Kanger Valley National Park

The Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP), located in Jagdalpur within the Bastar District of Chhattisgarh, India. The park draws its name from the Kanger River, meandering from the northwest to the southeast. Designated in 1982 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the national park encompasses an area of 200 square kilometres.

Renowned for its diverse topography, the Kanger Valley National Park features low flatlands, gentle slopes, steep inclines, plateaus, deep gorges, valleys, and winding stream courses. The park's elevation ranges from 338 to 781 metres above sea level. Predominantly characterised by Indravati Group of Rocks, the park's soils exhibit a variety, including loamy, sandy, lateritic, and recent alluvial deposits.

The entire National Park is full of seasonal and perennial streams which joins the Kanger River. The park’s exceptional qualities are different geomorphological features and different ecosystem.

The Kanger Valley National Park has areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. The steep lush green panoramic wide view of Kanger valley forests, Tirathgarh waterfalls with deep gorges are unique of its kind. The National Park represents the best example of moist Peninsular Valley Sal Forests of India and considered as one of the densest National Parks in India. The valley is representative of old growth moist Tropical Forests of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh. The vast undulating terrain of the Kanger Valley National Park harbours diverse and significant habitats including the subterranean limestone caves which offer an ideal site for diverse kinds of flora fauna, making it a hotspot of Biodiversity as well as Geological diversity in the Indian sub-continent. The subterranean limestone caverns are unique and biologically more diverse among the caves studied in India as well as South Asia.

Floral diversity in Kanger Valley NP

As per the biogeographic classification of India (Rodgers & Panwar, 1988), the Kanger valley National Park area lies in Zone - 6C Deccan peninsula - Eastern Highlands designated by Eastern province and forms a boundary with Eastern Ghat zone. Jha and Khanna (2005) reported 456 Species of angiosperms under 310 genera and 89 families from in Kanger Valley National Park. A total of 963 floral species belonging to 120 families and 574 genera have been recorded in the National Park.

 A total of 39 species of pteridophytes in the park, belonging to 21 genera and 15 families are reported here (Shweta Singh, 2010). Naithani & Pal (2006) findings showed that the Gigantochloa albociliata (Munro) Kurz, a bamboo native of Myanmar and Thailand has been reported from the wild in Kanger Valley National Park.

Faunal Diversity in Kanger Valley National Park

The Kanger Valley National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including 49 species of mammals, from Panthers to smaller carnivores like striped hyenas and Dholes, the park also hosts a variety of herbivores including Chital and Barking deer. Primates such as Langurs and Rhesus macaques coexist with Giant squirrels in the Riparian zones in Kanger Valley National Park. The avian population, comprising 201 species, features the renowned Bastar Hill Myna and other important birds like Crested Serpent Eagles and endemic species such as the Malabar Whistling-Thrush and Rufous-tailed Lark. In Kanger Valley National Park, there are 16 types of amphibians, including a special frog found only here. Kanger Valley National Park boasts a diverse reptile population, encompassing 37 distinct species, including six exclusives to India, such as the Travancore Wolf Snake and Green Pit Viper. Kanger Valley National Park is home to 141 butterfly species. This variety of animals shows how important the park is for different and sometimes rare wildlife.

Kanger Valley National Park is an exceptional site with remarkable geological formations, stunning natural beauty, and diverse range of flora and fauna. It meets the necessary criteria and has unique outstanding universal values (OUVs). Kanger Valley National Park is famous for its plants, rocks, and caves. The caves, like Kotamsar, Dandak, Kailash, and Aranyak, are important to the tribal people of Bastar, especially during Mahashivratri. Many tourists visit these caves, bringing jobs for the local people.  

The area is unique because of its special land features like underground caves and beautiful landscapes. The Kanger Valley National Park region has a unique karst landform and represents a complete lithological succession of the Indravati Group of rock formations. The caves are here because of faults, folds, joints, rivers, and other natural features (Swapna Gupta et al. 2023). The geomorphic and tectonic aspects of Kotamsar, Kailash, and Gupteshwar caves were discussed by Gautam et al. (2014). The evolution of caves is believed to have taken place in Pre-Pliocene under more humid conditions that coincided with the initiation of monsoon in India. The National Park is home to a wide range of living environments that offer the perfect dwelling place for various types of plants and animals. Many rare, endangered, and indigenous animal species, including those marked in the IUCN Red Data Book, thrive in this key habitat. Additionally, there is a high degree of endemism in the national park. Scientists have even discovered five different species of animals that only exist in the limestone caves of the National Park.

Criterion (vii): Located in the heart of Chhattisgarh, Kanger Valley National Park unfolds its natural tapestry, a park where the beauty of nature reigns supreme Established in 1982, this place is like a canvas painted with diverse landscapes — gentle slopes, steep gorges, and magical limestone caves named Kotamsar, Kailash, and Dandak. Here, bamboo whispers stories of resilience, and flowers bloom like delicate brushstrokes, creating a beautiful harmony. The spectacular limestone caves of the National Park contain superlative natural phenomena. They are beautifully decorated with magnificent Speleothems (Drip stones - Stalactites, Stalagmites, Helictites, Flow stones, Rim stones etc) are a major attraction for the scientists, researchers, tourists, students in the region. In Kotamsar cave, one can feel the echoes of ancient times, with traces of prehistoric homes engraved in its walls.

The Tirathgarh waterfall is a wonder located in the National Park. It originates from the Munga Bahar river, and it free-falls from a height of 150 feet on sandstone rocks. The waterfall is surrounded by dense forests that make it look even more captivating. Its downstream merges with the Kanger River, creating a diverse area by the river. One can see the beauty of nature reflecting from the hygienic and quality water of the Kanger River on sunny days. The Neo-Mesoproterozoic rock formations and the gorge that the fast-flowing water has shaped make for an excellent geological site. The rocks surrounding the waterfall are adorned with beautiful mosses, ferns, and vibrant plants that turn it into a haven for butterflies. The national park is a pleasant and cool place to be, maintaining its evergreen charm throughout the year.

Criterion (viii): The Kanger Valley National Park is renowned for its significant geological diversity and diverse range of geological features (rocks, minerals, structures). Geomorphological features (landforms and processes) are present in this National Park within a small area of 200 sq km. 

The Kanger Dhara waterfall in the National Park was formed by a tectonic event which took place in the geological past as a result of which silicic magmatism took place and the overlying rock formations got deformed. Near this waterfall different kinds of folding (small domes, basins, similar folds, symmetrical and asymmetrical folds), joint patterns and mild metamorphism of shale are seen.

The karst topography in this region, characterised by the formation of caves decorated with beautiful speleothems, sinkholes, and solution valleys, contributes to the extraordinary uniqueness of this area. The factors responsible for the development of karst topography and caves in this specific location are easily observable. The presence of faults, folds, joints, rivers, and intrusive bodies collectively clarify the intricate reasons behind the extensive and remarkable formation of these caves in this particular area. These subterranean limestone caverns in the National Park are beautifully decorated with a variety of architecture formations of stalactites, stalagmite and helictite specimens. The National Park has huge limestone deposits where some of them are in the form of caves and the rest of them are in the form of layers or beds one upon the other. These deposits are exposed on the surface as well as underground. The underground portions form the caves. More than 20 limestone caves have been discovered in this National Park.

Between 700 and 1100 million years ago, the Tirathgarh waterfalls was the part of Indravati Basin, featuring the Tirathgarh sandstone as its fundamental layer. Initially horizontally bedded, the sandstone underwent geological changes when a magmatic intrusion caused vertical pressure, shaping the waterfalls. The downstream area showcases folds, faults, and inclined sandstone beds, providing evidence of past igneous activities. Mega ripple marks on the beds reveal the influence of ancient seawater, indicating the region was submerged during that geological past.

Criterion (x): Kanger Valley National Park is a precious and untouched forest area in the peninsular region of India. It plays a vital role in conserving the incredible diversity of plants and animals in their natural habitat. These forests, known as moist peninsular valley Sal forests, are exceptionally unique. The national park is characterised by its fascinating geography, including dense forests, bamboo thickets, grassy patches, plains, hills with varying slopes, rocky areas, caves, waterfalls, deep gorges, valleys, river banks, and sandy shores. These diverse features create distinct environments and ecological transitions, providing the perfect homes for a wide range of plant and animal species. The Kanger Valley National Park has a special ecological significance as it forms a natural transition zone (ecotone region) between Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak (Tectona grandis) forests in the Peninsular India. Though the park is comparatively small in size, it supports several distinct vegetation types in close vicinity of each other viz., Tropical Moist Deciduous, Tropical Dry Deciduous and Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests (Champion & Seth 1968, Jha & Khanna 2005). 

In a study conducted by Kotia et al. (2013), approximately 30 orchid species were documented in this park, constituting nearly 45% of the total taxa previously reported by researchers in the state. Notably, 23 of these species are being documented for the first time within Kanger Valley National Park. The outstanding biological diversity of Kanger Valley National Park is evident in its rich habitat, which supports a wide variety of plant communities. These plants, in turn, provide a home for a diverse range of species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and other life forms. Biswas and Shrotriya (2011) studied the presence of Mammals in Dandak Cave in Kanger Valley National Park. They found that both chambers of this cave were dominated by mammals all year round.  

The park is known for its unique and varied collection of plants, an ongoing survey have found a total of 963 recorded plant species, many of which are nationally threatened. Within the park's expansive forests, including moist peninsular valley Sal forests, Riparian forests, and mixed forests, numerous rare and endangered animal species can be found. Notably, six species of fauna in the park are listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In 2017, Bharos A. M. K. and Ameet Mandavia conducted a survey on the Eastern Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa peninsularis), which is the State Bird of Chhattisgarh. At that time, the bird was at the brink of extinction in the state. According to the IUCN Red Data list from 2015, this species is categorised as "Least Concern." The park's undisturbed arboreal habitat serves as a sanctuary for the giant squirrel, an Indian species found only in this region. The park's impressive inventory of vertebrate fauna includes 49 mammal species, 201 bird species, 16 amphibians, 37 reptiles, and 57 fish species. In terms of invertebrates, there are 141 butterfly species and 113 spider species recorded, with ongoing biodiversity surveys continuing to discover new species. The Kanger River, which flows through the park, provides an ideal wetland habitat and supports a variety of fish species that contribute to the park's overall biodiversity. Despite its relatively small size of 200 sq. km, the park is home to 13 vertebrate species endemic to India, as well as 19 spider species endemic to India and five endemic to South Asia. Notably, the park's subterranean limestone caves are home to five spider species that can only be found in Kanger Valley National Park, highlighting the high level of endemism in this category. Furthermore, the presence of species such as the Montane Trinket Snake, Pit Viper, Travancore Wolf Snake, and Fungoid Frog, which were originally thought to be endemic to the Western Ghats, underscores the richness of habitat and species in Kanger Valley National Park. This wealth of biodiversity not only showcases the current diversity but also emphasises the potential for discovering new species and the importance of conserving the Region's Natural Habitats as well as the scope for in situ conservation of these genetic resources.

The Kanger Valley National Park has maintained the integrity of its ecological processes and terrain features for many years. The park has all the necessary elements to demonstrate its exceptional universal value. The park's diverse natural habitats that support wildlife are well-protected, and open areas within the park provide opportunities for the natural progression of plants and ecological processes. National Park is managed through an approved management plan that includes policies and strategies for long term conservation of Biological as well as geological diversity of the park. The boundaries of the National Park have not undergone any major change. At present, less than 2 percent of the land area of the National Park is used by the local tribals for agriculture purposes. The Kanger Valley National Park has only two tribal settlements within its National Park boundary. These tribals depend on the National Park for fuel wood, grazing and other Non-Wood Forest Produce for their bona fide use.

The Kanger Valley National Park, with its diverse and complex karst features and remarkable geological variety, is home to an abundance of plant and animal species. This biodiversity includes rare, threatened, and endemic species. The park's pristine forests provide the ideal conditions for maintaining natural processes and offer one of the best opportunities for conserving both geodiversity and biodiversity in their original habitats.