Madhya Pradesh: Protected Areas, Waterfalls, Dams, Wetlands and Ramsar Sites
1. NATIONAL PARKS OF MADHYA PRADESH
| National Park | Establishment Year | District / Location | Key Note |
|---|
| Kanha National Park | 1955 | Mandla & Balaghat | Tiger Reserve |
| Madhav National Park | 1959 | Shivpuri | — |
| Bandhavgarh National Park | 1968 | Umaria | Tiger Reserve |
| Van Vihar National Park | 1979 | Bhopal | — |
| Panna National Park | 1981 | Panna & Chhatarpur | Tiger Reserve |
| Satpura National Park | 1981 | Narmadapuram (Hoshangabad) | Tiger Reserve |
| Sanjay National Park | 1981 | Sidhi | Tiger Reserve |
| Kuno National Park | 2018 (NP) / 1981 (WLS) | Sheopur | Upgraded from Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Mandla Plant Fossils National Park | 1983 | Dindori (near Shahpura) | Fossil Park |
| Pench National Park | 1983 | Seoni & Chhindwara | Tiger Reserve |
| Dinosaur Fossils National Park | 2010 | Dhar | Fossil Park |
2. TIGER RESERVES OF MADHYA PRADESH (CHRONOLOGICAL)
| Year | Tiger Reserve | Total Area |
|---|
| 1973-74 | Kanha Tiger Reserve | 2051.79 sq km |
| 1992-93 | Pench Tiger Reserve | 1179.63 sq km |
| 1993-94 | Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve | 1536.93 sq km |
| 1993-94 | Panna Tiger Reserve | 1598.1 sq km |
| 1999-2000 | Satpura Tiger Reserve | 2133.3 sq km |
| 2008-09 | Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve | 1674.5 sq km |
| 2023 | Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve | 1414.006 sq km |
| Latest | Ratapani Tiger Reserve | 8th in MP, 57th in India |
9th Tiger Reserve (India’s 58th)
10 March 2025 | 9:44 AM
| Madhav National Park
| inaugurated by Mohan Yadav with tiger release, boosting corridor connectivity and eco-tourism.
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Note : As of April 2026, India has 58 notified tiger reserves spanning about 84,487.83 sq. km.—around 2.56% of the country’s geographical area—and these landscapes support nearly three-fourths of the world’s wild tiger population.
AREA & PERCENTAGE ANALYSIS (MP vs INDIA)
| Category | Area (sq km) | % of MP Area (308,252 sq km) | % of India Area (3,287,000 sq km) |
|---|
| Madhya Pradesh National Parks (11) | 4,349.14 | ≈ 1.41% | ≈ 0.13% |
| Madhya Pradesh Tiger Reserves (9) | 15,436.205 | ≈ 5.01% | ≈ 0.47% |
| India National Parks (106) | 44,402.95 | — | ≈ 1.35% |
| India Tiger Reserves (58) | 84,487.83 | — | ≈ 2.57% |
3. WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES
| Sanctuary | District / Location | Key Note |
|---|
| Bori | Hoshangabad / Narmadapuram |
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| Phen | Kanha region | Buffer zone of Kanha |
| Gandhi Sagar | Mandsaur, Neemuch |
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| Ken Ghariyal | Chhatarpur, Panna |
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| Narsinghgarh |
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| Nauradehi | Sagar, Damoh, Narsinghpur | Largest forest block of area |
| Panpatha | Umaria | Part of Bandhavgarh TR |
| Pench Mowgli |
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| Sanjay Dubri | Sidhi |
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| Son Ghariyal |
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| Sailana | Ratlam |
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| Orchha |
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| Veer Durgawati | Damoh, Sagar |
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| Bagdara | Sidhi |
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| Ghatigaon | Near Gwalior | Extends to Tigra Dam |
| Karera | Shivpuri |
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| Kheoni | Dewas, Sehore |
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| National Chambal |
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| Pachmarhi |
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| Kuno Palpur |
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| Ratapani | Raisen |
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| Singhori |
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| Sardarpur | Dhar |
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| Ralamandal |
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| Gangau | Chhatarpur |
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SHARE OF MP IN INDIA (AREA WISE)
| Category | MP Area (sq km) | India Area (sq km) | MP’s Share in India (%) |
|---|
| Tiger Reserves | 15,436.205 | 84,487.83 | ≈ 18.27% |
| National Parks | 4,349.14 | 44,402.95 | ≈ 9.80% |
4. BIOSPHERE RESERVES (CHRONOLOGICAL)
| Year | Biosphere Reserve | Key Species Mentioned |
|---|
| 1999 | Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve | Giant squirrel, flying squirrel |
| 2005 | Achanakmar–Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve | Four-horned antelope, Indian wild dog, sarus crane, white-rumped vulture, sacred grove bush frog |
| 2011 | Panna Biosphere Reserve | Bengal tiger, Chinkara, Nilgai, Sambar deer, Sloth bear |
5. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES (CHRONOLOGICAL)
| Year | Site |
|---|
| 1986 | Khajuraho |
| 1989 | Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi |
| 2003 | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka |
6. IMPORTANT WATERFALLS OF MADHYA PRADESH
| Waterfall | District / Location | River / Source | Key Note |
|---|
| Kapildhara | Amarkantak, Maikal Hills | Near Narmada origin | 6 km from Narmada Kund |
| Dugdha-Dhara | Amarkantak | Narmada Kund | Milky white appearance |
| Dhuandhar | Bhedaghat, Jabalpur | Narmada | Cascade, Smoke Cascade |
| Sahastradhara | Maheshwar, Khargone | Narmada | Height 8 m |
| Mandhar | Khandwa |
| Height 12 m |
| Dardi | Handiya, Khandwa |
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| Satdhar | Narsinghpur |
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| Chachai | Rewa | Beehad River , a tributary of tamsa river | Height 130 m |
| Purwa | Rewa | Tamsa / Tons | Cascade, 300 ft |
| Bahuti | Rewa | Sellar / Odda, tributary of Tons | Indian Niagara, 466 ft |
| Keoti | Rewa | Mahan, tributary of Beehad | 130 m |
| Belauhi | Rewa | Gorma, tributary of Tons |
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| Piyavan | Rewa | Seasonal stream |
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| Patalpani | Near Indore |
| Seasonal, 150 ft |
| Chuliya | Near Mandsaur border, Rajasthan side |
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| Jhadi-daha | Indore |
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| Tincha | Indore |
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| Jogi-Bhadak | Dhar, Indore |
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| Chidiya-Bhadak | Badwa, Indore |
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| Gidiya-Khoh | Shivni, Dewas |
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| Sankua | Near Bhind | Sindh |
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| Sultangarh | Shivpuri | Parvati |
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| Bhoora Khon | Shivpuri |
| Height 82 ft |
| Pawa | Shivpuri | Pawa River | Height 100 ft |
| Raneh | Near Khajuraho, Chhatarpur | Ken | Canyon landscape |
| Pandav Fall | Panna National Park | Local spring | Height 100 ft |
| Bhalkund / Rahatgarh | Sagar | Beena | Height 38 m |
| Gatha | Khajuraho |
| 5th tallest, 300 ft |
| Dhanora / Lilahi | Chhindwara | Kanhan |
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| Kukdi Khapa | Chhindwara | Kanhan | Two-stage fall, 60 ft |
| Shambhudhara | Anuppur |
| Height 115 ft |
| Taxakeshwar / Texak | Bhanpura, Mandsaur | Takhali | About 200 ft |
| Sitalmata | Near Manpur, Indore |
| Three natural caves nearby |
| Gangulpara | Balaghat | Wainganga | Also used for irrigation |
| Dagona | Dindori | Budner |
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| Kakrakhoh | Mandu, Dhar |
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| Maldhar | Balaghat | Deo River |
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| Anhoni | Chhindwara | Kanhan River |
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| Shankar Kho | Jamner, Shajapur |
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| Dhara-Khoh | Betul |
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7. DAMS, RESERVOIRS AND IMPORTANT LAKES
| Name | River / Location | Key Note |
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| Ukai Dam | Tapi |
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| Jawahar Sagar Dam | Chambal |
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| Bansagar Dam |
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| Bargi Dam Reservoir | Narmada |
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| Thanwar Reservoir |
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| Bhimgadh Reservoir |
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| Totladoh Dam & Reservoir |
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| Kanhergaon Dam |
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| Ambak Nalla Reservoir |
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| Satak Reservoir |
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| Nanpur Phata Dam |
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| Barna Reservoir |
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| Sirpur Lake | Indore |
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| Sankhya Sagar | Shivpuri |
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| Ranguan Lake | Chhatarpur | On Ken and Simri rivers |
| Benisagar Lake | Khajuraho |
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| Lakh Banjara Lake | Sagar |
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8. RAMSAR SITES OF MADHYA PRADESH (CHRONOLOGICAL)
| Date / Year | Ramsar Site | Area |
|---|
| 19.08.2002 | Bhoj Wetlands | 32.01 sq km |
| 01.07.2022 | Sakhya Sagar, Shivpuri | 2.48 sq km |
| 01.07.2022 | Sirpur Wetland, Indore | 1.61 sq km |
| 13.08.2022 | Yashwant Sagar, Indore | 8.23 sq km |
| 2024 | Tawa Reservoir |
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9. LATEST FACTS TABLE
| Category | Madhya Pradesh | India |
|---|
| Ramsar Sites | 5 | 98
As of Feb 2026 |
| National Parks | 11 | 106 |
| Tiger Reserves | 9 | 58 |
10. QUICK REVISION TABLE
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|
| Highest Waterfall (as per input) | Bahuti |
| Chachai Waterfall Height | 130 m |
| Dhuandhar Type | Cascade |
| Latest Ramsar Site in MP | Tawa Reservoir |
| Latest Tiger Reserve in MP | Madhav NP |
| First Tiger Reserve in MP | Kanha |
| UNESCO Sites in MP | Khajuraho, Sanchi, Bhimbetka |