11 National Parks & 25 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh [PDF]
Madhya Pradesh, fondly called the “Heart of India” and the “Tiger State of India,” boasts the highest number of national parks in the country. With 11 national parks, 9 tiger reserves, over 25 wildlife sanctuaries, and 3 biosphere reserves, MP is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Complete List of 11 National Parks in Madhya Pradesh
| S.No | National Park | District(s) | Year Established | Area (sq km) | Famous For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kanha National Park | Mandla & Balaghat | 1955 | 940 | Largest NP in MP; Tiger Reserve; Barasingha (Swamp Deer); Inspired “The Jungle Book” |
| 2 | Bandhavgarh National Park | Umaria | 1968 | 105 (core) | Highest tiger density in India; Bandhavgarh Fort; White Tigers |
| 3 | Satpura National Park | Narmadapuram (Hoshangabad) | 1981 | 524 | Rugged terrain; Rock paintings; Indian Giant Squirrel; Dhoopgarh Peak |
| 4 | Pench National Park | Seoni & Chhindwara | 1975 | 758 | “Mowgli Land”; Inspired “The Jungle Book”; Pench River |
| 5 | Panna National Park | Panna & Chhatarpur | 1981 | 542.67 | Tiger reintroduction success; Ken River; 7 species of vultures |
| 6 | Sanjay National Park | Sidhi & Singrauli | 1981 | 831 | Pristine wilderness; Lesser explored; Rich biodiversity |
| 7 | Madhav National Park | Shivpuri | 1958 | 354 | Sakhya Sagar Lake (Ramsar Site); Historical hunting ground of Mughals & Scindias |
| 8 | Van Vihar National Park | Bhopal | 1979 | 4.45 | Only urban national park; Zoo + Rescue Centre; Located beside Upper Lake |
| 9 | Kuno National Park | Sheopur & Morena | 2018 (upgraded) | 344.69 | Cheetah reintroduction (Project Cheetah); First cheetah cubs born in India after 75 years |
| 10 | Ghughua Fossil National Park | Dindori | 1983 | 0.27 | Plant fossils 40-150 million years old; Smallest NP in MP; Largest fossil park in Asia |
| 11 | Dinosaur Fossil National Park | Dhar | 2011 | 0.897 | 6.5 crore-year-old dinosaur fossils |
Major National Parks In MP: Detailed Overview
1. Kanha National Park (Tiger Reserve)
Location: Mandla & Balaghat districts, in the Maikal ranges of Satpura
Established: 1955 (Tiger Reserve since 1973 under Project Tiger)
Area: 940 sq km (core), 2,074 sq km (total reserve)
Key Highlights:
- Largest national park in Madhya Pradesh and one of Asia’s finest wildlife reserves
- First tiger reserve established under Project Tiger (1973) in MP
- Famous for saving the Barasingha (Hard-ground Swamp Deer) from extinction — known as the “Jewel of Kanha”
- Inspired Rudyard Kipling’s classic “The Jungle Book”
- Home to Royal Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Wild Dogs (Dholes), Indian Bison (Gaur), and over 300 bird species
Flora: Sal forests, bamboo groves, meadows, mixed deciduous forests
Major Rivers: Banjar and Halon
2. Bandhavgarh National Park (Tiger Reserve)
Location: Umaria district, Vindhya Hills
Established: 1968 (Tiger Reserve since 1993)
Area: 105 sq km (core), 716 sq km (total core with Panpatha Sanctuary)
Key Highlights:
- Highest density of Bengal Tigers in India: best place for tiger sightings
- Home to the legendary Bandhavgarh Fort (mythologically given by Lord Rama to Lakshmana)
- First White Tiger was captured here in 1951 by Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa
- 135+ tigers as per 2022 census
- Featured in BBC documentary “Dynasties” (2018)
Flora: Sal forests, bamboo, dry deciduous vegetation
Notable Species: Tigers, Leopards, Sloth Bears, Gaur (reintroduced from Kanha in 2012), 260+ bird species
3. Satpura National Park (Tiger Reserve)
Location: Narmadapuram district (formerly Hoshangabad)
Established: 1981 (Tiger Reserve since 2000)
Area: 524 sq km (National Park), 2,133 sq km (Total Tiger Reserve with Bori & Pachmarhi Sanctuaries)
Key Highlights:
- Part of MP’s first Biosphere Reserve (Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, 1999)
- Features India’s first reserved forest Bori Reserve Forest (1865)
- Dhoopgarh Peak (1,350 m) highest point in MP
- Unique rugged terrain with sandstone peaks, gorges, and ravines
- Home to rare Indian Giant Squirrel and Flying Squirrel
- Offers unique activities: walking safaris, boat safaris, night trails
Flora: 1,300+ plant species including Sal, Teak, Bamboo, medicinal plants
Fauna: 52 mammal species, 300+ bird species, 31 reptile species
4. Pench National Park (Tiger Reserve)
Location: Seoni & Chhindwara districts (straddles MP-Maharashtra border)
Established: 1975 (Tiger Reserve since 1992)
Area: 758 sq km
Key Highlights:
- Known as “Mowgli Land” — believed to have inspired Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book”
- Named after the Pench River flowing through it
- Famous tigress “Collarwali” gave birth to 29 cubs
- Diverse landscape with teak forests, grasslands, and open meadows
Flora: Teak, Mahua, Tendu, mixed deciduous forests
Fauna: Tigers, Leopards, Wild Dogs, Indian Wolves, Jackals, 285+ bird species
5. Ghughua Fossil National Park
Location: Dindori district (near Shahpura village)
Established: 1983
Area: 0.27 sq km (27.41 hectares) – Smallest National Park in MP
Key Highlights:
- Largest fossil park in Asia and second largest in the world
- Contains plant fossils dating 40-150 million years (Upper Cretaceous to early Tertiary period)
- 31 genera of 18 plant families identified
- Fossils include ancient Eucalyptus, Date Palm, Jamun, Banana, and Rudraksh
- Discovered by Dr. Dharmendra Prasad in 1970
- Also contains dinosaur egg fossils
Significance: Evidence of the ancient Gondwana Supercontinent
6. Other National Parks (Brief Overview)
| Park | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Panna NP | Successful tiger reintroduction; UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (2020); 7 vulture species; Ken River |
| Sanjay NP | Located in Sidhi-Singrauli; Lesser-known wilderness; Part of Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve |
| Madhav NP | Near Shivpuri; Sakhya Sagar Lake (Ramsar Site 2022); George Castle; Historical royal hunting ground |
| Van Vihar NP | Urban park in Bhopal; Functions as Zoo + Rescue Centre; Adjacent to Upper Lake |
| Kuno NP | Project Cheetah — Cheetahs reintroduced from Africa; First cheetah cubs born in 2023 |
| Dinosaur Fossil NP | Dhar district; 6.5 crore-year-old rare dinosaur fossils |
Read more about National Parks
- Odisha National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries: Complete Guide
- 11 National Parks & 25 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh [PDF]
- List of National Parks in India (2025) – State-wise PDF Included
Wildlife Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh has 25 wildlife sanctuaries. Here are the notable ones:
| Sanctuary | District | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Nauradehi WS | Sagar, Damoh, Narsinghpur | Largest sanctuary in MP (1,197 sq km); Tigers, Wolves; Corridor between Panna & Satpura |
| Ralamandal WS | Indore | Smallest sanctuary in MP (5 sq km); Camel rides; Leopards |
| Ghatigaon WS | Gwalior | Great Indian Bustard (Sonchiriya) conservation |
| Karera WS | Shivpuri | Great Indian Bustard protection |
| Sailana WS | Ratlam | Kharmor Bird (Lesser Florican) conservation |
| Sardarpur WS | Dhar | Kharmor Bird conservation |
| Bori WS | Narmadapuram | India’s first reserved forest (1865); Part of Satpura Tiger Reserve |
| Pachmarhi WS | Narmadapuram | Part of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve; Leopards, Bears |
| Ken Gharial WS | Chhatarpur | Gharial and Mugger Crocodile conservation |
| Son Gharial WS | Sidhi-Shahdol | Gharial conservation |
| Chambal WS | Morena | Gharial; Gangetic Dolphins |
| Gandhi Sagar WS | Mandsaur | Chinkara, Nilgai |
| Ratapani WS | Raisen | Now upgraded to Tiger Reserve (2024) |
| Rani Durgavati WS | Damoh | Tiger corridor; Part of Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve |
| Orchha WS | Tikamgarh/Niwari | Historical significance; Vultures |
| Panpatha WS | Shahdol | Part of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve |
| Salkanpur Wildlife Sanctuary | Hoshangabad | Rich floral diversity and wildlife |
| Sindhri Wildlife Sanctuary | Mandla | Leopard and tiger habitat |
| Son River Wildlife Sanctuary | Sidhi | Habitat for aquatic birds |
| Dudhi Wildlife Sanctuary | Sidhi | Known for variety of birds |
| Chichli Wildlife Sanctuary | Seoni | Tiger habitat area |
| Kanha Wildlife Sanctuary | Mandla, Balaghat | Part of Kanha National Park |
| Kundam Wildlife Sanctuary | Satna | Reptile sanctuary and flora |
| Sanjay-Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary | Sidhi, Singrauli | Part of Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve |
| Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Wildlife Sanctuary | Sagar | Newly added sanctuary (2025); large forest habitat |
Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tiger reserves (9) and highest tiger population (785 tigers) in India as per the 2022 census.
List of 9 Tiger Reserves in MP
| S.No | Tiger Reserve | District(s) | Year Declared | Area (sq km) | Tiger Population (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kanha | Mandla, Balaghat | 1973 | 2,074 | 150+ |
| 2 | Bandhavgarh | Umaria | 1993 | 1,536.93 | 135+ |
| 3 | Pench | Seoni, Chhindwara | 1992 | 1,179.63 | 80+ |
| 4 | Panna | Panna, Chhatarpur | 1994 | 1,578 | 70+ |
| 5 | Satpura | Narmadapuram | 2000 | 2,133.31 | 50+ |
| 6 | Sanjay-Dubri | Sidhi, Singrauli | 2008 | 1,470 | 40+ |
| 7 | Ratapani | Raisen | 2024 | 1,271.4 | Growing |
| 8 | Veerangana Durgavati | Sagar, Damoh, Narsinghpur | 2023 | 2,339.12 | Developing |
| 9 | Madhav | Shivpuri | 2025 | 354 | Recently introduced |
Conservation Milestones:
- Project Tiger launched in 1973: Kanha was among the first 9 tiger reserves
- Panna Tiger Reintroduction: Most successful tiger reintroduction project globally
- Tiger population in MP grew from 526 (2018) to 785 (2022)
Biosphere Reserves in Madhya Pradesh
MP has 3 UNESCO-recognized Biosphere Reserves:
| Biosphere Reserve | Year | Districts | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pachmarhi | 1999 | Narmadapuram, Betul, Chhindwara | Satpura NP, Bori & Pachmarhi sanctuaries; Dhoopgarh Peak |
| Amarkantak | 2005 | Anuppur, Dindori | Origin of Narmada & Son rivers; Medicinal plants |
| Panna | 2020 | Panna, Chhatarpur | Ken River; Successful tiger conservation |
Check out: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India 2025 | PDF Download
Biodiversity Features of Madhya Pradesh
Flora Diversity:
- Forest Cover: ~25% of state area (77,482 sq km)
- Forest Types: Tropical Moist Deciduous, Tropical Dry Deciduous, Thorn Forests
- Major Trees: Sal, Teak, Bamboo, Mahua, Tendu, Palash, Arjun, Neem
Fauna Diversity:
- Mammals: Tiger, Leopard, Cheetah (reintroduced), Sloth Bear, Wild Dog (Dhole), Indian Wolf, Gaur, Barasingha, Nilgai, Chinkara, Blackbuck, Indian Giant Squirrel
- Birds: 500+ species including vultures, hornbills, peacock, Paradise Flycatcher (State Bird – Doodhraj)
- Reptiles: Gharial, Mugger Crocodile, Indian Python, Monitor Lizard
State Symbols:
- State Animal: Barasingha (Swamp Deer)
- State Bird: Paradise Flycatcher (Doodhraj/Shah Bulbul)
- State Tree: Banyan
List of National Parks in Madhya Pradesh PDF
Key Facts for Quick Revision
National Parks:
- Total National Parks in MP: 11 (Highest in India)
- Largest NP: Kanha (940 sq km)
- Smallest NP: Ghughua Fossil NP (0.27 sq km)
- Oldest NP: Kanha (1955)
- Urban NP: Van Vihar, Bhopal
- Fossil Parks: Ghughua (Dindori) & Dinosaur Fossil (Dhar)
Tiger Reserves:
- Total Tiger Reserves: 9 (Highest in India)
- First Tiger Reserve: Kanha (1973)
- Highest Tiger Density: Bandhavgarh
- Tiger Population (2022): 785 (Highest in India)
Wildlife Sanctuaries:
- Total Sanctuaries: 25-30
- Largest Sanctuary: Nauradehi (1,197 sq km)
- Smallest Sanctuary: Ralamandal (5 sq km)
- Sonchiriya Sanctuaries: Ghatigaon, Karera
- Kharmor Sanctuaries: Sailana, Sardarpur
Special Features:
- Project Cheetah: Kuno National Park
- Barasingha Conservation: Kanha
- First Reserved Forest in India: Bori (1865)
- First Biosphere Reserve in MP: Pachmarhi (1999)
- “The Jungle Book” Parks: Kanha & Pench
National Park Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
FAQs
-
As per the 2022 Tiger Census, approximately how many tigers are in Madhya Pradesh?
Answer: 785
-
Which national park was inspired by “The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling?
Answer: Kanha and Pench
-
When was Satpura declared a Tiger Reserve?
Answer: 2000
-
Which sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (Sonchiriya)?
Answer: Ghatigaon Wildlife Sanctuary
-
Which is the smallest national park in Madhya Pradesh?
Answer: Ghughua Fossil National Park (0.27 sq km)
-
Where was Project Cheetah implemented in Madhya Pradesh?
Answer: Kuno National Park
-
Which national park has the highest density of tigers in India?
Answer: Bandhavgarh
-
Barasingha (Hard-ground Swamp Deer) was saved from extinction in which national park?
Answer: Kanha
-
Which is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh?
Answer: Kanha (940 sq km)
Conclusion
Madhya Pradesh truly lives up to its title as the Tiger State of India. With 11 national parks, 9 tiger reserves, and numerous wildlife sanctuaries, it offers unparalleled opportunities for wildlife tourism and conservation education. From the majestic tigers of Bandhavgarh to the ancient fossils of Ghughua, and from the reintroduced cheetahs of Kuno to the scenic landscapes of Satpura, MP is a treasure trove of biodiversity waiting to be explored.
Last Updated: November 2025
