red vented bulbul, Indian pitta, Indian roller etc.

REPTILES

Crocodile, Turtle, Python, Cobra, Dhaman snake, lizards etc.