India’s Real Life Jungle Book

The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. It is the living backdrop for Mowgli, the orphaned man-cub raised by wolves, and a cast of much loved animal characters…

Madhya Pradesh, often called the ‘Heart of India’ is a state in central India and is an amalgamation of paradoxes and mysteries. The state harbours 10 national parks, 25 wildlife sanctuaries, 6 tiger reserves and a large number of natural reserves. The best time to visit is from October to March as the climate remains cool. During the monsoon (July – September), all the Wildlife Parks remains closed for the visitors.

Our partner in India, Trail Blazer Tours India (TBi) has highlighted the most popular national parks in Madhya Pradesh that are home to some of the best wildlife and nature in India:

Royal Bandhavgarh …

Bandhavgarh National Park,the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa, is a place of mythological and legendary significance. The ancient Bandhavgarh Fort is of great importance as it is believed to have been gifted by Lord Rama to his younger brother Lakshmana.

Bandhavgarh is also the land of tigers. This is the place to visit to spot the big cat due to high density of Royal Bengal Tigers. Many other animals can also be spotted here such as leopard, sloth bear, Indian Gaur, various deer and antelope.

Untamed Pench …

Pench National Park, home to tigers, leopards and jackals, was brought to life in the iconic ‘Jungle Book’. Just as the book did, this national park brings humans in close contact with wildlife. Rudyard Kipling based Mowgli’s adventures, and his battle with the furious Shere Khan, on this very place. While we can’t guarantee you’ll see Mowgli fighting the mighty tiger, you will see a fascinating array of wildlife.

Delightful Kanha …

Spread across 940 square kilometres, Kanha National Park is one of the largest parks in Madhya Pradesh. Here, the majestic royal Bengal Tigers are found in good numbers. You may also get to spot bison roaming freely in their natural habitat.

The Park is respected globally for saving the Barasingha (also called swamp deer) from near extinction. Other important animals in this park are leopards, wild dogs, wild cats, foxes, sloth bears, hyenas, langurs, wild boars and jackals. Reptiles including pythons, cobras, krait and other varieties of snakes can also be found.

Dazzling Panna …

While many of us are obsessed with tiger sightings, Panna National Park boasts seven different species of vultures, along with a diverse variety of flora and fauna. Located by the River Ken, this national park also provides opportunities for spotting sloth bear, pangolin, Indian wolf, four-horned antelope, leopard, rusty spotted cat, gharial, chousingha, Indian fox, porcupine and a lot more.

Serene Satpura …

This beautiful region in the hills offers ancient Buddhist caves, serene waterfalls and lush jungle. Owing to an impressive variety of flora and fauna, and scenic landscapes, Satpura National Park is popular among nature photographers as well as naturalists. One may spot leopard, Indian bison, wild boar, and sloth bear and maybe even a tiger roaming freely.