Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary, Kheoni: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary was notified in the 1970s; sources give 1974 for its establishment, though some local accounts mention other years, and its published area varies between about 123 and 135 sq km. It is managed by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and classed as IUCN category IV.

Tigers were long reported informally, but photographic proof came in June 2019, when the Dewas forest division's camera traps recorded a tiger, two tigresses and cubs. The division has since worked on waterholes and prey, and tiger numbers are reported to have grown, though the figures should be treated with caution.

Useful facts

Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary facts at a glance

Location

Kannod tehsil, Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh

Experience type

Open-vehicle forest safari

Known for

Tigers, leopards, chital, nilgai and birds

Area

About 130 sq km; sources vary

Established

1974 per Wikipedia

Season

Closed in monsoon; reported to open in October

Why it matters

Why Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary is worth your time

Kheoni matters because it shows a recovering forest working as a wildlife corridor. It lies between the Ratapani Tiger Reserve and the Omkareshwar range, and forest corridors link it to Ratapani. Tigers that dispersed from there began to settle, and camera traps recorded a tiger, tigresses and cubs here in June 2019, which was widely reported as the first photographic proof of resident tigers.

The sanctuary is also small and quiet enough to feel like a forest, not a spectacle. For a family or senior group that wants nature without the crowds of the famous parks, it is a gentle introduction, provided the long road, basic stay and uncertain sightings are accepted. It is the main reason anyone travels to Kheoni, and the place around which the rest of this guide is built.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Drive the dry forest

   Teak, tendu and bamboo give open views in winter, so deer and birds are easy to spot along the clearings.

2. 02

   Watch for leopard and tiger signs

   Alarm calls, fresh pugmarks and a still jungle matter more than speed; sightings are rare but possible.

3. 03

   Look up for birds

   The Indian paradise flycatcher, state bird of Madhya Pradesh, is among the 100-plus species recorded.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Treat the visit as a slow forest morning. Reach the gate at the time your booking gives you, with a hat, a jacket for the cold air and water, and let the forest guide set the pace. The vegetation is teak, tendu and bamboo, which is open and dry through winter, so animals show up near waterholes and along the clearings. Chital and nilgai are the animals you will almost certainly see, with blackbuck and chinkara in places, and the birdlife is rich, including the Indian paradise flycatcher, Madhya Pradesh's state bird.

The larger cats are the reason for the sanctuary's recent reputation, but they are elusive. Leopards are present in good numbers, and tigers have been photographed here by camera traps since 2019. Visitors seldom see them, so go with small expectations and you will enjoy the forest more. Stay still, keep voices low and watch for alarm calls from deer and langurs, which are often the first sign that a predator is close.

If you can, do two drives, one at first light and one in the late afternoon, with a rest in between. Spend the break at the Forest Rest House or a lodge near Khategaon, and add Bal Ganga or the Daulatpur walk if the guide says tracks are open. Do not rely on mobile maps inside the forest; the guide and driver know the route.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Kannod tehsil, Dewas district; about 90 to 130 km from Indore and about 150 km from Bhopal

Time needed

Half a day for one safari; one night to do dawn and dusk drives

Best time

November to February; safaris are closed in the monsoon and the season is reported to start in October

Walking level

Easy

Senior comfort

The drive is in an open vehicle on rough forest tracks, so expect bumps and dust; there are no steep climbs. Facilities are basic, mobile coverage is poor and the road in is long, so older travellers should stay overnight and bring a cushion and layers.

Tickets and access

Safaris must be arranged in advance; MP Tourism lists a booking contact for the Kheoni safari, but fees and vehicle rules are not published widely, so confirm them with the forest office. The sanctuary is closed to safaris in the monsoon.

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